Bill > S240

This bill aims to establish a High Quality Pre-Kindergarten Expansion grant program to support the development of high-quality, full-day pre-kindergarten programs for children aged 2 years and 9 months to the age of kindergarten eligibility. The bill sets requirements for grant applicants, such as having a child-to-instructor ratio of no more than 10:1, a class size of no more than 20 students, and providing developmentally and linguistically appropriate instruction. The bill also requires grant recipients to establish a plan to implement the program and provide quarterly reports to the Department of Early Education and Care. Additionally, the bill amends the state's education funding formula to count full-day pre-kindergarten students at 100% of the preceding year's actual number of low-income kindergarten and pre-school students, rather than at half-day enrollment, to provide more equitable funding for districts with full-day pre-kindergarten programs.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S240