SB-1095 Summary

• Allocates $104,275,000 for 2011-2012 to eligible intermediate districts and consortia for Great Start Readiness Programs providing free compensatory preschool for educationally disadvantaged 4-year-olds.

• Beginning 2012-2013, changes child eligibility age requirement to align with the date specified for determining school attendance eligibility under MCL 380.1147, rather than the previous December 1 cutoff date.

• Distributes allocated funding as follows: up to $95,400,000 to districts and consortia based on section 39 formula; up to $8,875,000 in competitive grants; and up to $300,000 for longitudinal program evaluation.

• Requires eligible programs to include age-appropriate curriculum, nutritional services, health and developmental screening, parent involvement, evaluation plans, and school readiness advisory committees; requires 75% of participants to be from families at or below 300% of federal poverty level.

• Establishes that teaching staff in directly-managed programs must have valid teaching certificates with early childhood endorsements (ZA or ZS), with alternative credentials allowed for contracted programs; paraprofessionals must have associate's degrees in early childhood education or Child Development Associate credentials.