Requires certain school districts to partner with licensed child care providers and Head Start programs to provide free preschool opportunities.
Summary
This bill requires certain school districts that receive preschool expansion grants, and in some cases preschool education aid, to provide free preschool through a mixed-delivery model that includes partnerships with licensed child care providers and Head Start programs in the district and nearby communities. For districts newly receiving preschool expansion grants in the first full school year after enactment, the bill requires them to partner with community providers and to use competitive contracting when selecting those partners. Providers participating in these partnerships must meet Department of Education standards for high-quality preschool.
The bill also limits the number of preschool classrooms a district may operate in a school building with State funds to two, with additional classrooms to be provided through licensed child care providers and Head Start programs. Districts may seek a one-year waiver if they can show there are not enough available community providers to meet local needs. In addition, the Department of Education must create technical assistance and a grant program to help child care providers and Head Start programs meet preschool quality standards and form partnerships with districts.
Impact
The bill amends existing preschool education statutes to shift some State-funded preschool delivery away from district-operated classrooms and toward community-based providers and Head Start programs. It changes grant application requirements, adds partnership documentation and capacity disclosures, and requires districts to use competitive contracting for preschool services from outside providers. It also expands school report card data to include preschool enrollment, capacity trends, and partnership information, and directs the Departments of Education, Children and Families, and Human Services to publish and update statewide preschool provider and district information online.
Sentiment
The bill appears to be framed positively by its sponsors as an expansion of access to high-quality preschool while preserving community child care capacity and parental choice. The stated policy goal is to create a mixed-delivery system that avoids displacing existing providers and better serves infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children. No committee testimony or recorded votes were provided, so there is no additional evidence of broader legislative support or opposition in the available materials.
Contention
The main policy tension is between district-operated preschool expansion and the bill’s requirement that districts rely more heavily on licensed child care providers and Head Start programs. Potential points of contention include the cap of two district-operated preschool classrooms per school building, the use of competitive contracting, and whether districts can realistically find enough qualified community providers to meet demand. The waiver process is intended to address provider shortages, but districts with limited community capacity may still view the restriction as burdensome, while supporters are likely to favor the bill’s emphasis on preserving community-based child care and expanding access through mixed delivery.
Same As
Requires certain school districts to partner with licensed child care providers and Head Start programs to provide free preschool opportunities.