HF 144 (LSB 1833YH (2) 85)

HOUSE FILE 144

BY  HANUSA

A BILL FOR

An Act providing that children who are enrolled in the statewide preschool program are of compulsory attendance age.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256C.3, subsection 1, Code 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Eligible children.
   a.  A child who is a resident of Iowa and is four years of age on or before September 15 of a school year shall be eligible to enroll in the preschool program under this chapter. 
 
If such a child is enrolled under this chapter, the child shall be considered to be of compulsory attendance age as provided in section 299.1A, subsection 3.
   b.  If space and funding are available, a school district approved to participate in the preschool program may enroll a younger or older child in the preschool program; however, the child shall not be counted for state funding purposes.
    Sec. 2.  Section 299.1A, subsection 1, Code 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Except as provided in subsection
 
subsections 2
 
and 3, a child who has reached the age of six and is under sixteen years of age by September 15 is of compulsory attendance age. However, if a child enrolled in a school district or accredited nonpublic school reaches the age of sixteen on or after September 15, the child remains of compulsory age until the end of the regular school calendar.
    Sec. 3.  Section 299.1A, Code 2013, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  3.  A child who has reached the age of four by September 15 and who is enrolled in the statewide preschool program under chapter 256C shall be considered to be of compulsory attendance age unless the parent or guardian of the child submits written notice to the school district implementing the program of the parent’s or guardian’s intent to remove the child from enrollment in the preschool program.
EXPLANATION
   This bill provides that a child who is four years of age on or before September 15 of a school year and who is enrolled in the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children shall be considered to be of compulsory attendance age unless the parent or guardian of the child submits written notice to the school district implementing the program of the parent’s or guardian’s intent to remove the child from enrollment in the preschool program.