Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SF445

Introduced
2/26/25  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to early childhood education and care, including by modifying provisions related to the statewide preschool program, the child development coordinating council, programs for at-risk children, the responsibilities of the department of education, the early childhood Iowa initiative, and the state child care assistance program, establishing the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program within the department of health and human services, making appropriations and reducing appropriations, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1135.)

Impact

The enactment of SF 445 is expected to have a substantial impact on state laws regarding early childhood education. It allows for the distribution of grant funds to areas with programs serving at-risk children while also seeking to increase the quality of these programs through improved standards and oversight. The bill aims to foster community collaboration in delivering educational services, ultimately working toward ensuring that all children have access to high-quality educational opportunities before entering elementary school.

Summary

Senate File 445 aims to enhance early childhood education and care in Iowa by making significant revisions to existing preschool programs and related initiatives. The bill modifies provisions related to the statewide preschool program, ensuring better funding allocation and clearer eligibility requirements for program participation. It emphasizes the need for high-quality preschool instruction and introduces a new child care continuum partnership grants pilot program, which will support collaborations between community providers and educational institutions.

Sentiment

The sentiment around SF 445 appears to be largely positive, with support from various stakeholders advocating for increased investments and improved educational outcomes for young children in Iowa. Proponents argue that the bill addresses critical needs in early childhood education, particularly for vulnerable populations. However, some concerns have been raised regarding the feasibility of proposed funding levels and the effectiveness of the anticipated partnerships, indicating a call for careful oversight and evaluation.

Contention

One of the notable points of contention revolves around the balance between state-level oversight and local control over early childhood education programs. Advocates for the bill contend that standardized measures will ensure consistency in quality, while some local providers fear that a more centralized approach could undermine tailored services that meet the unique needs of their communities. This highlights an ongoing debate over the best methods to achieve educational equity and effectiveness within diverse local contexts.

Companion Bills

IA HF623

Similar To A bill for an act relating to early childhood education and care, including by modifying provisions related to the statewide preschool program, the child development coordinating council, programs for at-risk children, the responsibilities of the department of education, the early childhood Iowa initiative, and the state child care assistance program, and establishing the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program within the department of health and human services.(Formerly HSB 145.)

IA HSB145

Related A bill for an act relating to early childhood education and care, including by modifying provisions related to the statewide preschool program, the child development coordinating council, programs for at-risk children, the responsibilities of the department of education, the early childhood Iowa initiative, and the state child care assistance program, and establishing the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program within the department of health and human services.(See HF 623.)

IA SSB1135

Related A bill for an act relating to early childhood education and care, including by modifying provisions related to the statewide preschool program, the child development coordinating council, programs for at-risk children, the responsibilities of the department of education, the early childhood Iowa initiative, and the state child care assistance program, and establishing the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program within the department of health and human services.(See SF 445.)

Previously Filed As

IA HF2353

A bill for an act relating to preschool for four-year-old children, including funding, minimum hours, and approved programs, and including effective date provisions.

IA SF560

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, the department of education, and the state board of regents; requiring the state board of regents to conduct a study and prepare a report related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and efforts; providing for responsibilities of the workforce development board; establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program; requiring the department of education to convene a task force to study issues related to programs for at-risk students and dropout prevention programs; modifying provisions related to the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program, the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program, the education savings account program, the gap tuition assistance program, the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program, career and technical education programs, the fine arts beginning teacher mentoring program, the equipment replacement and program-sharing property tax levy, and the posting of education-related job openings; and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 1212.) Effective date: 06/01/2023, 07/01/2023. Applicability date: 01/24/2023, 07/01/2023.

IA HF2226

A bill for an act relating to education savings account program eligibility and payments for children enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school's program for four-year-old children and including effective date provisions.

IA SF2435

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, department of education, and state board of regents; modifying provisions related to compulsory education, open enrollment, the state board of regents presidential search committee, the Iowa tuition grants program, and the Iowa dyslexia board; establishing restrictions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents; providing penalties; and including effective date and applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 3201.) Effective date: 05/09/2024, 07/01/2024, 07/01/2025. Applicability date: 07/01/2024.

IA SF2367

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to education data collection and the determination of enrollment, and including effective date and applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 3156.)

IA HF297

A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying certain funding provisions and including applicability provisions.

IA SF2411

A bill for an act relating to work-based learning, including by repealing provisions related to regional industry sector partnerships and the statewide work-based learning intermediary network, establishing the workforce opportunity fund within the department of workforce development, modifying provisions related to career and technical education, student teacher requirements for students with substitute teaching or para-educator experience, the unemployment compensation reserve fund, and the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SF 2260, SSB 3143.) Effective date: 05/16/2024, 07/01/2024.

IA SSB3201

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, department of education, and state board of regents, and including effective date provisions.(See SF 2435.)

IA SF379

A bill for an act relating to funding amounts for the statewide preschool program and including applicability provisions.

IA HF731

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, the department of education, and the state board of regents; requiring the state board of regents to conduct a study and prepare a report related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and efforts; providing for responsibilities of the workforce development board; establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program; requiring the department of education to convene a task force on at-risk students and dropout prevention programs; modifying provisions related to the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program, the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program, the education savings account program, the gap tuition assistance program, the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program, career and technical education programs, the fine arts beginning teacher mentoring program, the equipment replacement and program-sharing property tax levy, and the posting of education-related job openings; and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 254.)

Similar Bills

IA HF623

A bill for an act relating to early childhood education and care, including by modifying provisions related to the statewide preschool program, the child development coordinating council, programs for at-risk children, the responsibilities of the department of education, the early childhood Iowa initiative, and the state child care assistance program, and establishing the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program within the department of health and human services.(Formerly HSB 145.)

IA HSB145

A bill for an act relating to early childhood education and care, including by modifying provisions related to the statewide preschool program, the child development coordinating council, programs for at-risk children, the responsibilities of the department of education, the early childhood Iowa initiative, and the state child care assistance program, and establishing the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program within the department of health and human services.(See HF 623.)

IA SSB1135

A bill for an act relating to early childhood education and care, including by modifying provisions related to the statewide preschool program, the child development coordinating council, programs for at-risk children, the responsibilities of the department of education, the early childhood Iowa initiative, and the state child care assistance program, and establishing the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program within the department of health and human services.(See SF 445.)

OR HB3435

Relating to early learning; and declaring an emergency.

CA AB123

Early childhood education: childcare and development programs.

CA AB563

Childcare: Early Childhood Policy Council.

CA SB976

Universal Preschool Act.

IA HF422

A bill for an act relating to statewide voluntary preschool program quality standards and renewals.