This bill expands the definition of "public preschool program" to include a program that provides instruction to children who are 3 years of age. The bill provides that, in addition to allowing start-up funds for the operation of public preschools for children who are 4 years of age, the State, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, may provide start-up funding for the allowable costs to operate public preschool programs for children who are both 3 years of age and identified as a child with a disability. The bill specifies that public preschool students who are 3 years of age and have not been identified as a child with a disability are not subsidizable pupils for the purposes of state subsidy calculations under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 606-B. Under the bill, a child who is years of age on October 15th and does not have an identified disability may still attend a public preschool program that offers instruction to children who are 3 years of age. Under the bill, a person who is at least 3 years of age and is identified as a child with a disability may enroll in an available public preschool program at any time prior to enrolling in kindergarten.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 2114, HP 1429: 20-A.1, 20-A.405, 20-A.4251, 20-A.4252, 20-A.4271, 20-A.4502, 20-A.5201, 20-A.15688