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Panel approves change to pre‑K enrollment deadlines to expand access for 3‑year‑olds
Summary
House Bill 6‑23 would require the Department of Education to set enrollment deadlines so eligible 4‑year‑olds are placed by the start of school and eligible 3‑year‑olds may be enrolled by Aug. 30 if vacancies remain; the K‑12 Subcommittee advanced the bill 7‑0
Representative McCallman presented House Bill 6‑23, which would revise enrollment deadlines for the state's voluntary pre‑K program so that eligible 4‑year‑olds are placed by the start of the school year and eligible 3‑year‑olds may be enrolled by Aug. 30 if vacancies remain after 4‑year‑olds are placed.
Under current practice, recruitment and initial enrollment for voluntary pre‑K begins March 1 and 4‑year‑olds who are age‑eligible by Aug. 15 are accepted at that time; three‑year‑old applicants are placed on a waiting list and are not admitted until vacancies are determined on Oct. 15. The sponsor said the bill would allow eligible 4‑year‑olds to be placed by the start of school and permit eligible 3‑year‑olds to be enrolled by Aug. 30 if seats remain.
Representative Hakim asked whether Aug. 30 would disadvantage parents on a timing “bubble.” Representative McCallman replied that the change should increase earlier access for 3‑year‑olds who otherwise might not get seats. The committee voted to move the bill to full Education; the clerk reported 7 ayes and 0 nos.
