IA
Iowa Senate Bill SSB1135

Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SSB1135

Introduced
2/18/25  

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, and establishing the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program within the department of health and human services.(See SF 445.)

Impact

One significant impact of SSB1135 is the restructuring of the Child Development Coordinating Council's responsibilities. The bill transfers the council's duties to the Department of Education, emphasizing the need for evidence-based approaches in early childhood curricula and accountability systems. It also specifies that funds will be directed to programs that demonstrate the greatest need, which may enhance the targeting of resources towards at-risk children. Additionally, the establishment of a child care continuum partnership grants pilot program is expected to foster collaboration among various education and child care service providers, ultimately aiming to provide comprehensive support for children's early learning.

Summary

SSB1135 is a legislative proposal focused on enhancing early childhood education and care across Iowa. The bill aims to modify the existing statewide preschool program by allowing community-based providers to directly participate in it, thus increasing opportunities for four-year-old children. The proposed changes are intended to streamline funding and support mechanisms for community-based providers, enabling them to receive preschool foundation aid directly instead of relying solely on school districts. This adjustment is anticipated to bolster the service capacity and enrollment of preschool programs throughout the state, especially benefitting children in underserved areas.

Contention

However, the bill has sparked discussions regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of such reforms. Critics may argue that transferring responsibilities from the Child Development Coordinating Council to the Department of Education could dilute specialized focus on developmental needs over bureaucratic processes. Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the sustainability of funding for community-based providers and whether direct funding routes will genuinely translate into improved educational outcomes for vulnerable children. These discussions highlight the broader implications of policy changes on local control and resource allocation in early education.

Latest IA SSB1135 Activity

View All Events: IA 2025-2026 Regular Session SSB1135

Companion Bills

IA SF445

Replaced by 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.)

IA HF623

Replaced by 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.)

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 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 HSB254

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.(See HF 731.)

IA HF297

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

IA HF2468

A bill for an act relating to statewide voluntary preschool programs, including minimum hours of instruction and funding.

IA HF6

A bill for an act relating to workforce development, including establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program and modifying the responsibilities of the Iowa workforce development board.(See HF 447.)

IA HF2495

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

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 SF379

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

Similar Bills

IA SF445

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.)

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.)

OR HB3435

Relating to early learning; and declaring an emergency.

CA SB976

Universal Preschool Act.

CA AB563

Childcare: Early Childhood Policy Council.

MS HB1340

Family Engagement Kindergarten Readiness Pilot Program; require MDE to establish as a component of the ELC Act of 2013.

IA HF2495

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