HF 421 (LSB 1525YH (2) 87)

HOUSE FILE 421

BY  BRECKENRIDGE, HUNTER, KACENA, HANSON, ANDERSON, KEARNS, OURTH, BEARINGER, STECKMAN, COHOON, GASKILL, GAINES, WINCKLER, LENSING, MASCHER, NIELSEN, and THEDE

(COMPANION TO SF 98 BY HART)

A BILL FOR

An Act expanding the statewide preschool program to include certain five-year-old children and including effective date and applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 135.173A, subsection 4, paragraph p, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   p.  One person who is part of a local program implementing the statewide preschool program for four-year-old young children under chapter 256C.
    Sec. 2.  Section 135.173A, subsection 6, paragraph f, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   f.  Make recommendations for improving collaborations between the child care programs involving the department of human services and programs supporting the education and development of young children including but not limited to the federal head start program; the statewide preschool program for four-year-old young children; and the early childhood, at-risk, and other early education programs administered by the department of education.
    Sec. 3.  Section 256C.1, subsections 1 and 4, Code 2017, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  “Approved local program” means a school district’s program for four-year-old young children approved by the department of education to provide high quality preschool instruction.
   4.  “Preschool program” means the statewide preschool program for four-year-old young children created in accordance with this chapter.
    Sec. 4.  Section 256C.1, Code 2017, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  7.  “Young children” means children who are four years of age or who are five years of age and have not previously enrolled in a preschool program.
    Sec. 5.  Section 256C.2, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   256C.2  Statewide preschool program for four-year-old young children —— purpose.
   1.  A statewide preschool program for four-year-old young children is established. The purpose of the preschool program is to provide an opportunity for all young children in the state to enter school ready to learn by expanding voluntary access to quality preschool curricula for all children who are four years old or who are five years old and have not previously enrolled in a preschool program.
   2.  The state board shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 17A as necessary to implement the preschool program as provided in this chapter.
    Sec. 6.  Section 256C.3, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  A child who is a resident of Iowa and is four years of age on or before September 15 of a school year or who is five years of age on or before September 15 of a school year and has not previously enrolled in a preschool program 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.
    Sec. 7.  Section 256C.3, subsection 4, paragraph b, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  Subject to implementation of chapter 28E agreements between a school district and community-based providers of services to four-year-old children and five-year-old children, a four-year-old child or eligible five-year-old child who is enrolled in a child care center or child development home licensed or registered under chapter 237A, or in an existing public or private preschool program, shall be eligible for services provided by the school district’s local preschool program.
    Sec. 8.  Section 256C.4, subsection 2, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  Eligible student enrollment.
   a.  To be included as an eligible student in the enrollment count of the preschool programming provided by a school district approved to participate in the preschool program, a child must be four years of age by September 15 or be five years of age and meet the criteria under section 256C.3, subsection 1, paragraph “a”, in the base year and attending the school district’s approved local program.
   b.  The enrollment count of eligible students shall not include a child who is included in the enrollment count determined under section 257.6 or a child who is served by a program already receiving state or federal funds for the purpose of the provision of four-year-old or five-year-old preschool programming while the child is being served by the program. Such preschool programming includes but is not limited to child development assistance programs provided under chapter 256A, special education programs provided under section 256B.9, school ready children grant programs and other programs provided under chapter 256I, and federal head start programs and the services funded by Tit. I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
    Sec. 9.  Section 299.1A, subsection 3, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  A child who has reached the age of four by September 15 or who has reached the age of five 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.
    Sec. 10.  EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
    Sec. 11.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2017.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill expands the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children under Code chapter 256C to also include five-year-old children who have not previously enrolled in a preschool program under that Code chapter. The program is administered by local school districts subject to rules adopted by the state board of education and receives funding through the school aid formula.
   References to four-year-old children in the program named in Code chapter 256C and in related Code provisions are changed to “young children” or expanded to also refer to five-year-old children who have not previously enrolled in a preschool program under Code chapter 256C.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment and applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2017.