Bill > HF2450

Introduced Session

The statewide preschool program for four-year-old children under Code chapter 256C provides that a child who is a resident of Iowa and is four years of age on or before September 15 of a school year shall be eligible to enroll in the preschool program. Additionally, to be included as an eligible student in the enrollment count of the preschool programming for state funding purposes, a child must be four years of age by September 15 in the base year and attending the school district’s approved local program. This bill expands the eligibility and state funding provisions of the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children under Code chapter 256C to also include five-year-old children who reach the age of five on or after June 1 but on or before September 15 of the calendar year during which the school year begins. A child who is enrolled as a four-year-old may enroll again as an eligible five-year-old. However, if insufficient space is available in a preschool program for all eligible children, priority for enrollment shall be given to children who meet the four-year-old requirements. In addition, if an eligible five-year-old child enrolled in the preschool program has been counted for state funding purposes for a prior school year, the child shall not be counted for state funding purposes. References to four-year-old children in the program named in Code chapter 256C and in related Code provisions are changed to “young children” or expanded to also refer to eligible five-year-old children and Code section 299.1A relating to compulsory education is also modified to reflect changes made in the bill. The bill applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.

AI Summary

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David Blom (R)*, 

Introduced, referred to Education. H.J. 291. (on 02/16/2026)

Official Document