Code of Maryland Regulations
Title 13A - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Subtitle 08 - STUDENTS
Chapter 13A.08.01 - General Regulations
Section 13A.08.01.02-2 - Exemptions to Kindergarten Attendance Requirement
Universal Citation: MD Code Reg 13A.08.01.02-2
Current through Register Vol. 52, No. 6, March 21, 2025
A. Level of Maturity Waiver.
(1) A child who resides in this State and is
5 years old may be exempted from mandatory school attendance for 1 year if the
child's parent or guardian believes that a delay in school attendance is in the
best interest of the child and the parent or guardian files a written request
with the local superintendent of schools asking that the child's attendance be
delayed due to the child's level of maturity.
(2) A written request for a 1-year exemption
from mandatory attendance for a 5-year-old shall be filed with the local
superintendent of schools or the superintendent's designee before the opening
of school of the year in which the child becomes 5 years old.
(3) After a child is enrolled in
kindergarten, a parent or guardian may file a written request to withdraw the
child from the program and delay attendance until the following school year if
the parent or guardian believes it is in the best interest of the
child.
(4) The local school system
shall approve the request for delay or withdrawal in writing within 5 working
days from date of receipt.
(5) The
local school system shall report to the State Department of Education, on forms
provided by the State Department of Education, information on the number of
5-year-old children for whom requests have been received.
B. Alternative Program Settings.
(1) A child may be exempted from attending
kindergarten if a parent or guardian of the child files in writing their intent
to place the child in an alternative setting and verifies that the child is
enrolled:
(a) Full-time in a licensed child
care center;
(b) Full-time in a
registered family day care home; or
(c) Part-time in a Head Start 5-year-old
program.
(2) A parent or
guardian who elects to enroll a child full-time in a licensed child care
center, full-time in a family day care home, or part-time in a Head Start
5-year-old program shall file their intent to enroll the 5-year-old child in an
alternative program with the local school system before the opening of school
of the year in which the child becomes 5 years old. The parent or guardian
shall verify enrollment by providing the following information:
(a) Name of program;
(b) Address of facility location;
and
(c) License or registration
number and expiration date.
(3) A parent or guardian of a child who
attended an alternative program shall register the child for first grade before
the opening of school of the year in which the child becomes 6 years old and
shall provide documentation showing proof of attendance in the alternative
program setting. Documentation includes:
(a)
Date child was enrolled; and
(b)
Number of days child was absent.
(4) Program directors/providers who enroll a
5-year-old child full-time in a licensed child care center, full-time in a
family day care home, or part-time in a Head Start 5-year-old program shall
furnish the parent or guardian with the documentation as specified in
§B(2)-(3) of this regulation.
C. Non-State Residents. A 5-year-old child who moves into Maryland who has had a kindergarten experience in another state for part of the school year shall be enrolled in kindergarten. A 6-year-old child who moves into Maryland who has not had a kindergarten experience may be enrolled in kindergarten or first grade. The local school system shall determine the appropriate grade placement of a 6-year-old child who moves into Maryland based on a review of the documentation provided by the parent or guardian.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maryland may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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