Relating to the determination of funding for the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children and including applicability provisions

This bill relates to the determination of funding for the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children. Generally, the “preschool budget enrollment” definition used to determine school district funding for an approved preschool program under Code chapter 256C is the figure that is equal to percent of the actual enrollment of eligible students in the preschool programming provided by a school district approved to participate in the preschool program on October of the base year. The bill increases the percent amount to 100 percent. 5(1)(c) for the school year preceding the base year. The bill also establishes a preschool on-time funding budget adjustment for budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2023. The bill allows for the adjustment of a school district’s preschool foundation aid amount if requested by a school district and approved by the school budget review committee. The adjustment is allowed if a district’s actual enrollment of eligible students in the preschool programming for the budget year is greater than the school district’s preschool budget enrollment for the budget year. The adjustment shall be in an amount equal to the difference between the actual enrollment for the budget year and the budget enrollment for the budget year, multiplied by the regular program state cost per pupil. The bill also modifies provisions governing the funding for a school district’s first year of participation in the statewide preschool program. The bill applies July 1, 2023, for school budget years beginning on or after that date.