Establishes summer transition pilot program for rising kindergarten students who meet certain criteria.
Impact
To qualify for the program, students must be registered to attend kindergarten in the subsequent September and meet specific income criteria, with family income capped at 85% of the State median income. Furthermore, students must either not have attended a prior preschool program or belong to designated priority groups, such as English language learners, those with individualized education programs (IEPs), those living in resource family homes, or homeless children. The bill emphasizes inclusivity and aims to address educational barriers faced by vulnerable populations.
Summary
Senate Bill S2225 establishes a four-year summer transition pilot program aimed at supporting rising kindergarten students from high-needs populations. The program is designed to deliver high-quality academic instruction over the summer months for students who will enter kindergarten in the fall. The key objective is to help reduce the achievement gap and provide necessary educational resources to eligible students and their families. School districts selected for the pilot will be required to implement a six-week program that focuses on language, literacy, and mathematics, in addition to providing family support where necessary.
Contention
The pilot program will involve applications from up to 15 school districts, with the goal of ensuring diversity in demographics, by including districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas throughout the state. Each participating district will report on the program's execution, detailing the number of students served, teacher feedback, and overall effectiveness, which will inform recommendations for potential program expansion. The introduction of the 'Summer Transition Program Fund' signifies a financial commitment to this initiative, with the possibility of federal and private funding supplementing state allocations.
Establishes one-time grant program to support implementation of free, full-day kindergarten programs in certain school districts; appropriates $5 million.
Establishes one-time grant program to support implementation of free, full-day kindergarten programs in certain school districts; appropriates $5 million.
In duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for kindergartens; in pupils and attendance, further providing for age limits and temporary residence, for definitions and for when provided; and, in early learning programs, providing for full-day kindergarten.