This bill amends the funding structure for approved local preschool programs in Iowa by changing the calculation of preschool budget enrollment. Specifically, it removes the previous requirement that preschool budget enrollment be equal to fifty percent of the actual enrollment of eligible students and instead establishes that it will now be equal to one hundred percent of that actual enrollment as of October 1 of the base year. Additionally, the bill modifies the funding calculation for the initial school year in which a school district is approved to participate in the preschool program, removing the previous stipulation that funding be based on sixty percent of the school district's eligible student enrollment.

The changes outlined in this bill are set to take effect for school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2026. This adjustment aims to provide more equitable funding for preschool programs by ensuring that funding reflects the actual number of eligible students enrolled, thereby potentially enhancing the resources available for early childhood education in Iowa.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256C.5