SF 189 (LSB 2211XS (2) 89)

SENATE FILE 189

BY  MATHIS

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to funding for the statewide preschool program for four-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 256C.2, subsection 1, Code 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  A statewide preschool program for four-year-old 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.  The preschool program also seeks to achieve the goal of providing access to full-day preschool for all children who are four years old.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256C.5, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   c.  “Preschool budget enrollment” means the figure that is equal to fifty percent of the actual enrollment of eligible students in the preschool programming provided by a school district approved to participate in the preschool program on October 1 of the base year, or the first Monday in October if October 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
    Sec. 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
    Sec. 4.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2021.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under Code chapter 256C, preschool foundation aid is calculated by multiplying the school district’s preschool budget enrollment by the regular program state cost per pupil for the budget year. “Preschool budget enrollment” is defined as the figure that is equal to 50 percent of the actual enrollment of eligible students in the preschool programming provided by a school district approved to participate in the preschool program on October 1 of the base year. This bill modifies the definition to provide that the preschool budget enrollment is equal to the actual enrollment of eligible students in the preschool programming provided by a school district.
   The bill specifies that the preschool program under Code chapter 256C also seeks to achieve the goal of providing access to full-day preschool for all children who are four years old.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment and applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2021.