12. Children who reach the age of 5 before 1 October of the current school year and whose parents have submitted an application for admission shall be admitted to preschool education.
Children living in low-income areas, within the meaning of Schedule I, who reach the age of 4 before 1 October of the current school year and whose parents have made an application, shall be admitted to preschool education; the Minister shall establish a list of the school service centres authorized to admit those students living in low-income areas and shall determine the conditions for their admission.
Children with handicaps, within the meaning of Schedule I, who reach the age of 4 before 1 October of the current school year and whose parents have made an application, shall be admitted to preschool education.
Children who reach the age of 6 before 1 October of the current school year shall be admitted to elementary school.
For the purposes of the Act respecting private education (chapter E-9.1), the first paragraph of this section is to be read, until the date determined by the Government for the coming into force of section 13 of the Act to amend the Education Act and other provisions regarding preschool education services for students 4 years of age (S.Q. 2019, c. 24), for the 2020-2021 school year and subsequent years, as if "age of 5" were replaced by "age of 4" and as if "so that the program of activities established by the Minister for their age is provided to them" were inserted at the end.
O.C. 651-2000, s. 12; S.Q. 2019, c. 24, s. 19.