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2016 SESSION

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SB 540 Early childhood education; all school divisions to provide for certain children.

Introduced by: John S. Edwards | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Early childhood education. Requires, on and after July 1, 2021, all school divisions to provide early childhood education programs for four-year-olds and five-year-olds who are not eligible to attend kindergarten or at-risk early childhood education programs and whose parents voluntarily wish to enroll them in such programs. These mandated early childhood education programs must be coordinated with the current at-risk early childhood programs, must be consistent with the Department of Education guidelines for early childhood education, and must meet the standards established by the Board of Education. The bill requires the Board of Education to promulgate regulations to implement the orderly phase-in of the required programs with the current voluntary programs for at-risk four-year-olds and at-risk five-year-olds who are not eligible to attend kindergarten. Implementation and funding of the required public school early childhood education programs is contingent on funding in the appropriation act. The grants for the at-risk programs may continue to be provided to public schools or other local agencies; however, the Standards of Quality funding of early childhood education will be provided only to public schools.


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