A bill for an act relating to early childhood education and care, including by modifying provisions related to the statewide preschool program, the child development coordinating council, programs for at-risk children, the responsibilities of the department of education, the early childhood Iowa initiative, and the state child care assistance program, and establishing the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program within the department of health and human services.(See SF 445.)

Senate Study Bill 1135 (SSB1135) was introduced in the Iowa General Assembly to enhance early childhood education and care. The bill proposed several key changes: 1) Modifying the statewide preschool program to allow community-based providers to directly participate, expanding access to preschool education. 2) Revising the roles of the Child Development Coordinating Council and the Department of Education to better support at-risk children and early childhood initiatives. 3) Establishing the Child Care Continuum Partnership Grants Pilot Program within the Department of Health and Human Services to provide funding for innovative child care solutions. SSB1135 was later renumbered as Senate File 445 (SF 445) and House File 623 (HF 623) as it progressed through the legislative process.

Supporters of SSB1135 praised the bill for its comprehensive approach to improving early childhood education and care in Iowa. They highlighted the inclusion of community-based providers in the statewide preschool program as a significant step toward increasing access to quality education for four-year-old children. The establishment of the Child Care Continuum Partnership Grants Pilot Program was also lauded for encouraging innovative solutions to child care challenges, potentially benefiting working families and promoting economic growth.

Critics of SSB1135 expressed concerns about the potential financial implications of expanding the preschool program and establishing new grant initiatives. They questioned whether the state budget could sustain these changes without compromising other essential services. Additionally, some stakeholders were apprehensive about the effectiveness of integrating community-based providers into the preschool program, citing the need for stringent quality control measures to ensure consistent educational standards across all providers.