SB 871 - Currently, children between three and five years old who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch and attend an early childhood education program operated by a school district or a charter school may be included in such district's or charter school's calculation of average daily attendance. The total number of such pupils shall not exceed 4% of the total number of pupils between 5 and 18 years old who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch and who are included in such district's or charter school's calculation of average daily attendance.

Under this act, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall remit to school districts and charter schools an amount equal to the product of the state adequacy target, the dollar-value modifier, and the average daily attendance of pupils who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch and who attend, in the year prior to their kindergarten enrollment eligibility, an early childhood education program that is operated by a school district or a charter school. Three-year-old pupils and other pupils who are more than one year prior to kindergarten enrollment eligibility, who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, and who attend such early childhood education programs shall be included in a district's or charter school's calculation of average daily attendance under existing law.

Any increase in a school district's average daily attendance that occurs as a result of the provisions of the act shall not disqualify such school district for certain state aid payments under current law.

This act is similar to SB 495 (2023), HB 833 (2023), and HB 933 (2023).

OLIVIA SHANNON