Bill > S319

This bill aims to establish the High Quality Pre-Kindergarten Education grant program to support the implementation of high-quality pre-kindergarten programs for children between the ages of 2 years and 9 months and the age a child becomes eligible for kindergarten. The grants would be used to invest in a high-quality, mixed-delivery early education system in order to reduce the achievement gap and improve third-grade reading scores. Eligible grantees include individual school districts and collaborations of multiple school districts, and proposals must include partnerships with licensed community-based early learning programs. The bill sets forth various requirements for grant applicants, such as a tracking system, child-to-instructor ratio, teacher qualifications, full-day programs, and evidence-based curricula. Grants are to be awarded based on readiness and need, with preference given to underperforming or chronically underperforming districts. Grant recipients are required to establish a plan to implement the program and report to the Department of Early Education and Care on a quarterly basis.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S319