Bill Text: IA SF473 | 2015-2016 | 86th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to the state preschool program for four-year-old children by establishing a preschool expansion incentive, authorizing state aid for the incentive, and addressing program costs. (Formerly SSB 1101 and SF 246.)
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-17 - Subcommittee, Dvorsky, Kraayenbrink, and Schoenjahn. S.J. 257. [SF473 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2015-SF473-Introduced.html
Senate File 473 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS (SUCCESSOR TO SF 246) (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1101) A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the state preschool program for 2 four=year=old children by establishing a preschool expansion 3 incentive, authorizing state aid for the incentive, and 4 addressing program costs. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 1517SZ (1) 86 md/sc PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 256C.3, subsection 3, paragraph h, Code 1 2 2015, is amended to read as follows: 1 3 h. Provision for ensuring that children receiving care from 1 4 other child care arrangements can participate in the preschool 1 5 program with minimal disruption due to transportation and 1 6 movement from one site to another. The children participating 1 7 in the preschool program may be transported by the school 1 8 district to and from activities associated with the program 1 9 along with other children. 1 10 Sec. 2. Section 256C.3, subsection 4, Code 2015, is amended 1 11 by adding the following new paragraph: 1 12 NEW PARAGRAPH. e. Development and implementation of a plan 1 13 for the school district's preschool program to have sufficient 1 14 capacity to operate without a waiting list for school budget 1 15 years beginning on or after July 1, 2018. 1 16 Sec. 3. Section 256C.4, subsection 1, paragraphs g and h, 1 17 Code 2015, are amended to read as follows: 1 18 g. For the fiscal year beginning July 1,20112015, and 1 19 each succeeding fiscal year, of the amount of preschool 1 20 foundation aid received by a school district for a fiscal year 1 21 in accordance with section 257.16, not more thanfiveten 1 22 percent may be used by the school district for administering 1 23 the district's approved local program. Outreach activities 1 24 and rent for facilities not owned by the school district are 1 25 permissive uses of the administrative funds. 1 26 h. For the fiscal year beginning July 1,20122015, and 1 27 each succeeding fiscal year, of the amount of preschool 1 28 foundation aid received by a school district for a fiscal year 1 29 in accordance with section 257.16, not less thanninety=five 1 30ninety percent of the per pupil amount shall be passed through 1 31 to a community=based provider for each pupil enrolled in 1 32 the district's approved local program. For the fiscal year 1 33 beginning July 1,20112015, and each succeeding fiscal year, 1 34 not more thanfiveten percent of the amount of preschool 1 35 foundation aid passed through to a community=based provider 2 1 may be used by the community=based provider for administrative 2 2 costs. The costs of outreach activities and rent for 2 3 facilities not owned by the school district are permissive 2 4 administrative costs. The costs of transportation involving 2 5 children participating in the preschool program and other 2 6 children may be prorated. 2 7 Sec. 4. Section 256C.4, subsection 2, paragraph b, Code 2 8 2015, is amended to read as follows: 2 9 b. The enrollment count of eligible students shall not 2 10 include a child who is included in the enrollment count 2 11 determined under section 257.6 or a child who is served by 2 12aan existing preschool program already receiving state or 2 13 federal funds for the purpose ofthe provision ofproviding 2 14 four=year=old preschool programming while the child is being 2 15 served by the existing program.Such preschool programming 2 16However, the enrollment count of eligible students may include 2 17 a child being served by an existing preschool program if 2 18 the preschool programming in the existing program has been 2 19 enhanced as a result of preschool program expansion incentive 2 20 state aid provided under section 256C.7. For the purposes 2 21 of this chapter, an "existing preschool program" includes but 2 22 is not limited to shared visions and other child development 2 23 assistance programs provided under chapter 256A and section 2 24 279.51, special education programs provided under section 2 25 256B.9, school ready children grant programs and other programs 2 26 provided under chapter 256I, and federal head start programs 2 27 and the services funded by Tit. I of the federal Elementary and 2 28 Secondary Education Act of 1965. 2 29 Sec. 5. Section 256C.5, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 2 30 1, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows: 2 31 For the purposes of thissectionand section 256C.4chapter, 2 32 unless the context otherwise requires: 2 33 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION. 256C.7 Preschool program expansion 2 34 incentive. 2 35 1. For the purposes of this section, unless the context 3 1 otherwise requires: 3 2 a. "Base incentive enrollment" means the average of the 3 3 actual enrollments of eligible students in the preschool 3 4 programming provided by a school district on October 1, 2012, 3 5 October 1, 2013, and October 1, 2014. 3 6 b. "Incentive enrollment" means the amount by which the 3 7 actual enrollment of eligible students in the preschool 3 8 programming provided by a school district on October 1 of 3 9 the base year exceeds the school district's base incentive 3 10 enrollment. 3 11 c. "Incentive period" means the budget years beginning July 3 12 1, 2016, July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018. 3 13 d. "Incentive state aid" means the product of twenty percent 3 14 of the regular program state cost per pupil for the budget year 3 15 multiplied by the school district's incentive enrollment in the 3 16 base year. 3 17 2. a. A preschool program expansion incentive is 3 18 established in accordance with this section. In order to be 3 19 eligible for the incentive, a school district must develop and 3 20 implement a preschool program expansion plan, approved by the 3 21 department, to expand enrollment of eligible students in the 3 22 school district's preschool programming. In addition, the 3 23 school district shall work with existing preschool program 3 24 providers to expand hours and otherwise enhance the preschool 3 25 programming available to the children participating in the 3 26 programs. The plan's goal shall be that by the end of the 3 27 incentive period the district's preschool programming will 3 28 be available without a waiting list to each child wanting to 3 29 enroll in the programming. After completion of the incentive 3 30 period, the department shall analyze the growth in access 3 31 to the preschool program and enhancements made in preschool 3 32 programming as a result of the incentive, including in 3 33 the programs provided directly by school districts and in 3 34 those offered in partnership with community providers. The 3 35 department shall submit a report to the general assembly that 4 1 shall include identification of progress made toward the 4 2 incentive program's goals and documentation of collaboration 4 3 efforts made with input from participating families, early care 4 4 providers, and community partners. 4 5 b. The elements addressed in the preschool program expansion 4 6 plan shall include but are not limited to the following: 4 7 (1) How the school district will work in collaboration with 4 8 participating families, early care providers, and community 4 9 partners, as described in section 256C.3, subsection 3, 4 10 to provide the preschool programming in as convenient and 4 11 cost=effective a manner as possible for the families of the 4 12 four=year=old children who are eligible for the programming. 4 13 (2) A specification of the roles of the early care providers 4 14 and community partners in support of the expansion plan. 4 15 (3) A delineation of the specific steps for expanding hours 4 16 and otherwise enhancing the preschool programming available to 4 17 the children participating in the existing preschool programs 4 18 located in the school district. 4 19 (4) Identification of specific outcomes and progress 4 20 measures for the expansion plan. 4 21 (5) Detailed plans for contacting and soliciting enrollment 4 22 of eligible students, particularly from low=income families, 4 23 non=English speaking families, and families from ethnic and 4 24 racial groups underrepresented in the district's preschool 4 25 program enrollment. 4 26 3. The department of education shall provide required 4 27 elements and recommend best practices for outreach and program 4 28 expansion under the incentive, including expansion plan models 4 29 that school districts may consider in developing their local 4 30 expansion plans, and including but not limited to submission 4 31 provisions, annual updates, and documentation of collaboration 4 32 efforts with and input from participating families, early care 4 33 providers, and community partners. 4 34 4. During the incentive period, in addition to the 4 35 regular preschool foundation aid based on the preschool 5 1 budget enrollment, the school district implementing a 5 2 preschool expansion plan approved by the department shall 5 3 receive incentive state aid based on the district's incentive 5 4 enrollment. The incentive state aid shall be paid as 5 5 part of the state aid payments made to school districts in 5 6 accordance with section 257.16 and shall be subject to the 5 7 same requirements applicable to preschool foundation aid under 5 8 section 256C.4, subsection 1, paragraph "d". 5 9 5. A school district shall utilize its incentive state aid 5 10 to defray increases in costs in connection with the school 5 11 district's preschool program expansion plan. Such costs shall 5 12 include but are not limited to renovation and other facility 5 13 costs connected with expansion, outreach, one=time expenses, 5 14 and other costs identified as eligible by the department. 5 15 Sec. 7. Section 257.16, Code 2015, is amended by adding the 5 16 following new subsection: 5 17 NEW SUBSECTION. 1A. For the fiscal years in which the 5 18 preschool program expansion incentive applies in accordance 5 19 with section 256C.7, the appropriation made in subsection 1 5 20 shall include the amount necessary to pay incentive state aid 5 21 in accordance with section 256C.7. This subsection is repealed 5 22 on July 1, 2019. 5 23 Sec. 8. STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED. In accordance 5 24 with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring 5 25 compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall 5 26 be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid 5 27 received by the school district under section 257.16. This 5 28 specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed 5 29 to meet all of the state funding=related requirements of 5 30 section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding 5 31 shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act 5 32 by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school 5 33 districts. 5 34 EXPLANATION 5 35 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 6 1 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 6 2 This bill relates to the statewide preschool program for 6 3 four=year=old children by establishing a preschool program 6 4 expansion incentive and authorizing state aid for the 6 5 incentive. The bill also addresses costs allowed under the 6 6 program. 6 7 Code section 256C.3, relating to preschool program 6 8 requirements, is amended to require each school district to 6 9 implement a plan for the school district's preschool program to 6 10 have sufficient capacity to operate without a waiting list for 6 11 school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2018. 6 12 To be eligible for the preschool expansion incentive, 6 13 a school district must develop and implement a preschool 6 14 expansion plan, approved by the department, in order to expand 6 15 enrollment of eligible students in the school district's 6 16 preschool programming. Requirements for the plan are 6 17 provided in the bill, including how the school district will 6 18 collaborate with participating families, early care providers, 6 19 and community partners to expand the district's preschool 6 20 enrollment. The department of education is to specify other 6 21 requirements for the plan and for approval of plans by the 6 22 department. The bill requires the department of education to 6 23 analyze the enhancements to the preschool program following the 6 24 incentives period and submit a report to the general assembly. 6 25 Current law in Code section 256C.4 prohibits inclusion 6 26 in the preschool program of children already included in a 6 27 school's enrollment count for purposes of the school aid 6 28 foundation formula or children who are served by an existing 6 29 preschool program already receiving state or federal funds for 6 30 the purpose of providing four=year=old preschool programming 6 31 while the child is being served by the existing program. The 6 32 bill allows inclusion of children participating in an existing 6 33 program if the preschool programming in the existing program 6 34 has been enhanced as part of the expansion incentive. 6 35 The incentive program will operate for the three school 7 1 budget years beginning July 1, 2016, July 1, 2017, and July 7 2 1, 2018. For those three budget years, a school district is 7 3 eligible to receive incentive state aid for the increase in 7 4 the actual enrollment of eligible students in the preschool 7 5 programming provided by a school district in the immediately 7 6 preceding school year over the base incentive enrollment. 7 7 The base incentive enrollment is the average of the actual 7 8 enrollments of eligible students in the school district's 7 9 preschool programming on October 1, 2012, October 1, 2013, 7 10 and October 1, 2014. The amount of incentive state aid is 7 11 equal to 20 percent of the regular program state cost per pupil 7 12 multiplied by the school district's incentive enrollment in the 7 13 base year. 7 14 The incentive state aid is required to be used to defray 7 15 increases in costs in connection with the school district's 7 16 preschool expansion plan. Such costs may include renovation 7 17 and other facility costs connected with expansion, outreach, 7 18 one=time expenses, and other costs identified as eligible by 7 19 the department. 7 20 The bill also addresses administration and other costs under 7 21 the preschool program in amendments to Code sections 256C.3 and 7 22 256C.4. Authorization is provided for a school district to 7 23 transport the children participating in the preschool program 7 24 to and from activities associated with the program along with 7 25 other children. The bill authorizes community=based providers 7 26 to prorate the costs of transporting children participating in 7 27 the preschool program. The allowable administrative costs for 7 28 school districts are increased from 5 to 10 percent. Also, the 7 29 costs of outreach activities and facility rent are permitted 7 30 as administrative costs. 7 31 The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code 7 32 section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of 7 33 any state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school 7 34 district from state school foundation aid received by the 7 35 school district under Code section 257.16. The specification 8 1 is deemed to constitute state compliance with any state mandate 8 2 funding=related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The 8 3 inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the 8 4 requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state 8 5 mandates included in the bill. LSB 1517SZ (1) 86 md/sc
