This bill seeks to improve early childhood education and care in Iowa by modifying existing laws related to the statewide preschool program, the responsibilities of the Department of Education (DE), and the state child care assistance program. A significant change is the inclusion of community-based providers as approved participants in the preschool program for four-year-old children, allowing them to receive state funding similar to school districts. The bill also transfers responsibilities from the Child Development Coordinating Council to the DE, which will now oversee the promotion of child development services for at-risk children, develop definitions for at-risk children, and establish grant programs. Additionally, it introduces a pilot program for child care continuum partnership grants to foster collaboration between preschool providers and licensed child care centers.

Moreover, the bill modifies eligibility criteria for the state child care assistance program, enabling parents or guardians employed in child care facilities to qualify for assistance under specific conditions. It mandates the DE to create an accountability system for prekindergarten programs and revise early learning standards. The early childhood Iowa areas will be aligned with behavioral health districts by January 1, 2026, promoting a more coordinated approach to early childhood services. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of early childhood education, particularly for at-risk children and their families, through improved collaboration, funding mechanisms, and program standards.

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