Bill > HB2008

This bill, known as the "Universal Pre-K Funding Act," aims to expand access to pre-kindergarten programs in Tennessee by requiring Local Education Agencies (LEAs), which are local school districts, to provide pre-kindergarten programs that can serve all eligible four-year-old children. An "eligible child" is defined as a child who is four years old by August 15th and resides within the LEA's service area. The bill outlines specific requirements for these programs, including a maximum class size of twenty students, a licensed teacher certified in early childhood education per classroom, and an educational assistant with specific credentials or experience. It also mandates a minimum of five and a half hours of quality instructional time daily, the use of an age-appropriate curriculum aligned with state early learning standards, and a developmental learning program addressing various aspects of child development. To fund these expanded programs, the bill establishes a new "data transaction privilege tax" of 9.5% on digital advertising services that use personal user data, levied on companies with an "assessable base" (revenue from these data transactions in Tennessee) of $50 million or more. The revenue generated from this tax, after a small portion for administration, will be deposited into a dedicated "universal pre-K fund" to cover the costs of these pre-kindergarten programs, ensuring that eligible children do not have to pay tuition or fees for enrollment. The bill also allows LEAs to contract with non-school entities, such as licensed child care providers that meet certain quality standards, to operate these programs and sets forth reporting requirements for the Department of Education on the status of pre-kindergarten programs.

Education

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB2008&ga=114