Pre-kindergarten Grant Program; established, grants for at-risk four-year-olds. (HB2376)

Introduced By

Del. Mark Sickles (D-Alexandria)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Pre-kindergarten Grant Program established; grants for at-risk four-year-olds attending certain pre-kindergarten or preschool programs. Creates the Pre-kindergarten Grant Program (the Program) to provide grants for education-related costs incurred by at-risk four-year-olds unserved by Head Start programs (at-risk four-year-olds) attending center-based public or private programs providing a quality pre-kindergarten education. Grants would be paid from the Pre-kindergarten Grant Program Fund (the Fund), which would be administered by the Department of Education (the Department). Each at-risk four-year-old residing in the Commonwealth would be eligible for a grant from the Fund for tuition and education-related fees incurred at certain pre-kindergarten education programs that provide at least half-day services and that operate for the school year. Pre-kindergarten programs eligible under the Program are defined in the bill as (i) early childhood education programs accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, (ii) preschool programs designed for child development and kindergarten preparation that comply with nonpublic school accreditation requirements administered by the Virginia Council for Private Education, (iii) programs participating in Virginia's Quality Rating and Improvement System with a rating of at least three stars under such rating system, and (iv) programs participating in the Virginia Preschool Initiative. Grants would be paid by the Department of Education directly to the pre-kindergarten education program on behalf of the at-risk four-year-old. Funding for the Program would be determined by the general appropriation act. The grant amount would be the same for each at-risk four-year-old attending a full-day pre-kindergarten education program and would be at least $2,500. The grant amount for each at-risk four-year-old attending a half-day pre-kindergarten education program would be 50 percent of the grant amount allocated to an at-risk four-year-old attending a full-day program. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/23/2015Presented and ordered printed 15103924D
01/23/2015Referred to Committee on Education
01/26/2015Assigned Education sub: Education Reform
02/03/2015Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 0-N)
02/03/2015Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations
02/04/2015Reported from Education with substitute (16-Y 6-N) (see vote tally)
02/04/2015Committee substitute printed 15104634D-H1
02/04/2015Referred to Committee on Appropriations
02/04/2015Assigned App. sub: Elementary & Secondary Education
02/05/2015Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/10/2015Left in Appropriations