State Rep. Sandra Scott has introduced a bill in the Georgia House designed to broaden early enrollment eligibility for students prepared for kindergarten or first grade, according to the Georgia State House.
Filed as HB1032 on Tuesday, Jan. 27 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, the measure is officially titled: ’Early Enrollment Act; enact’.
Below is a summary based on the actual bill text; interpretive explanations are provided for clarity.
The Early Enrollment Act would permit children who have completed pre-kindergarten or kindergarten in select private schools to begin public kindergarten or first grade ahead of the typical age cutoff, provided they show readiness. The State Board of Education is directed to establish readiness criteria by Jan. 1, 2027, involving grades, standardized test results, teacher recommendations and additional considerations for students with disabilities or limited English proficiency. The assessment currently in use for first grade readiness will also apply. By July 1, 2027, local school districts are required to adopt early enrollment policies that accommodate parent requests and offer an appeals process. The act is set to take effect July 1, 2026, for the 2027-28 school year.
Rep. Rhonda Burnough (Democrat-77th), Rep. Kim Schofield (Democrat-63rd), and Rep. Viola Davis (Democrat-87th) have co-sponsored the bill.
Since the session began, Scott has submitted another 15 bills, with one signed into law.
Scott earned a BS degree from Florida A&M University in 1984.
Scott, a Democrat, began her service in the Georgia State House in 2011 representing the 76th District, succeeding Mike Glanton.
In Georgia, the legislative process starts when a lawmaker, often asked by a constituent, drafts a bill with help from the Office of Legislative Counsel. Once filed with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and moves to a committee for deliberation. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, further discussion, and a vote. Once both chambers pass the bill—sometimes requiring a conference committee if changes are needed—it goes to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days post-adjournment (Sine Die)—to either sign, veto, or allow the measure to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly convenes annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB794 | 03/18/2025 | Clayton County; Board of Commissioners; code of ethics and board of ethics; revise and update provisions |
| HB740 | 03/06/2025 | Stop Social Promotion Act; enact |
| HB713 | 03/03/2025 | Georgia Legislative Integrity and Representation Act of 2025; enact |
| HB712 | 03/03/2025 | Ad valorem tax; prohibit property bills from including any nontax related fees or assessments |
| HB711 | 03/03/2025 | Georgia Firearms and Weapons Act; enact |
| HB62 | 01/15/2025 | Georgia HOA Accountability and Community Empowerment Act (HACEA); enact |
| HB27 | 01/13/2025 | Investing in Every Student Act; enact |
| HB26 | 01/13/2025 | School Behavioral Mental Health Support Act; enact |
| HB25 | 01/13/2025 | Dignity is Essential Act; enact |
| HB24 | 01/13/2025 | School Behavioral Health Support Act; enact |
| HB23 | 01/13/2025 | Student Success and Progress Act; enact |
| HB22 | 01/13/2025 | Veterans Day Paid Leave Act; enact |
| HB21 | 01/13/2025 | Healthy Food Access Tax Credit Act; enact |
| HB20 | 01/13/2025 | State Board of Education; adopt rules to require all certified public school personnel to receive annual training in depression and suicide awareness and prevention |
| HB19 | 01/13/2025 | Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Department of; create and maintain electronic inpatient psychiatric bed registry; require |
Information in this article was drawn from the Georgia State House. You can review the source data here.
