Committee advances bill to let pre‑K students use school after‑school programs

Pro Tem Jones, sponsor of House Bill 11 23, told the House Education Subcommittee that the bill would require any school system that offers pre‑K and operates after‑school programs to allow pre‑K students to use those programs beginning next school year, with a waiver process available through DECAL for systems that need more time to implement.

Jones described wide variation in program availability across the state, saying most districts provide pre‑K but that “a third of those do not offer any after school care” to 4‑year‑olds and contrasting counties with many public pre‑K classes to those with far fewer. Jones said the bill targets the subset of systems that currently do not permit pre‑K students to remain for after‑school care and aims to reduce logistical burdens on working families.

The bill allows local flexibility: sponsor comments and the substitute language make waivers available “so if you needed time to work this out, a year to year waiver, a school system could apply for that.” Jones also said some after‑school providers are run by school systems and others are subcontracted to community organizations, and that local decisions about providers would remain intact.

A committee member moved that House Bill 11 23 receive a “do pass” designation; the motion was seconded, and the subcommittee approved the bill by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The bill will go to the full committee for further consideration.