GREAT START READINESS ELIGIBILITY S.B. 1095:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 1095 (as introduced 4-25-12)
Sponsor: Senator Darwin L. Booher
CONTENT
The bill would amend the State School Aid Act to replace the date by which a child must be at least four, but less than five, years of age for enrollment in Great Start Readiness Programs.
The Act allocates $104.3 million from the State School Aid Fund for eligible intermediate districts and consortia of intermediate districts for Great Start Readiness Programs. These funds must be used to provide part-day or full-day comprehensive, free compensatory programs designed to do at least one of the following:
-- Improve readiness and subsequent achievement of educationally disadvantaged children who meet the age requirement and participant eligibility and prioritization guidelines as defined by the State Board of Education.
-- Provide preschool and parenting education programs similar to those under former Section 32b as in effect for 2001-2002.
Currently, an educationally disadvantaged child must be at least four, but less than five, years of age on December 1 of the school year in which the programs are offered. The bill would refer instead to the date specified for determining eligibility to attend school under Section 1147 of the Revised School Code, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.
Section 1147 of the Revised School Code establishes the minimum age for a child to enroll in kindergarten. Currently, a child must be at least five years old on December 1 of the school year in order to enroll. Public Act 198 of 2012 amended Section 1147 to phase in a requirement that a child be at least five on September 1 of the school year. That requirement will take effect beginning in the 2015-2016 school year. Before then, a child must be at least five on November 1 beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, and at least five on October 1 beginning in the 2014-2015 school year.
MCL 388.1632d Legislative Analyst: Cameron S. Mock
FISCAL IMPACT
While the bill would reduce the number of children eligible to enroll in the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) during the phase-in period, there would be no fiscal impact on either the State or local educating agencies. The reason there would be no lapsed funds or savings is that there are more children eligible for services than funding for those children, so any slots that would be "freed up" because of the transition period would be reallocated to other children who otherwise would not be eligible for funding. For 2010-2011, there
were 23,162 children served by the GSRP, but another estimated 29,418 children eligible for services who were not served by any preschool program.
Fiscal Analyst: Kathryn Summers
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.