Bill > H3402

This bill establishes a universal pre-kindergarten education program in all "gateway municipalities," which are defined as specific cities designated for economic development. The program will be available to all four-year-old children residing in these gateway cities who would qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches, and may also include three-year-olds who meet the same criteria. The program will be developed by the "board and department" (referring to state education authorities) and will include a standardized curriculum, partnerships with existing public, private, and faith-based pre-kindergarten providers, and a focus on the diverse developmental needs of the children. Children participating in this program will be counted towards their school district's student enrollment for funding purposes, and the board and department will provide vouchers to eligible families as needed to ensure full program implementation.