HB 1246 Summary

• Requires the Legislature to increase annual appropriations to Early Learning Collaboratives until the program serves 25% of four-year-old children in Mississippi by the 2024-2025 school year, with efforts to maintain and increase enrollment annually.

• Establishes minimum funding levels of no less than $2,500 per student in full-day programs and no less than $1,250 per student in half-day programs, with existing collaborative agreements modified annually to reflect any increased per-child costs approved by the Legislature.

• Requires collaboratives to ensure equitable distribution of any additional appropriated funds for increasing per-pupil allocations specifically for students enrolled in Head Start programs that partner with the collaborative.

• Mandates each collaborative to include a written plan in its grant application detailing how it will identify, recruit, and enroll children while helping Head Start agencies meet federal requirements, with a universal prekindergarten application giving priority to participating Head Start agencies for income-eligible children.