SPONSOR: Quade
This bill modifies current eligibility for early childhood education programs, beginning in the 2024-25 school year to allow all students between the ages of three and five to count in the school's average daily attendance.
The bill specifies that in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years all districts and charter schools that currently offer kindergarten must provide or contract with an eligible early childhood program. Beginning in the 2027-28 school year districts and charters may no longer contract with a program and must offer it as part of the public education program of the district or charter school.
In the school years between 2024-25 and 2027-28 schools that are not currently offering an early childhood education program may request money for any eligible expenses to develop such a program. Eligible expenses include equipment, staff, and space requirement expansion. The bill creates the "Early Childhood Education Program Start-Up Fund" to provide clarification on the appropriation and disbursements for this Program.
Statutes affected: