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.

The4. rolmnt ont f igble udns hal ot iclde ahld ho s cldd n he nolmnt ont dtemied der cton 5.6 r ahld ho s red y a rgrm leay ecivng tte r deal uds r he prpse f e roison f oryer-ld r ie-er-ld peshol rgrmmng hle he id s eig ered y e pora.

uhSection rechol256C.3, rgrmingsubsection cldes1, tparagraphs sa otand lmiedb, oCode ild2026, veopentare sstnceamended ogamsto oiddread ndras caperfollows: 6A, ecal dcain roras roidd ner etin 26B9, hol eay hidrn rnt rgrms nd hr roras povdd udr hater 6, ad eerl ead at roras ad he rvces ndd y i.

Iofa. e edrl leenary d Scoday dcaion t f 95.

Sc.A child who is a resident of Iowa and who is either four years of age on or before September 15 of a school year or who reaches five years of age on or after March 15 but on or before September 15 of the calendar year during which the school year begins shall be eligible to enroll in the preschool program under this chapter.

ecionIf 8.2,such bsctona ,child aarahis ,enrolled sbprarphunder 1,this odechapter, 2,the ismededchild oshall adbe sconsidered llws:to be of compulsory attendance age as provided in section 299.1A, subsection 3.

()If Ana prvedchild clenrolled roramin derthe epreschool taeideprogram esholpursuant pogamto rthis ou-yaroldparagraph ughas cidrnbeen ndrcounted hatrfor 56.state funding purposes under this chapter for a prior school year, the child shall not be counted for state funding purposes.

Sc.b.

ecionIf 8.2,space bsctonand ,funding aarahare ,available, sbprarphincluding 1,funding odefrom 2,another ismededschool odistrict adaccount sor llws:fund from which preschool program expenditures are authorized by law, a school district approved to participate in the preschool program may enroll and pay the cost of attendance for a younger or older child in the preschool program who does not satisfy the requirements under paragraph “a”;

()however, Sar-upthe stschild rshall nnot proedbe oalcounted ogamfor nerstate hefunding satwiepurposes. rscool ogam r ouryarold ug cidrn udr cater 6C.

Sc.Sec.

ecion5. 9.A, bscton , oe 06, s mndd to ad s llw:

ASection hid256C.3, hosubsection s4, rahedparagraph eb, geCode f2026, uris yamended eteberto 5read oras vefollows: d ho s noled n e taewde rshol roram udr cater 6C hll e nsdeed o e f mplsry atednce e nlss he rnt r urdan f e hid Huse le 43, .

4b. sbmts rten oice o e cool stict plmetng he pogam f e arnts r uadans ntnt o eoe he cild om nolmnt n he echol rgrm.

Sc.Subject to implementation of chapter 28E agreements between a school district and community-based providers of services to four-year-old children and eligible five-year-old children, a four-year-old child or eligible five-year-old child who is enrolled in a child care center or child development home licensed or registered under chapter 237A, or in an existing public or private preschool program, shall be eligible for services provided by the school district’s local preschool House File 2493, p.

APLIABLTY.3 program.

hisSec. t ppies o hol uget yars ginng n r fer uy 1 07.

PT6. RASLy/ AY INLIR Seaer f e oue Pesdnt f he nae Iheey erify at hs il riintd inhe ose nd is owns oue ile 9, Nntyfist eeal semly.

MDINSection ESON256C.4, CifTleksubsection d^he2, oseCode Aprvd2026, 226is KMamended ^NLDSto (read Jas Gvrnrfollows:

2.

Eligible student enrollment.

a.

To be included as an eligible student in the enrollment count of the preschool programming provided by a school district approved to participate in the preschool program, a child must be four years of satisfy the age by September 15 requirements of section 256C.3, subsection 1, paragraph “a”, in the base year and be attending the school district’s approved local program.

b.

The enrollment count of eligible students shall not include a child who is included in the enrollment count determined under section 257.6 or a child who is served by a program already receiving state or federal funds for the purpose of the provision of four-year-old or five-year-old preschool programming while the child is being served by the program.

Such preschool programming includes but is not limited to child development assistance programs provided under chapter 256A, special education programs provided under section 256B.9, school ready children grant programs and other programs provided under chapter 256I, and federal head start programs and the services funded by Tit.

I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Sec.

7.

Section 298A.2, subsection 2, paragraph a, subparagraph (1), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:

(1) An approved local program under the statewide preschool program for four-year-old young children under chapter 256C.

Sec.

8.

Section 298A.2, subsection 2, paragraph c, subparagraph (1), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:

(1) Start-up costs for an approved local program under the statewide preschool program for four-year-old young children under chapter 256C.

Sec.

9.

Section 299.1A, subsection 3, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:

3.

A child who has reached the age of four by September 15 or five and who is enrolled in the statewide preschool program under chapter 256C shall be considered to be of compulsory attendance age unless the parent or guardian of the child House File 2493, p.

4 submits written notice to the school district implementing the program of the parent’s or guardian’s intent to remove the child from enrollment in the preschool program.

Sec.

10.

APPLICABILITY.

This Act applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.

______________________________ ______________________________ PAT GRASSLEY AMY SINCLAIR Speaker of the House President of the Senate I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and is known as House File 2493, Ninety-first General Assembly.

______________________________ MEGHAN NELSON Chief Clerk of the House Approved _______________, 2026 ______________________________ KIM REYNOLDS Governor