The bill amends various provisions related to early childhood education and care in Iowa, with a focus on enhancing the statewide preschool program. It introduces community-based providers as approved participants, allowing them to offer high-quality preschool instruction alongside school districts. State funding for preschool programs will now be based on enrollment figures from both school districts and community-based providers, ensuring fair allocation. Additionally, a new pilot program for child care continuum partnership grants is established within the Department of Health and Human Services, aimed at improving access to quality preschool education for at-risk children.

The legislation also updates the responsibilities of the Department of Education, replacing the "child development coordinating council" with the department in overseeing early childhood education services. It emphasizes developmentally appropriate practices and parental involvement while introducing a requirement for the department to review effective curricula for prekindergarten programs. Funding allocations for early childhood programs are modified to support at-risk children, and the bill establishes criteria for awarding grants based on community resource integration and staff quality. Furthermore, it creates a preschool accountability system to assess developmental outcomes and mandates monthly reporting requirements for early childhood Iowa area boards to ensure transparency in expenditures.

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
Reprinted: 256.163, 256C.1, 256C.3, 257.16, 256C.4, 256C.5, 17A.4, 256.9, 256A.3, 279.49, 256A.5, 237A.26, 262.71, 273.2, 279.51, 256A.2, 279.60, 256I.4, 256I.6, 225A.4, 256I.9, 237A.13, 256I.7