AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 50-11.1-21 and section 50-11.1-23 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to age requirements for an approved four-year old program; and eligibility for the best in class program.
Summary
HB 1497 revises North Dakota’s early childhood education statutes in two main ways. First, it changes the age rule for approved four-year-old programs so that children generally must turn four before August 1 of the enrollment year, but allows a school district to admit a child who turns four before December 1 if the district determines, based on child development factors and school readiness, that early enrollment is appropriate. Second, it updates the eligibility rules for the state’s “best in class” early childhood program, which provides funding to approved four-year-old programs, Head Start programs, and other early childhood programs.
To qualify for best in class funding, a provider must meet several program standards, including serving four-year-olds, operating at least 400 hours over at least 32 consecutive weeks, providing at least 10 hours of research-based family engagement, meeting quality or accreditation benchmarks, admitting children of all learning abilities, and accepting children who receive child care assistance. The bill also allows the department to distribute funds to approved applicants and to recapture funds from programs found out of compliance. It further exempts these selections and payments from chapter 54-44.4 procurement requirements.
Impact
The bill amends sections 50-11.1-21 and 50-11.1-23 of the North Dakota Century Code, affecting approval standards for four-year-old preschool programs and the administration of the best in class early childhood funding program. It gives school districts more discretion to enroll some children who are younger than the standard cutoff date, while tightening and clarifying eligibility and compliance conditions for programs seeking state early childhood grants. The measure primarily affects school districts, Head Start providers, early childhood programs, the Department of Public Instruction or other administering agency, and families seeking preschool access.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad but not unanimous support. It passed the House and Senate with clear majorities, though both chambers recorded notable minority opposition, suggesting general agreement with the policy direction but some disagreement over the details. The votes indicate the bill was ultimately acceptable to most legislators, likely because it expands local flexibility and preserves access to early childhood funding while maintaining program standards.
Contention
The main points of contention likely centered on the age cutoff and the discretion given to school districts to admit children who do not meet the standard August 1 deadline but will turn four before December 1. Another possible area of concern was the eligibility framework for best in class funding, including quality benchmarks, compliance monitoring, and the authority to recapture funds from noncompliant programs. The recorded no votes in both chambers suggest some legislators may have been concerned about administrative discretion, program standards, or the scope of state involvement in early childhood education funding.