| HB1004 | EARLY LEARNING PILOT GRANT PROGRAM. (BEHNING R) Authorizes the office of the secretary of family and social services (office) to establish a pilot program (pilot program) to make grants to certain entities that provide qualified early education services to eligible children who are four years of age. Specifies that the pilot program shall be funded (after review by the budget committee and approval by the budget agency) from any one or both of the following: (1) From Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) grant funding. (2) From amounts reverted in a state fiscal year from funds appropriated to the divisions, departments, and bureaus administered by the office that are designated by the budget agency as available for funding the pilot program. Provides that the total amount of grants awarded from such funding under the pilot program in a state fiscal year may not exceed $10,000,000. Specifies certain requirements that must be satisfied by an eligible provider that participates in the program. Provides that the amount of a grant made under the pilot program for an eligible child: (1) must equal at least $2,500 during the state fiscal year; and (2) may not exceed $6,800 during the state fiscal year. Specifies that at least 10% but not more than 50% of the tuition for eligible children under the pilot program during the state fiscal year must be paid from donations, gifts, grants, bequests, and other funds received from a private entity or person, from the United States government, or from other sources. Specifies that the grants shall be distributed in a manner consistent with how funds are distributed under the CCDF grant program. Requires the office to carry out a longitudinal study of students who participate in the pilot program to determine the achievement levels of those students in kindergarten and later grades. Provides that the office may, after consulting with the state board of education, enter into a contract with one or more persons to carry out the longitudinal study. Requires the office to report annually to the governor, the budget committee, the state board of education, the department of education, and the legislative council regarding the pilot program. Provides that a taxpayer is not entitled to a school scholarship tax credit for a contribution to a scholarship granting organization that is used to provide a scholarship or other assistance to a child participating in the pilot program. Establishes the prekindergarten and early learning study commission. |