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Universal Prekindergarten and Early Childhood Education Act of 2022
12/29/2022, 10:03 PM
Summary of Bill HR 7092
The bill outlines a comprehensive plan to expand access to prekindergarten programs, including increasing funding for existing programs, establishing new programs in underserved communities, and providing support for early childhood educators. The goal of the bill is to ensure that all children are prepared for success in school and beyond by providing them with a strong foundation in early childhood education.
Key provisions of the bill include increasing funding for the Head Start program, which provides comprehensive early childhood education and support services to low-income children and their families. The bill also includes provisions to improve the quality of early childhood education programs, including requirements for teacher qualifications, curriculum standards, and program evaluation. Overall, the Universal Prekindergarten and Early Childhood Education Act of 2022 seeks to address the critical need for high-quality early childhood education for all children in the United States. By expanding access to prekindergarten programs and improving the quality of early childhood education, the bill aims to ensure that all children have the opportunity to succeed in school and in life.
Congressional Summary of HR 7092
Universal Prekindergarten and Early Childhood Education Act of 2022
This bill authorizes through FY2027 a grant program for states to establish or expand full-day prekindergarten programs that (1) permit each three- or four-year old child in the state to be voluntarily enrolled by the child's parent, regardless of income, in the program at the public school in which the child would be enrolled for kindergarten; (2) run the length of the regular school year; and (3) are taught by teachers who possess equivalent or similar qualifications to those of teachers of other grades in the school.
The federal share of such a grant shall not exceed 80% of the costs of carrying out these activities. Grant funds received under the program shall be used to supplement and not supplant other federal early childhood education funds in the state.
