EARLY CHILDHOOD: Authorizes a school board to engage in a cooperative endeavor with a licensed early learning center to operate a microcenter at a school

HB 628 allows Louisiana school boards to partner with licensed early learning centers (Type III providers) to operate "microcenters" within schools for three-year-olds. These microcenters must meet all standards required of licensed early learning centers and prioritize serving economically disadvantaged children. The bill creates a formal framework for school boards and early learning centers to collaborate on early childhood education and care programs in school settings. It directly affects school districts, licensed early learning centers, and three-year-old children, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. The policy change establishes a new operational model for early childhood education without altering existing licensing requirements.