§24.8. Prekindergarten programs

            A. Each city, parish, or other local public school board may develop and offer prekindergarten instruction. The youngest age at which a child may enter prekindergarten provided for by this Subsection shall be four years old by September thirtieth of the year in which the child enrolls in prekindergarten.

            B.(1) The governing authority of any approved nonpublic elementary school may develop and offer prekindergarten instruction. The youngest age at which a child may enter prekindergarten provided for by this Subsection shall be three years old by September thirtieth of the year in which the child enrolls in prekindergarten.

            (2) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in consultation with the Nonpublic School Commission, shall adopt rules and regulations to protect the health and safety of three-year-old children who attend prekindergarten at an approved nonpublic elementary school.

            C. The goal of prekindergarten instruction shall be to improve academic readiness, individual development skills, and social skills. Prior to implementing prekindergarten instruction, a city, parish, or other local public school board and the governing authority of an approved nonpublic elementary school shall set forth a statement of the needs the program is intended to address, the anticipated results, and the basis upon which such results are expected, an outline of implementation steps, a detailed plan for staff usage, a detailed budget, and a plan for evaluation of the program results and an explanation thereof.

            D.(1) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, each city, parish, or other local public school board shall work to develop a mixed provider delivery model for full-day, year-round, high-quality prekindergarten instruction to each child residing within the boundaries of the school district who is eligible for a prekindergarten program pursuant to Subsection A of this Section.

            (2) As used in this Subsection, the following words shall have the following meanings:

            (a) "Full-day" means at least eight hours.

            (b) "Mixed provider delivery model" means a program between the school board and one or both of the following:

            (i) Quality-rated child care providers, as defined by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, operating and overseeing programs on school property, pursuant to an agreement with a city, parish, or other local public school board.

            (ii) Quality-rated child care providers, as defined by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, operating and overseeing private child care within the boundaries of the school district with at least one infant and one toddler classroom and offering prekindergarten seats in their private program, pursuant to an agreement with a city, parish, or other local public school board.

            (c) "Year-round" means for a full calendar year, excluding weekends and holidays, or approximately two hundred sixty days per year.

            (3) The city, parish, or other local public school board shall ensure that the implementation of a mixed provider delivery model for prekindergarten instruction as described in this Subsection does not disrupt the stability of infant and toddler child care in their community and that the new seats created through the mixed provider delivery model are distributed equitably among quality-rated child care providers.

            (4) The city, parish, or other local school board shall work to ensure that:

            (a) The parent of each child provided a seat through the mixed provider delivery model is allowed to choose the setting in which their child is enrolled, subject to the availability of seats in a particular setting.

            (b) The costs charged for a seat in the mixed provider delivery model are offered:

            (i) At no cost to an eligible child who is economically disadvantaged, as defined in rule by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

            (ii) On a sliding scale, that is set in the agreement between the provider and the school district, to an eligible child who is not economically disadvantaged. The copayment required of a parent, guardian, or caretaker shall not exceed the difference between the rate paid by the school district and the cost necessary for the eligible provider to offer the prekindergarten programming to each child.

            (iii) In addition to the costs for a seat, each student may be charged additional fees for meals or before- and after-care.

            (5) The city, parish, or other local school board shall work with community networks or other designated local networks to engage in outreach to the parents and legal guardians of each eligible child to make them aware of any available seats in their community with priority focus on areas of high numbers of individuals qualifying for the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

            (6) Beginning in 2023-2024, each city, parish, or other local public school board shall annually provide a report to the state Department of Education on:

            (a) The number of three- and four-year-old children served through each prekindergarten program and early childhood program offered through the school board, including the seats provided through the mixed provider delivery model, in the same manner that they report enrollment numbers for students in kindergarten.

            (b) The distribution of seats among each school and quality rated child care provider.

            (c) Input from at least the majority of providers in the community network, including how the distribution of seats has impacted the stability of infant and toddler care.

            (7) Beginning in 2024-2025, the state Department of Education shall annually provide a report to the Senate and House committees on education on:

            (a) The number of children served in prekindergarten programs, in total, by type, and by provider.

            (b) The approximate number of three- and four-year-old children in the state and by school system who are not being served by a prekindergarten program or early childhood program.

            (c) Any recommendations for increasing seats and improving the provision of prekindergarten instruction and early childhood care.

            Acts 1988, No. 718, §1, eff. July 18, 1988; Acts 2011, No. 102, §1; Acts 2022, No. 532, §1, eff. June 17, 2022.