Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF2092

Introduced

1/15/26

Refer

1/15/26

Caption

A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions.(See HF 2493.)

Impact

The impact of HF2092 is significant as it alters the state code related to preschool education. With this adjustment, the criteria for what constitutes 'eligible children' shift, essentially broadening the age range of children who can benefit from preschool. Further, these changes aim to enhance the overall participation in the state's preschool programs, potentially leading to an increase in early learning readiness among incoming kindergarteners. This could also heighten awareness of the importance of preschool enrollment amongst parents in Iowa.

Summary

House File 2092 aims to modify the statewide preschool program by adjusting provisions regarding eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance in Iowa. The bill clarifies that children who are four years old or five years old by specific dates are eligible for enrollment in the preschool program. This expands access to quality preschool education for young children, providing a broader opportunity for them to be ready for school. Specifically, the bill allows five-year-olds who reach their birthday after March 15 to enroll in the program, thus capturing a demographic previously excluded from early education opportunities.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HF2092 might arise from how the changes can impact funding allocation and enrollment counts for state aid. By amending existing provisions, there may be concerns about how these changes could affect preschool programs that are already navigating tight budgets or enrollment caps. Additionally, the bill's stipulation that children previously counted for funding purposes will not be counted again can lead to disagreements on its fairness among preschool providers and school administrators, who may worry about sustaining their programs under the new rules.

Companion Bills

IA HF2493

Similar To A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HF 2092.) Effective date: 07/01/2026. Applicability date: 07/01/2027.

Previously Filed As

IA HF2450

A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions.

IA HF2493

A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HF 2092.) Effective date: 07/01/2026. Applicability date: 07/01/2027.

IA SF2229

A bill for an act relating to education funding, including the amounts for the statewide preschool program and eligibility for payments under the education savings account program, and including applicability provisions.

IA SF123

A bill for an act relating to funding of approved local preschool programs and including applicability provisions.

IA HF214

A bill for an act relating to funding of approved local preschool programs and including applicability provisions.

IA HSB680

A bill for an act relating to education funding by authorizing community-based providers to directly participate in the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children, modifying the school tuition organization tax credit program, and including applicability provisions.

IA SF2231

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the protected speech and expression rights of students, modifying provisions related to the duties of the department of education, and modifying eligibility and participation requirements for certain education programs, preschool programs, and tax provisions, providing civil penalties, and including retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly SF 2060.) Effective date: 07/01/2026 Applicability date: 01/01/2026

IA HF275

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the enrollment of eligible children in the statewide preschool program.

IA HF2713

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to charter schools, the Iowa public employees' retirement system, financing programs for charter schools and nonpublic schools administered by the Iowa finance authority, the statewide voluntary preschool program for the school start date, training and licensure, and making appropriations, and including applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 735; See HF 2754.)

IA HSB735

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to charter schools, the Iowa public employees' retirement system, financing programs for charter schools and nonpublic schools administered by the Iowa finance authority, the statewide voluntary preschool program for four-year-old children, education savings accounts, the school start date, independent accrediting agencies, teacher training and licensure, and making appropriations, and including applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 2713, HF 2754.)

Similar Bills

ME LD2114

An Act Regarding Public Preschool Programs Serving Children Who Are 3 Years of Age

IA HF2450

A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions.

IA HF2493

HI HB2574

Relating To The Preschool Open Doors Program.

HI SB3299

Relating To The Preschool Open Doors Program.

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 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.)