REFERENCE TITLE: preschool pilot program; appropriation

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

HB 2407

Introduced by

Representatives Terech: Aguilar, Cano, Contreras L, Gutierrez, Pawlik, Peshlakai, Schwiebert, Seaman, Travers

An Act

establishing a preschool pilot program; appropriating monies.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Preschool pilot program; application process; reports and summary; delayed repeal; definition

A. The department of education shall develop a preschool pilot program for providing early childhood education in up to five school districts in this state during the 2024-2025, 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. The preschool programs offered pursuant to this pilot program shall provide educational instruction to eligible students before the school year in which the eligible student is expected to enroll in a kindergarten program in this state.

B. The department of education shall:

1. Establish application procedures for school districts that wish to apply to participate in the pilot program.

2. Select up to five school districts to participate in the pilot program. The application process shall prioritize school districts that either:

(a) Have at least sixty percent of enrolled students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches under the national school lunch and child nutrition acts (42 United States Code sections 1751 through 1793).

(b) Are rural as defined in section 15-249.13, Arizona Revised Statutes.

C. The department of education may adopt policies and procedures to carry out the purposes of the pilot program.

D. On or before September 30, 2027, each school district selected by the department of education to participate in the pilot program shall submit a report that details the results of the pilot program to the department.  The department shall compile the reports submitted by each participating school district and prepare a summary of the results of the pilot program, including the number of school districts that applied to participate in the pilot program.  On or before November 30, 2027, the department shall submit the summary and reports to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the governor and shall provide a copy of the summary and reports to the secretary of state.

E. This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2027.

F. For the purposes of this section, "eligible student" means a child who is eligible for admission to a kindergarten program in this state pursuant to section 15-821, Arizona Revised Statutes, and who has not already completed a kindergarten or preschool program.

Sec. 2. Appropriation; department of education; preschool pilot program; exemption

A. The sum of $3,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2023-2024 to the department of education for the purposes of implementing the preschool pilot program established by this act.

B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations, except that monies remaining unencumbered or unexpended on December 31, 2027 revert to the state general fund.