SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4A, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, the following section:-
Section 4B. All school districts shall offer a full-time kindergarten program that is subject to the same minimum requirements that the board establishes for length of a school day and number of days in a school year for elementary schools pursuant to section 1G of chapter 69. For purposes of this section, “elementary school” shall mean a school providing instruction to grades 1 through 5, 6, 7, or 8, and, where so designated by a school committee prior to the commencement of a school year, may also include a middle school or other intermediate level school providing instruction to grades 5 through 6 or any combination thereof.
School districts may apply for a Quality Full-Time Kindergarten Grant to offset the cost of a full-time kindergarten program.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect September 1, 2016.
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