HF 2493: A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions. - Iowa

Enrolled → Enrolled with Governor's Action · 5 edits · May 13, 2026

MODERATE

This bill enacts the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children in Iowa, establishing eligibility criteria, funding rules, and compulsory attendance provisions. It defines who qualifies for the program, how districts can enroll children outside the standard age range if space and funding allow, and clarifies that enrolled preschoolers are considered of compulsory attendance age unless parents opt out.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope from a local initiative to a statewide program, applying to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.

ELIGIBILITY

Establishes eligibility for children who are four years old by September 15 or reach five years of age between March 15 and September 15 of the school year.

DEFINITION

Defines 'young children' as those who are four years of age or five years of age on specified dates.

FISCAL

Allows school districts to enroll and pay for younger or older children if space and funding are available, but these children are not counted for state funding purposes.

REQUIREMENT

Mandates that children enrolled in the statewide preschool program be considered of compulsory attendance age unless parents submit written notice of intent to remove the child.

TIMELINE

Sets the applicability date for the Act to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.

Signed Enrolled Bill (PDF) → Enrolled · 5 edits · May 13, 2026

MODERATE

This bill establishes a statewide preschool program for four-year-old children in Iowa, defining eligibility based on age and residency, and clarifying how these children are counted for funding and compulsory attendance purposes. It creates new definitions for key terms like 'young children' and 'approved local program' to ensure consistency across the state. The legislation also outlines rules for enrolling children outside the standard age range when space and funding allow, and it sets the effective date for the new program.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of preschool education by creating a formal statewide program, whereas previous versions may have lacked these specific definitions and funding mechanisms. It applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'approved local program', 'preschool program', and 'young children' to clarify the program's structure and target demographic.

ELIGIBILITY

Established eligibility criteria for enrollment, including age requirements (four years old by September 15) and residency in Iowa.

FISCAL

Clarified that children enrolled in the preschool program are counted for state funding purposes, but only once, preventing double-counting if they were previously funded.

REQUIREMENT

Modified compulsory attendance rules to consider preschool enrollment as meeting attendance age requirements unless parents opt out.

TIMELINE

Set the applicability date for the Act to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.

Introduced → Signed Enrolled Bill (PDF) · 5 edits · May 13, 2026

MODERATE

This bill expands Iowa's statewide preschool program to include five-year-old children in addition to four-year-olds, broadening eligibility for state funding and compulsory attendance coverage. It modifies existing definitions to clarify that 'young children' now encompasses both age groups and updates eligibility rules to allow enrollment for children reaching age five between March 15 and September 15. The changes ensure that children enrolled in the program are counted for compulsory attendance purposes but are excluded from state funding if they were already funded in a prior year.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from serving only four-year-old children to also serving eligible five-year-old children within the statewide preschool program.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligibility criteria to include children who are five years old on or after March 15 but on or before September 15 of the school year, in addition to four-year-olds.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'young children' to explicitly include both four-year-olds and eligible five-year-olds.

FISCAL

Clarified that children enrolled in the program under the new age eligibility rules are not counted for state funding purposes if they were already counted for funding in a prior school year.

REQUIREMENT

Modified compulsory attendance rules to state that children enrolled in the preschool program are considered of compulsory attendance age, unless parents provide written notice of removal.

TIMELINE

Added an applicability section stating the act applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.

A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions.

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