S.F. No. 615 Summary

• Increases permanent participant cap in voluntary prekindergarten and school readiness plus programs from 3,160 to 7,160 participants per fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2024.

• Removes the "school readiness plus" program designation time limit by deleting the "for fiscal years 2018 through 2023" restriction, making it permanent effective fiscal year 2024 and later.

• Excludes voluntary prekindergarten pupil units from declining enrollment revenue calculations for fiscal year 2024 only to prevent districts from losing funding due to program expansion.

• Requires the Department of Education to calculate levy adjustments for school districts to account for 4,000 voluntary prekindergarten and school readiness plus participants included in levy calculations, with differences provided as state aid.

• Appropriates necessary general fund amounts annually to the Department of Education to cover increased state aids to school districts and charter schools under the bill.