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Kim Reynolds
governor
Office of the Governor Chris Cournoyer
LT GOVERNOR
June 02, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
House File 2493, an Act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying
provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including
applicability provisions.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Sincerely,
KintReynolds
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
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House File 2493
AN ACT
RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM BY MODIFYING
PROVISIONS RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY, FUNDING, AND COMPULSORY
ATTENDANCE AND INCLUDING APPLICABILITY PROVISIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 256C.1, subsections 1 and 4, Code 2026,
are amended to read as follows:
1. "Approved local program" means a school district's
program for four-y e ar-old young children approved by the
department of education to provide high quality preschool
instruction.
4. "Preschool program" means the statewide preschool program
for four-y e ar-old young children created in accordance with
this chapter.
Sec. 2. Section 256C.1, Code 2026, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION . 7 . "Young children" means children who are
four years of age or who are five years of age on specified
dates as provided in section 256C.3, subsection 1, paragraph
"a ".
Sec. 3. Section 256C.2, Code 2026, is amended to read as
follows :
256C.2 Statewide preschool program for four-y e ar-old young
children — purpose.
1. A statewide preschool program for four-year-old young
children is established. The purpose of the preschool program
House File 2493, p. 2
is to provide an opportunity for all young children in the
state to enter school ready to learn by expanding voluntary
access to quality preschool curricula -for all children who ar e
f our y ea r s- old,
2. The state board shall adopt rules in accordance with
chapter 17A as necessary to implement the preschool program as
provided in this chapter.
Sec. 4. Section 256C.3, subsection 1, paragraphs a and b.
Code 2026, are amended to read as follows:
a. A child who is a resident of Iowa and who is either four
years of age on or before September 15 of a school year or who
reaches five years of age on or after March 15 but on or before
September 15 of the calendar year during which the school year
begins shall be eligible to enroll in the preschool program
under this chapter. If such a child is enrolled under this
chapter, the child shall be considered to be of compulsory
attendance age as provided in section 299. 1A, subsection 3.
If a child enrolled in the preschool program pursuant to this
paragraph has been counted for state funding purposes under
this chapter for a prior school year, the child shall not be
counted for state funding purposes.
b. If space and funding are available, including funding
from another school district account or fund from which
preschool program expenditures are authorized by law, a school
district approved to participate in the preschool program
may enroll and pay the cost of attendance for a young e r or
old e r child in the preschool program who does not satisfy the
requirements under paragraph "a" ; however, the child shall not
be counted for state funding purposes.
Sec. 5. Section 256C.3, subsection 4, paragraph b, Code
2026, is amended to read as follows:
b. Subject to implementation of chapter 28E agreements
between a school district and community-based providers of
services to four-year-old children and eligible five-year-old
children , a four-year-old child or eligible five-year-old child
who is enrolled in a child care center or child development
home licensed or registered under chapter 237A, or in an
existing public or private preschool program, shall be eligible
for services provided by the school district's local preschool
House File 2493, p. 3
program.
Sec. 6. Section 256C.4, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended
to read as follows:
2. Eligible student enrollment.
a. To be included as an eligible student in the enrollment
count of the preschool programming provided by a school
district approved to participate in the preschool program, a
child must b e- four y e ar s of satisfy the age by S e ptember
requirements of section 256C.3, subsection 1, paragraph "a", in
the base year and be attending the school district's approved
local program.
b. The enrollment count of eligible students shall not
include a child who is included in the enrollment count
determined under section 257.6 or a child who is served by
a program already receiving state or federal funds for the
purpose of the provision of four-year-old or five-year-old
preschool programming while the child is being served by the
program. Such preschool programming includes but is not
limited to child development assistance programs provided under
chapter 256A, special education programs provided under section
256B.9, school ready children grant programs and other programs
provided under chapter 2561, and federal head start programs
and the services funded by Tit. I of the federal Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965.
Sec. 7. Section 298A.2, subsection 2, paragraph a,
subparagraph (1), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
(1) An approved local program under the statewide preschool
program for four-year-old young children under chapter 256C.
Sec. 8. Section 298A.2, subsection 2, paragraph c,
subparagraph (1), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
(1) Start-up costs for an approved local program under the
statewide preschool program for four -y ea r-old young children
under chapter 256C.
Sec. 9. Section 299. 1A, subsection 3, Code 2026, is amended
to read as follows:
3. A child who has reached the age of four by S e pt e mb e r 15
or five and who is enrolled in the statewide preschool program
under chapter 256C shall be considered to be of compulsory
attendance age unless the parent or guardian of the child
House File 2493, p. 4
submits written notice to the school district implementing the
program of the parent's or guardian's intent to remove the
child from enrollment in the preschool program.
Sec. 10. APPLICABILITY. This Act applies to school budget
years beginning on or after July 1
PAT GRASSLEy /
Speaker of the House
2027 .
AMY SINCLAIR
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and
is known as House File 2493, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approved 2026
MEDIAN NELSON
Chief Tlerk cd^^he House
KIM R^NOLDS ( J
Governor