Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 51 and Title 49.

The Voluntary Pre-K for Tennessee Act of 2005 authorizes LEAs to apply to the department of education for funding and approval of one or more pre-kindergarten (pre-K) programs. Present law requires the department to give a preference to applications that target establishing programs for at-risk children not served by an existing pre-K program. Enrollment in a pre-K program is voluntary.<br /> <br /> This bill changes present law by removing the application process and requiring each LEA to provide a pre-K program that provides the number of classrooms necessary to serve all eligible children. Enrollment in a pre-K program remains voluntary.<br /> <br /> The present law age requirement for a child to be eligible for a pre-K program is generally that the child is four years of age on or before August 15. This bill retains such age requirement.<br /> <br /> Present law requires the department of education to establish an initial enrollment deadline that an LEA must use to determine if a voluntary pre-K classroom provided by the LEA has space available to enroll students in addition to at-risk children residing in the geographic area served by the LEA. If the number of at-risk children seeking to enroll as of the enrollment deadline does not meet the maximum class size of the pre-K classroom program, present law authorizes the LEA to enroll children who are not at-risk children, but who reside within the geographic area served by the LEA and who meet certain other criteria. This bill instead requires each LEA to establish an initial enrollment deadline for children to enroll in the pre-kindergarten program. If, in the application period for a school year, the number of applicants exceeds the number of students the LEA is able to serve, this bill requires the LEA to select students through an enrollment lottery process.<br /> <br /> The provisions of present law concerning collaborative operation agreements, class size, staffing, and student growth measures for voluntary pre-K programs will continue to apply to pre-K programs under this bill.<br /> <br /> Present law requires each LEA that applies for a voluntary pre-K program to create and appoint a community pre-K advisory council, the purpose of which is to provide input to the local board of education in creating the board's application. As mentioned above, this bill deletes the application process and, subsequently, this bill also deletes the requirement for having an advisory council.<br /> <br /> Present law generally requires LEAs to provide a matching amount of funds based on the TISA formula in order to receive state funds for a voluntary pre-K program. This bill instead provides that, subject to appropriations:<br /> <br /> (1) The state will fund 100 percent of the costs required for an LEA to provide the number of classrooms, and to employ the number of licensed teachers and educational assistants, required for the LEA to comply with the requirements for pre-K classrooms; and<br /> <br /> (2) The commissioner of education will allocate to each LEA an amount sufficient for the LEA to serve all children who meet the age and geographic residency criteria in the LEA's pre-kindergarten program.<br /> <br /> As is the case under present law, a student who meets the age and geographic residency criteria will not be required to pay tuition or fees to enroll in, or attend, a pre-kindergarten program established by an LEA.<br />