SB 1974 - Early Learning Funding Summary

• Reduces minimum number of children each early learning coalition must serve from 2,000 to 1,700 and eliminates waiver provisions allowing smaller coalitions.

• Requires school readiness providers to administer preassessments within 45 days of enrollment and postassessments by May 30 annually, with results collected statewide to evaluate program effectiveness.

• Establishes minimum parent copayment of 10 percent of family income (replacing sliding fee scale) with authority for coalitions to grant case-by-case waivers.

• Mandates Office of Early Learning adopt uniform statewide contract and standardized contract monitoring tool for all coalitions, prohibiting local addenda to contracts.

• Requires Office of Early Learning to establish uniform statewide payment rates by July 1, 2015, based on prevailing market rates adjusted by district cost differential; authorizes investigation of fraud or overpayment with penalties including 3-year provider suspension or permanent debarment.

• Increases administrative cost cap to 18 percent (with administrative costs not exceeding 4 percent) and establishes data matching with other state agencies to verify family eligibility.