A bill for an act authorizing community-based providers to directly participate in the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children.

This bill allows private childcare centers and community-based providers (like non-profit early learning centers) to directly run Iowa's statewide preschool program for four-year-olds, rather than only partnering with school districts. It creates new approval requirements for these providers, including meeting quality standards, participating in data collection, and ensuring professional development for teachers. Funding rules require that state preschool aid supplements existing local funding (not replaces it) and cannot be used for facility construction. The bill also specifies that children enrolled outside the typical age range in these programs won't count toward state funding calculations.