Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF381

Introduced
2/21/23  
Introduced
2/21/23  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to funding for approved local preschool programs and including applicability provisions.

Impact

The bill's impact on state laws is expected to provide increased stability and predictability in funding for preschool programs. By ensuring that funding reflects the genuine number of children enrolled in these programs, school districts may offer improved educational services and enhanced resources. This legislative shift could facilitate better developmental outcomes for children, as increased funding allows for more comprehensive educational programs. Furthermore, the focus on local preschool programs is a notable legislative move towards recognizing early childhood education as a critical component of the educational system.

Summary

House File 381 aims to amend the funding mechanism for local preschool programs in Iowa. It proposes that the preschool budget enrollment, used to determine state funding, should be based on the actual enrollment of eligible students, increased from the previous calculation of fifty percent. This adjustment significantly alters the funding picture for local school districts, aligning the assistance more closely with actual attendance figures, thereby injecting additional funds into preschool education. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2024, impacting school budget years starting thereafter.

Contention

Notably, while the bill improvements to funding for local preschool programs are generally seen as positive, there may be differing opinions regarding the sustainability of state funding and budget allocations. Critics of such funding increases might express concerns about potential strains on the overall state budget or question the equitable distribution of funds among different districts. Furthermore, stakeholders could argue about the effectiveness of the enhanced enrollment figure in genuinely improving early education outcomes, leading to discussions surrounding accountability and measurement of educational effectiveness.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

IA HF214

A bill for an act relating to funding of approved local preschool programs and including applicability provisions.

IA SF123

A bill for an act relating to funding of approved local preschool programs and including applicability provisions.

IA HF2092

A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions.(See HF 2493.)

IA HF2450

A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions.

IA SF2229

A bill for an act relating to education funding, including the amounts for the statewide preschool program and eligibility for payments under the education savings account program, and including applicability provisions.

IA HF2493

A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HF 2092.) Effective date: 07/01/2026. Applicability date: 07/01/2027.

IA HSB680

A bill for an act relating to education funding by authorizing community-based providers to directly participate in the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children, modifying the school tuition organization tax credit program, and including applicability provisions.

IA SF2231

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the protected speech and expression rights of students, modifying provisions related to the duties of the department of education, and modifying eligibility and participation requirements for certain education programs, preschool programs, and tax provisions, providing civil penalties, and including retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly SF 2060.) Effective date: 07/01/2026. Applicability date: 01/01/2026.

IA SF2434

A bill for an act relating to local government, including the approval of action by ordinance, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 3175.)

IA HF2713

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to charter schools, the Iowa public employees' retirement system, financing programs for charter schools and nonpublic schools administered by the Iowa finance authority, the statewide voluntary preschool program for the school start date, training and licensure, and making appropriations, and including applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 735; See HF 2754.)

Similar Bills

NJ S2868

Requires school districts receiving preschool education aid to establish mixed delivery system for preschool education.

NJ A3829

Requires school districts classified as child care deserts to provide preschool education vouchers for certain students.

NJ S2278

Requires State to reimburse federally unreimbursed costs of snacks provided to children at certain preschools; appropriates $100,000.

NJ A2551

Requires State to reimburse federally unreimbursed costs of snacks provided to children at certain preschools; appropriates $100,000.

IA HSB604

A bill for an act authorizing community-based providers to directly participate in the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children.(See HF 2358.)

IA HF2358

A bill for an act authorizing community-based providers to directly participate in the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children.(Formerly HSB 604.)

IA HSB680

A bill for an act relating to education funding by authorizing community-based providers to directly participate in the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children, modifying the school tuition organization tax credit program, and including applicability provisions.

NJ A4842

Requires certain school districts to partner with licensed child care providers and Head Start programs to provide free preschool opportunities.