House File 623 H-1297 Amend House File 623 as follows: 1 1. By striking everything after the enacting clause and 2 inserting: 3 < DIVISION I 4 STATEWIDE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM 5 Section 1. Section 256.163, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code 6 2025, is amended to read as follows: 7 c. Preschool programs at school districts approved to 8 participate in the preschool program , or at community-based 9 providers approved to directly participate in the preschool 10 program, under chapter 256C . 11 Sec. 2. Section 256C.1, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended 12 to read as follows: 13 1. “Approved local program” means a school district’s 14 program or community-based provider’s program for four-year-old 15 children approved by the department of education to provide 16 high quality high-quality preschool instruction. 17 Sec. 3. Section 256C.1, Code 2025, is amended by adding the 18 following new subsection: 19 NEW SUBSECTION . 1A. “ Community-based provider approved 20 to directly participate in the preschool program” means a 21 community-based provider that meets the community-based 22 provider requirements under section 256C.3 and has been 23 approved by the department to directly participate in the 24 preschool program. “Community-based provider approved to 25 directly participate in the preschool program” does not mean a 26 community-based provider that partners with a school district’s 27 approved local program. 28 Sec. 4. Section 256C.3, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 29 2025, is amended to read as follows: 30 b. If space and funding are available, including funding 31 from another school district account or fund from which 32 preschool program expenditures are authorized by law, a school 33 district approved to participate in the preschool program or 34 community-based provider approved to directly participate in 35 -1- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 1/ 24 #1.

the preschool program may enroll and pay the cost of attendance 1 for a younger or older child in the preschool program; however, 2 the child shall not be counted for state funding purposes. 3 Sec. 5. Section 256C.3, subsection 2, paragraph a, 4 subparagraph (1), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows: 5 (1) The individual is either employed by or under contract 6 with the school district , or with the community-based provider 7 approved to directly participate in the preschool program, that 8 is implementing the program. 9 Sec. 6. Section 256C.3, subsection 3, unnumbered paragraph 10 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows: 11 The state board shall adopt rules to further define the 12 following preschool program requirements which shall be used 13 to determine whether or not a local program implemented by a 14 school district approved to implement the preschool program or 15 a community-based provider directly approved to implement the 16 preschool program qualifies as an approved local program: 17 Sec. 7. Section 256C.3, subsection 3, paragraph h, Code 18 2025, is amended to read as follows: 19 h. Provision for ensuring that children receiving care from 20 other child care arrangements can participate in the preschool 21 program with minimal disruption due to transportation and 22 movement from one site to another. The children participating 23 in the preschool program may be transported by the school 24 district or community provider to activities associated with 25 the program along with other children. 26 Sec. 8. Section 256C.3, Code 2025, is amended by adding the 27 following new subsection: 28 NEW SUBSECTION . 4A. Community-based provider 29 requirements. The state board shall adopt rules to further 30 define the following requirements of community-based providers 31 approved to directly participate in the preschool program in 32 implementing the preschool program: 33 a. Methods of demonstrating readiness to implement 34 high-quality instruction in the local program shall be 35 -2- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 2/ 24

identified. 1 b. A community-based provider shall participate in data 2 collection and performance measurement processes and reporting 3 as defined by rule. 4 c. Professional development for community-based provider 5 preschool teachers shall be addressed in the community-based 6 provider’s professional development plan. 7 Sec. 9. Section 256C.3, subsection 5, paragraphs a, b, and 8 d, Code 2025, are amended to read as follows: 9 a. The department shall implement an application and 10 selection process for school district participation and 11 community-based provider participation in the preschool program 12 that includes but is not limited to the enrollment requirements 13 provided under section 256C.4 . 14 b. The department shall track the progress of 15 students served by a school district preschool program or 16 community-based provider preschool program and the students’ 17 performance in elementary and secondary education. 18 d. The state board, in collaboration with the department, 19 shall ensure that the administrative rules adopted to support 20 the preschool program emphasize that children’s access to 21 the program is voluntary, that the preschool foundation aid 22 provided to a school district or a community-based provider is 23 provided based upon the enrollment of eligible students in the 24 school district’s or community-based provider’s local program 25 regardless of whether an eligible student is a resident of the 26 school district, and that agreements entered into by a school 27 district for the provision of programming in settings other 28 than the school district’s facilities are between the school 29 district and the private provider. 30 Sec. 10. Section 256C.4, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended 31 to read as follows: 32 1. General State funding for school district approved to 33 participate in the preschool program . 34 a. State funding provided under the preschool program to 35 -3- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 3/ 24

school districts shall be based upon the enrollment of eligible 1 students in the preschool programming provided by a school 2 district approved to participate in the preschool program. 3 b. A school district approved to participate in the 4 preschool program may authorize expenditures for the district’s 5 preschool programming from any of the revenue sources available 6 to the district from the sources listed in chapter 298A , 7 provided the expenditures are within the uses permitted for the 8 revenue source. In addition, the use of the revenue source 9 for preschool or prekindergarten programming must have been 10 approved prior to any expenditure from the revenue source for 11 the district’s approved local program. 12 c. Funding provided under the preschool program is intended 13 to supplement, not supplant, existing public funding for 14 preschool programming. 15 d. Preschool foundation aid funding shall not be commingled 16 with the other state aid payments made under section 257.16 17 to a school district and shall be accounted for by the local 18 school district separately from the other state aid payments. 19 Preschool foundation aid payments made to school districts are 20 miscellaneous income for purposes of chapter 257 . A school 21 district shall maintain a separate listing within its budget 22 for preschool foundation aid payments received and expenditures 23 made. A school district shall certify to the department of 24 education that preschool foundation aid funding received by 25 the school district was used to supplement, not supplant, 26 moneys otherwise received and used by the school district for 27 preschool programming. 28 e. Preschool foundation aid funding shall not be used for 29 the costs of constructing a facility in connection with an 30 approved local program. Preschool foundation aid funding may 31 be used by approved local programs and community providers 32 for any purpose determined by the board of directors of the 33 school district to meet standards for high-quality preschool 34 instruction and for purposes that directly or indirectly 35 -4- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 4/ 24

benefit students enrolled in the approved local program, 1 including but not limited to professional development for 2 preschool teachers, instructional equipment and supplies, 3 material and equipment designed to develop pupils’ large and 4 small motor skills, translation services, playground equipment 5 and repair costs, food and beverages used by children in the 6 approved local program, safety equipment, facility rental fees, 7 and for other direct costs that enhance the approved local 8 program, including by contracting with community partners for 9 any such services. Preschool foundation aid funding may be 10 used by approved local programs for the costs of transportation 11 involving children participating in the preschool program. 12 The costs of transporting other children associated with the 13 preschool program or transported as provided in section 256C.3, 14 subsection 3 , paragraph “h” , may be prorated by the school 15 district. Preschool foundation aid funding received by an 16 approved local program that remains unexpended and unobligated 17 at the end of a fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2017, 18 shall be used to build the approved local program’s preschool 19 program capacity in the next succeeding fiscal year excluding 20 that portion of such unexpended and unobligated funding that 21 the school district authorizes for transfer for deposit in the 22 school district’s flexibility account established under section 23 298A.2, subsection 2 , if the statutory requirements for the use 24 of such funding are met. For purposes of determining whether a 25 school district has authority to transfer preschool foundation 26 aid funding for deposit in the school district’s flexibility 27 account established under section 298A.2, subsection 2 , the 28 school district must have provided preschool programming 29 during the fiscal year for which funding remains unexpended 30 and unobligated to all eligible students for whom a timely 31 application for enrollment was submitted. 32 f. The receipt of funding by a school district for the 33 purposes of this chapter , the need for additional funding 34 for the purposes of this chapter , or the enrollment count of 35 -5- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 5/ 24

eligible students under this chapter shall not be considered 1 to be unusual circumstances, create an unusual need for 2 additional funds, or qualify under any other circumstances that 3 may be used by the school budget review committee to grant 4 supplemental aid to or establish a modified supplemental amount 5 for a school district under section 257.31 . 6 g. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, and each 7 succeeding fiscal year, of the amount of preschool foundation 8 aid received by a school district for a fiscal year in 9 accordance with section 257.16 , not more than five percent may 10 be used by the school district for administering the district’s 11 approved local program. Outreach activities and rent for 12 facilities not owned by the school district are permissive uses 13 of the administrative funds. 14 h. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, and each 15 succeeding fiscal year, of the amount of preschool foundation 16 aid received by a school district for a fiscal year in 17 accordance with section 257.16 , not less than ninety-five 18 percent of the per pupil amount shall be passed through to 19 a community-based provider for each pupil enrolled in the 20 district’s approved local program. For the fiscal year 21 beginning July 1, 2015, and each succeeding fiscal year, not 22 more than ten percent of the amount of preschool foundation aid 23 passed through to a community-based provider may be used by the 24 community-based provider for administrative costs. The costs 25 of outreach activities and rent for facilities not owned by 26 the school district are permissive administrative costs. The 27 costs of transportation involving children participating in the 28 preschool program and other children may be prorated. 29 Sec. 11. Section 256C.4, Code 2025, is amended by adding the 30 following new subsection: 31 NEW SUBSECTION . 1A. State preschool funding for 32 community-based providers approved to directly participate in the 33 preschool program. 34 a. State preschool funding shall not be used for the costs 35 -6- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 6/ 24

of constructing a facility in connection with an approved 1 local program. Preschool foundation aid funding may be used 2 by community-based providers for any purpose determined by the 3 community-based provider to meet standards for high-quality 4 preschool instruction and for purposes that directly or 5 indirectly benefit students enrolled in the approved local 6 program, including but not limited to professional development 7 for preschool teachers, instructional equipment and supplies, 8 material and equipment designed to develop pupils’ large and 9 small motor skills, translation services, playground equipment 10 and repair costs, food and beverages used by children in the 11 approved local program, safety equipment, facility rental fees, 12 and for other direct costs that enhance the approved local 13 program, including by contracting with other community partners 14 for any such services. State preschool funding may be used 15 by approved local programs for the costs of transportation 16 involving children participating in the preschool program. 17 Preschool foundation aid funding received by a community-based 18 provider approved to directly participate in the preschool 19 program that remains unexpended and unobligated at the end 20 of a fiscal year shall be used to build the community-based 21 provider’s capacity in the next succeeding fiscal year. 22 b. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and each 23 succeeding fiscal year, of the amount of state preschool 24 funding received by a community-based provider approved 25 to directly participate in the preschool program for a 26 fiscal year, not more than five percent may be used by the 27 community-based provider for administering the approved local 28 program. Outreach activities and rent for facilities not owned 29 by the community-based provider are permissive uses of the 30 administrative funds. 31 Sec. 12. Section 256C.4, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 32 2025, is amended to read as follows: 33 a. To be included as an eligible student in the enrollment 34 count of the preschool programming provided by a school 35 -7- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 7/ 24

district approved to participate in the preschool program or 1 a community-based provider approved to directly participate 2 in the preschool program , a child must be four years of age 3 by September 15 in the base year and attending the school 4 district’s or community-based provider’s approved local 5 program. 6 Sec. 13. Section 256C.5, subsection 1, paragraphs c and d, 7 Code 2025, are amended to read as follows: 8 c. “Preschool budget enrollment” means the figure that is 9 equal to fifty percent of the actual enrollment of eligible 10 students in the preschool programming provided by a school 11 district approved to participate in the preschool program or a 12 community-based provider approved to directly participate in 13 the preschool program on October 1 of the base year, or the 14 first Monday in October if October 1 falls on a Saturday or 15 Sunday. 16 d. “Preschool foundation aid” means the product of the 17 regular program state cost per pupil for the budget year 18 multiplied by the school district’s preschool budget enrollment 19 or the community-based provider’s preschool budget enrollment . 20 Sec. 14. Section 256C.5, Code 2025, is amended by adding the 21 following new subsection: 22 NEW SUBSECTION . 2A. Preschool foundation aid community-based 23 provider amount. For the initial school year for which a 24 community-based provider approved to directly participate in 25 the preschool program receives that approval and implements 26 the preschool program, the preschool foundation aid payable 27 to the community-based provider is the product of the regular 28 program state cost per pupil for the school year multiplied 29 by fifty percent of the community-based provider’s eligible 30 student enrollment on the date in the school year determined 31 by rule. For budget years subsequent to the initial year 32 for which a community-based provider approved to directly 33 participate in the preschool program receives that initial 34 approval and implements the preschool program, the preschool 35 -8- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 8/ 24

foundation aid is the same as calculated pursuant to subsection 1 1. The funding for the preschool foundation aid payable to the 2 community-based provider shall be paid from the appropriation 3 made in section 257.16. Continuation of a community-based 4 provider’s participation in the preschool program for a second 5 or subsequent budget year is subject to the approval of the 6 department based upon the community-based provider’s compliance 7 with accountability provisions and the department’s on-site 8 review of the community-based provider’s implementation of the 9 preschool program. 10 Sec. 15. Section 256C.5, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended 11 to read as follows: 12 3. Aid payments. 13 a. Preschool foundation aid shall be paid as part of the 14 state aid payments made to school districts in accordance with 15 section 257.16 . 16 b. Preschool foundation aid paid directly to community-based 17 providers shall be paid to the community-based provider in 18 monthly installments beginning on September 15 of a budget year 19 and ending on or about June 15 of the budget year as determined 20 by the department of management, taking into consideration the 21 relative budget and cash position of the state resources. 22 Sec. 16. EMERGENCY RULES. The state board of education may 23 adopt emergency rules under section 17A.4, subsection 3, and 24 section 17A.5, subsection 2, paragraph “b”, to implement the 25 provisions of this division of this Act and the rules shall 26 be effective immediately upon filing unless a later date is 27 specified in the rules. Any rules adopted in accordance with 28 this section shall also be published as a notice of intended 29 action as provided in section 17A.4. 30 DIVISION II 31 CHILD DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL AND PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK 32 CHILDREN 33 Sec. 17. Section 256.9, subsection 28, Code 2025, is amended 34 to read as follows: 35 -9- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 9/ 24

28. Develop , in conjunction with the child development 1 coordinating council or other similar agency, child-to-staff 2 ratio recommendations and standards for at-risk programs based 3 on national literature and test results and Iowa longitudinal 4 test results. 5 Sec. 18. Section 256.9, subsection 31, paragraph b, Code 6 2025, is amended to read as follows: 7 b. Standards and materials developed shall include materials 8 which employ developmentally appropriate practices and 9 incorporate substantial parental involvement. The materials 10 and standards shall include alternative teaching approaches 11 including collaborative teaching and alternative dispute 12 resolution training. The department shall consult with the 13 child development coordinating council, the department of 14 health and human services, the state board of regents center 15 for early developmental education, the area education agencies, 16 the department of human development and family studies in the 17 college of human sciences at Iowa state university of science 18 and technology, the early childhood elementary division of the 19 college of education at the university of Iowa, and the college 20 of education at the university of northern Iowa, in developing 21 these standards and materials. 22 Sec. 19. Section 256.163, subsection 1, paragraph d, Code 23 2025, is amended to read as follows: 24 d. Shared visions programs receiving grants from the child 25 development coordinating council department of education under 26 section 256A.3 . 27 Sec. 20. Section 256A.3, Code 2025, is amended to read as 28 follows: 29 256A.3 Duties of council the department of education . 30 The child development coordinating council department of 31 education shall promote the provision of child development 32 services to at-risk three-year-old and four-year-old children, 33 and shall do all of the following : 34 1. Develop a definition of at-risk children for the purposes 35 -10- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 10/ 24

of this chapter . The definition shall include income, family 1 structure, the child’s level of development, and availability 2 or accessibility for the child of a head start or other child 3 care program as criteria. 4 2. Establish minimum guidelines for comprehensive early 5 child development services for at-risk three-year-and 6 four-year-old children. The guidelines shall reflect 7 current research findings on the necessary components for 8 cost-effective child development services. 9 3. At least biennially, develop an inventory of child 10 development services provided to at-risk three-year- and 11 four-year-old children in this state and identify the number of 12 children receiving and not receiving these services, the types 13 of programs under which the services are received, the degree 14 to which each program meets the council’s minimum guidelines 15 for a comprehensive program, and the reasons children not 16 receiving the services are not being served. The council is 17 not required to conduct independent research in developing the 18 inventory, but shall determine information needs necessary to 19 provide a more complete inventory. 20 4. 2. Subject to the availability of funds appropriated 21 or otherwise available for the purpose of providing child 22 development services, award grants for programs that provide 23 new or additional child development services to at-risk 24 children. 25 a. In awarding program grants to an agency or individual, 26 the council department of education shall consider the 27 following: 28 (1) The quality of the staff and staff background in child 29 development services. 30 (2) The degree to which the program is or will be integrated 31 with existing community resources and has the support of the 32 local community. 33 (3) The ability of the program to provide for child care 34 in addition to child development services for families needing 35 -11- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 11/ 24

full-day child care. 1 (4) A staff-to-children ratio within the guidelines 2 established under subsection 2 , but not less than one staff 3 member per eight children. 4 (5) The degree to which the program involves and works with 5 the parents, and includes home visits, instruction for parents 6 on parenting skills, on enhancement of skills in providing for 7 their children’s learning and development, and the physical, 8 mental, and emotional development of children, and experiential 9 education. 10 (6) The manner in which health, medical, dental, and 11 nutrition services are incorporated into the program. 12 (7) The degree to which the program complements existing 13 programs and services for at-risk three-year-old and 14 four-year-old children available in the area, including other 15 child care services, services provided through the school 16 district, and services available through area education 17 agencies. 18 (8) The degree to which the program can be monitored and 19 evaluated to determine its ability to meet its goals. 20 (9) (8) The provision of transportation or other auxiliary 21 services that may be necessary for families to participate in 22 the program. 23 (10) (9) The provision of staff training and development, 24 and staff compensation sufficient to assure continuity. 25 b. Program grants funded under this subsection may integrate 26 children not meeting at-risk criteria into the program and 27 shall establish a fee for participation in the program in the 28 manner provided in section 279.49 , but grant funds shall not be 29 used to pay the costs for those children. 30 c. Programs awarded grants under this subsection shall meet 31 the national association for the education of young children 32 program standards and accreditation criteria, the Iowa quality 33 preschool program standards and criteria, or other approved 34 program standards as determined by the department of education. 35 -12- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 12/ 24

Programs awarded grants prior to July 1, 2015, shall continue 1 to be evaluated and assessed based on eligibility and award 2 criteria established under rules adopted by the state board of 3 education pursuant to section 279.51 prior to June 30, 2015. 4 5. 3. Encourage the submission of grant requests from all 5 potential providers of child development services statewide 6 voluntary preschool programming and shall be flexible in 7 evaluating grants, recognizing that different types of programs 8 may be suitable for different locations in the state. 9 a. Requests for grants must contain a procedure for 10 evaluating the effectiveness of the program and accounting 11 procedures for monitoring the expenditure of grant moneys. 12 b. The council department of education shall seek to 13 use performance-based measures to evaluate programs. Not 14 more than five percent of any state funds appropriated for 15 child development purposes may be used for administration and 16 evaluation. 17 6. 4. Annually, submit recommendations to the governor 18 and the general assembly on the need for investment in child 19 development services in the state. 20 7. 5. Subject to a decision by the council department of 21 education to initiate the programs, develop criteria for and 22 award grants under section 279.51, subsection 2 . 23 8. Encourage the establishment of programs that will 24 enhance the skills of parents in parenting and in providing for 25 the learning and development of their children. 26 Sec. 21. Section 256A.4, subsection 2, paragraph g, Code 27 2025, is amended to read as follows: 28 g. Role modeling and mentoring techniques for families of 29 children who meet one or more of the criteria established for 30 the definition of at-risk children by the child development 31 coordinating council department of education . 32 Sec. 22. Section 256A.5, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended 33 by striking the subsection. 34 Sec. 23. Section 256C.3, subsection 3, paragraph e, Code 35 -13- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 13/ 24

2025, is amended to read as follows: 1 e. Collaboration with participating families, early care 2 providers, and community partners including but not limited to 3 early childhood Iowa area boards, head start programs, shared 4 visions and other programs provided under the auspices of the 5 child development coordinating council department , licensed 6 child care centers, registered child development homes, area 7 education agencies, child care resource and referral services 8 provided under section 237A.26 , early childhood special 9 education programs, services funded by Tit. I of the federal 10 Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and family 11 support programs. 12 Sec. 24. Section 256C.3, subsection 4, paragraph a, Code 13 2025, is amended to read as follows: 14 a. Methods of demonstrating community readiness to 15 implement high-quality instruction in a local program 16 shall be identified. The potential provider shall submit 17 a collaborative program proposal that demonstrates the 18 involvement of multiple community stakeholders including 19 but not limited to, and only as applicable, parents, the 20 school district, accredited nonpublic schools and faith-based 21 representatives, the area education agency, the early childhood 22 Iowa area board, representatives of business, head start 23 programs, shared visions and other programs provided under 24 the auspices of the child development coordinating council 25 department , center-based and home-based providers of child 26 care services, human services, public health, and economic 27 development programs. The methods may include but are not 28 limited to a school district providing evidence of a public 29 hearing on the proposed programming and written documentation 30 of collaboration agreements between the school district, 31 existing community providers, and other community stakeholders 32 addressing operational procedures and other critical measures. 33 Sec. 25. Section 262.71, subsection 8, Code 2025, is amended 34 by striking the subsection. 35 -14- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 14/ 24

Sec. 26. Section 273.2, subsection 6, unnumbered paragraph 1 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows: 2 The area education agency board may provide for the 3 following programs and services to local school districts, and 4 at the request of local school districts to providers of child 5 development services who have received grants under chapter 6 256A from the child development coordinating council department 7 of education , within the limits of funds available: 8 Sec. 27. Section 279.51, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended 9 to read as follows: 10 1. There is appropriated from the general fund of the state 11 to the department of education for the fiscal year beginning 12 July 1, 2007 2025 , and each succeeding fiscal year, the sum of 13 twelve million six hundred six thousand one hundred ninety-six 14 ten million five hundred twenty-four thousand three hundred 15 eighty-nine dollars. The moneys shall be allocated as follows: 16 a. Two hundred seventy-five thousand eight hundred 17 sixty-four Two hundred twenty-nine thousand two hundred 18 sixty-two dollars of the funds appropriated shall be allocated 19 to the area education agencies to assist school districts in 20 developing program plans and budgets under this section and to 21 assist school districts and child development programs under 22 section 256A.3 in meeting other responsibilities in early 23 childhood education. 24 b. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 2025 , and 25 for each succeeding fiscal year, eight million five hundred 26 thirty-six thousand seven hundred forty ten million twelve 27 thousand five hundred twenty-seven dollars of the funds 28 appropriated shall be allocated to the child development 29 coordinating council established in chapter 256A department 30 of education for the purposes set out in subsection 2 , of 31 this section and section 256A.3 , and to be used as grants to 32 early childhood programs that demonstrate the greatest need 33 for programs for at-risk children and the families of at-risk 34 children . 35 -15- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 15/ 24

c. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and for 1 each fiscal year thereafter, three million five hundred 2 ten thousand nine hundred ninety-two dollars of the funds 3 appropriated shall be allocated as grants to school districts 4 that have elementary schools that demonstrate the greatest 5 need for programs for at-risk students with preference given 6 to innovative programs for the early elementary school years. 7 School districts receiving grants under this paragraph shall 8 at a minimum provide activities and materials designed to 9 encourage children’s self-esteem, provide role modeling and 10 mentoring techniques in social competence and social skills, 11 and discourage inappropriate drug use. The grant allocations 12 made in this paragraph may be renewed for additional periods of 13 time. Of the amount allocated under this paragraph for each 14 fiscal year, seventy-five thousand dollars shall be allocated 15 to school districts which have an actual student population of 16 ten thousand or less and have an actual non-English speaking 17 student population which represents greater than five percent 18 of the total actual student population for grants to elementary 19 schools in those districts. 20 d. c. Notwithstanding section 256A.3, subsection 5 3 , of 21 the amount appropriated in this subsection for the fiscal year 22 beginning July 1, 2007 2025 , and for each succeeding fiscal 23 year, up to two hundred eighty-two thousand six hundred dollars 24 may be used for administrative costs. 25 Sec. 28. Section 279.51, subsection 2, paragraph a, 26 unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as 27 follows: 28 Funds allocated under subsection 1 , paragraph “b” , shall be 29 used by the child development coordinating council department 30 of education for the following: 31 Sec. 29. Section 279.51, subsection 2, paragraph a, 32 subparagraphs (1) and (2), Code 2025, are amended to read as 33 follows: 34 (1) To continue funding for programs previously funded by 35 -16- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 16/ 24

grants awarded under section 256A.3 and to provide additional 1 grants under section 256A.3 . The council department shall seek 2 to provide grants on the basis of the location within the state 3 of children meeting at-risk definitions. 4 (2) At the discretion of the child development coordinating 5 council department of education , award grants for the 6 following: 7 (a) To to school districts to establish programs for 8 three-year-old , and four-year-old , and five-year-old at-risk 9 children. 10 (b) To provide grants to provide educational support 11 services to parents of at-risk children age birth through three 12 years. 13 Sec. 30. Section 279.51, subsection 2, paragraph b, Code 14 2025, is amended to read as follows: 15 b. A grantee under this subsection may direct the use of 16 moneys received to serve any qualifying child ranging in age 17 from three years old to five four years old, regardless of the 18 age of population indicated on the grant request in its initial 19 year of application. A grantee is encouraged to consider the 20 degree to which the program complements existing programs 21 and services for three-year-old , and four-year-old , and 22 five-year-old at-risk children available in the area, including 23 other child care and preschool services, services provided 24 through a school district, and services available through an 25 area education agency. 26 Sec. 31. Section 279.51, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended 27 by striking the subsection. 28 Sec. 32. REPEAL. Section 256A.2, Code 2025, is repealed. 29 DIVISION III 30 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RESPONSIBILITIES 31 Sec. 33. Section 256.9, Code 2025, is amended by adding the 32 following new subsections: 33 NEW SUBSECTION . 69. a. Review and conduct research related 34 to the most effective evidence-based curricula, instructional 35 -17- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 17/ 24

materials, and evidence-based or promising practices used in 1 prekindergarten programs and in preschools, which shall include 2 a review of the curricula and instructional materials used by 3 prekindergarten programs in this state, preschool programs 4 serving children with individualized education programs, and 5 preschool programs created in accordance with chapters 256A and 6 256C. 7 b. Develop and make available on the department’s internet 8 site a list of the most effective evidence-based curricula, 9 instructional materials, and evidence-based or promising 10 practices for prekindergarten programs and preschools. 11 NEW SUBSECTION . 70. a. Develop a preschool accountability 12 system representing, at minimum, developmental and learning 13 outcomes and continuous implementation of high-quality program 14 standards for school districts offering a prekindergarten 15 program, accredited nonpublic schools offering a 16 prekindergarten program, prekindergarten and preschool programs 17 serving children with individualized education programs, and 18 preschool programs created in accordance with chapters 256A 19 and 256C. The preschool accountability system must utilize, 20 at minimum, data from child performance and growth measures 21 described in section 279.60, continuous improvement activities 22 described in chapters 256A and 256C, and other measures and 23 activities defined by the department. 24 b. Provide, in coordination with the department of 25 health and human services, an alignment of an outcomes-based 26 accountability system for school districts offering a 27 prekindergarten program, accredited nonpublic schools offering 28 a prekindergarten program, preschool programs serving children 29 with individualized education programs, and preschool programs 30 created in accordance with chapters 256A and 256C. The 31 outcomes-based accountability system shall take into account 32 the voluntary quality rating system established pursuant to 33 section 237A.30. 34 NEW SUBSECTION . 71. a. Review and revise the state early 35 -18- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 18/ 24

learning standards and standards related to preschool programs 1 serving children with individualized education programs and 2 preschool programs created in accordance with chapters 256A and 3 256C. 4 b. Provide professional development services to school 5 districts offering a prekindergarten program, accredited 6 nonpublic schools offering a prekindergarten program, preschool 7 programs serving children with individualized education 8 programs, and preschool programs created in accordance with 9 chapters 256A and 256C to assist such programs in implementing 10 the revised early learning standards, preschool assessments, 11 high-quality program standards, and standards related to 12 preschool programs. 13 DIVISION IV 14 EARLY CHILDHOOD IOWA INITIATIVE 15 Sec. 34. Section 256I.1, subsection 4, Code 2025, is amended 16 to read as follows: 17 4. “Early childhood Iowa area” means a geographic area 18 designated by the department in accordance with this chapter . 19 Sec. 35. Section 256I.4, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended 20 by striking the subsection. 21 Sec. 36. Section 256I.6, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended 22 by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu thereof the 23 following: 24 2. The department shall designate early childhood Iowa 25 areas in the same number and using the same geographic 26 boundaries as the behavioral health districts designated by the 27 department pursuant to section 225A.4, as enacted by 2024 Iowa 28 Acts, ch. 1161. 29 Sec. 37. Section 256I.6, subsections 3 and 4, Code 2025, are 30 amended by striking the subsections. 31 Sec. 38. Section 256I.8, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended 32 by adding the following new paragraph: 33 NEW PARAGRAPH . h. Implement evidence-based services that 34 are eligible for funding under the federal Social Security Act, 35 -19- HF 623.1749 (1) 91 (amending this HF 623 to CONFORM to SF 445) jda/jh 19/ 24