Bill > SB191

This bill establishes the Kentucky Kindergarten Readiness Performance-Based Child Care Incentive Pilot Program, which will be operated by the University of Kentucky and run from August 1, 2027, to July 31, 2029. The program aims to determine the most effective ways to provide performance-based incentives to various early childhood education and child-care providers, as well as low-income parents, with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of children in Kentucky who are ready for kindergarten. This involves developing and implementing methods to assess kindergarten readiness, distribute funds through direct payments or tax credits to eligible providers and parents, and identify resources to help parents prepare their children. A key component is a one-time $2,000 award per child designated as kindergarten-ready, with the amount potentially varying based on the type and duration of care provided. The bill also defines "Cabinet" as the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, "Type I child-care center" and "Type II child-care center" based on the number of children and whether care is provided in a non-residential setting or the licensee's primary residence, and "University" as the University of Kentucky. By January 2030, the University will report on the pilot program's findings, including recommendations for improving kindergarten readiness and optimizing performance-based incentives, along with data on assessment processes and readiness rates.