This bill amends sections of the North Dakota Century Code regarding the approval and eligibility of four-year-old programs. It allows any person or school district seeking to operate a four-year-old program to request approval from the department for a two-year period. The bill specifies that programs must be taught by individuals licensed or approved in early childhood education and must comply with various health and safety requirements. Notably, it introduces flexibility in enrollment age, permitting children who turn four before December 1 to enroll if the school district determines it is appropriate based on developmental factors. Additionally, the application process includes a nonrefundable fee of fifty dollars.

The bill also outlines eligibility criteria for the "best in class" program, which can include approved four-year-old programs and federally funded head start programs. It maintains the requirement that children must be four years old before August 1 to enroll, with the new provision allowing exceptions as stated in the previous section. The program must operate for a minimum of 400 hours over at least 32 consecutive weeks and include family engagement components. The department is granted the authority to distribute funds to approved applicants and recapture funds from programs that fail to comply with established requirements.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 50-11.1-21
Adopted by the House Education Committee: 50-11.1-21
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 50-11.1-21
SECOND ENGROSSMENT: 50-11.1-21
Adopted by the Senate Education Committee: 50-11.1-21, 50-11.1-23
25.1192.04002 : 50-11.1-21, 50-11.1-23
Enrollment: 50-11.1-21, 50-11.1-23