No. HB 345
Filed under Education.
Funding for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program; Revises calculation of base student allocation for VPK; requires Division of Early Learning to annually publish & provide to early learning coalitions specified information;& authorizes Legislature to provide additional funding for program.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDThe bill creates a floor for prekindergarten funding. The base student allocation may not be less than the previous year's amount, adjusted for inflation. This prevents the Legislature from cutting per-student funding.
The Division of Early Learning must publish the adjusted allocation on its website. It must also provide the amount to each early learning coalition by May 1 for the following program year.
The Legislature retains the power to provide a greater base student allocation. It may also add additional supplements for the program in the General Appropriations Act.
AICreates a statutory minimum funding level that automatically increases each year, preventing the legislature from cutting per-student VPK funding below the prior year's adjusted amount.
AILimits the automatic annual funding increase to a maximum of 5 percent, capping the growth of the base student allocation even if inflation exceeds that rate.
AIRequires that the base student allocation be identical for each student regardless of whether the prekindergarten program is delivered by a public school or a private provider.
AIMandates that the Division of Early Learning publish the adjusted allocation on its website and provide the amount to each early learning coalition by May 1 for the following program year.
AIPermits the legislature to appropriate a base student allocation greater than the calculated minimum or to add additional supplements for the VPK program in the General Appropriations Act.