This bill seeks to improve early childhood education and care in Iowa by revising existing laws related to the statewide preschool program and the responsibilities of the Department of Education (DE). It allows community-based providers to participate directly in the preschool program for four-year-old children, enabling them to receive funding independently from school districts. The bill also transfers responsibilities from the Child Development Coordinating Council to DE, which includes establishing guidelines for services aimed at at-risk children and managing funding allocations. Additionally, it introduces a new accountability system for preschool programs and mandates DE to compile a list of effective curricula and instructional materials.

Moreover, the bill establishes eligibility criteria for the state child care assistance program, allowing parents or guardians working in child care facilities to qualify for assistance under certain conditions. It also creates a Child Care Continuum Partnership Grants Pilot Program to provide competitive grants for collaborations between preschool providers and licensed child care centers, aimed at enhancing early childhood education. The legislation emphasizes the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors in early care and education, reflecting a commitment to improving the quality and accessibility of programs for at-risk children in Iowa.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256C.1, 256C.3, 257.16, 256C.4, 256C.5, 17A.4, 256.9, 256.163, 256A.3, 279.49, 256A.5, 237A.26, 262.71, 273.2, 279.51, 256A.2, 279.60, 256I.4, 256I.6, 225A.4