Iowa HF 623: A bill for an act relating to early childhood education and care, including by modifying provisions related to the statewide preschool program, the child development coordinating council, programs for at-risk children, the responsibilities of the department of education, the early childhood Iowa initiative, and the state child care assistance program, and establishing the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program within the department of health and human services.

Bill Text

House File 623
H-1297
Amend House File 623 as follows:1
1. By striking everything after the enacting clause and2
inserting:3
<DIVISION I4
STATEWIDE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM5
Section 1. Section 256.163, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code6
2025, is amended to read as follows:7
c. Preschool programs at school districts approved to8
participate in the preschool program, or at community-based9
providers approved to directly participate in the preschool10
program, under chapter 256C.11
Sec. 2. Section 256C.1, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended12
to read as follows:13
1. “Approved local program” means a school district’s14
program or community-based provider’s program for four-year-old15
children approved by the department of education to provide16
high quality high-quality preschool instruction.17
Sec. 3. Section 256C.1, Code 2025, is amended by adding the18
following new subsection:19
NEW SUBSECTION. 1A. “Community-based provider approved20
to directly participate in the preschool program” means a21
community-based provider that meets the community-based22
provider requirements under section 256C.3 and has been23
approved by the department to directly participate in the24
preschool program. “Community-based provider approved to25
directly participate in the preschool program” does not mean a26
community-based provider that partners with a school district’s27
approved local program.28
Sec. 4. Section 256C.3, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code29
2025, is amended to read as follows:30
b. If space and funding are available, including funding31
from another school district account or fund from which32
preschool program expenditures are authorized by law, a school33
district approved to participate in the preschool program or34
community-based provider approved to directly participate in35
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the preschool program may enroll and pay the cost of attendance1
for a younger or older child in the preschool program; however,2
the child shall not be counted for state funding purposes.3
Sec. 5. Section 256C.3, subsection 2, paragraph a,4
subparagraph (1), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:5
(1) The individual is either employed by or under contract6
with the school district, or with the community-based provider7
approved to directly participate in the preschool program, that8
is implementing the program.9
Sec. 6. Section 256C.3, subsection 3, unnumbered paragraph10
1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:11
The state board shall adopt rules to further define the12
following preschool program requirements which shall be used13
to determine whether or not a local program implemented by a14
school district approved to implement the preschool program or15
a community-based provider directly approved to implement the16
preschool program qualifies as an approved local program:17
Sec. 7. Section 256C.3, subsection 3, paragraph h, Code18
2025, is amended to read as follows:19
h. Provision for ensuring that children receiving care from20
other child care arrangements can participate in the preschool21
program with minimal disruption due to transportation and22
movement from one site to another. The children participating23
in the preschool program may be transported by the school24
district or community provider to activities associated with25
the program along with other children.26
Sec. 8. Section 256C.3, Code 2025, is amended by adding the27
following new subsection:28
NEW SUBSECTION. 4A. Community-based provider29
requirements. The state board shall adopt rules to further30
define the following requirements of community-based providers31
approved to directly participate in the preschool program in32
implementing the preschool program:33
a. Methods of demonstrating readiness to implement34
high-quality instruction in the local program shall be35
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identified.1
b. A community-based provider shall participate in data2
collection and performance measurement processes and reporting3
as defined by rule.4
c. Professional development for community-based provider5
preschool teachers shall be addressed in the community-based6
provider’s professional development plan.7
Sec. 9. Section 256C.3, subsection 5, paragraphs a, b, and8
d, Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:9
a. The department shall implement an application and10
selection process for school district participation and11
community-based provider participation in the preschool program12
that includes but is not limited to the enrollment requirements13
provided under section 256C.4.14
b. The department shall track the progress of15
students served by a school district preschool program or16
community-based provider preschool program and the students’17
performance in elementary and secondary education.18
d. The state board, in collaboration with the department,19
shall ensure that the administrative rules adopted to support20
th