ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: ED DP 6-3-0-1 | APPROP DP 10-3-0-0

HB 2015: appropriations; preschool development grants

Sponsor: Representative Sierra, LD 19

Caucus & COW

Overview

Appropriates a total of $45,000,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in FYs 2022 through 2024 to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to distribute preschool development grants.

History

The federal Preschool Development Grants Program (Program) provided a total of $976,698,263 in funding to 18 states to expand access to preschool programs to serve four-year old children whose families were at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Program development grants were distributed to states that had no state preschool program or those with a preschool program that served less than 10% of the state's four-year olds. From 2014-2018, Arizona received a total of $81,375,127 as a development grantee from the Program. Monies were distributed to subgrantees, such as school districts and charter schools.

Provisions

1. Appropriates the following amounts from the state GF to ADE to distribute preschool development grants to eligible providers:

a) In FY 2022, $7,500,000;

b) In FY 2023, $15,000,000; and

c) In FY 2024, $22,500,000. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires eligible providers use an evidence-based curriculum that has a clear scope and sequence and an explicit focus on coaching to assist teachers with curriculum development. (Sec. 1)

3. Mandates, beginning January 1, 2023, ADE evaluate the use of preschool development grant monies by eligible providers.

4. Specifies the evaluation must include an analysis of child outcome gains associated with the preschool development grants. (Sec. 1)

5. Directs ADE to submit the evaluation report to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate and the Secretary of State by January 31, 2024. (Sec. 1)

6. Contains a legislative intent clause. (Sec. 1)

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10. HB 2015

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