Senate Bill 1186 Summary

• Increases state school aid fund appropriation for fiscal year 2019 from $12,876,825,200.00 to $13,198,825,200.00, and reduces general fund appropriation from $78,500,000.00 to $60,000,000.00.

• Expands Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) funding from $243,600,000.00 to $383,600,000.00 for 2018-2019, with $182,000,000.00 specifically allocated to begin serving eligible 3-year-olds in addition to fully funding 4-year-olds.

• Lowers minimum eligibility age for GSRP participation from 4 years old to 3 years old as of September 1, allowing children turning 3 by December 1 to enroll with parental waiver request.

• Expresses legislative intent to allocate additional $182,000,000.00 in 2019-2020 (totaling $364,000,000.00) to fully fund programming for all eligible 3-year-olds.

• Maintains program requirements including income eligibility thresholds (250% of federal poverty level), qualified personnel standards, curriculum compliance, health services, and community-based provider contracting requirements of at least 30% of allocations.