§ 7-1A-06

Maryland § 7-1A-06

• Jurisdiction: Maryland
• Article ged: Education
• Title: 7

Text

(a) (1) Beginning in the 2022–2023 school year, Tier I children who are 3 or 4 years old may be enrolled in a full–day prekindergarten program under this subtitle.

(2) (i) For the 2023–2024 through 2025–2026 school years, children who are 3 or 4 years old may enroll in a full–day prekindergarten program under this subtitle if the children are:

1. Children whose family income is more than 300% but not more than 600% of the federal poverty level; and

2. A. Children with disabilities; or

B. Children from homes in which English is not the primary spoken language.

(ii) For the 2023–2024 through 2025–2026 school years only, children described under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be counted as Tier I children for purposes of funding allocated under § 5–229 of this article.

(b) (1) The proportion of enrolled Tier I children who are 3 years old shall increase annually until all Tier I children who are 3 years old are enrolled in a full–day prekindergarten program.

(2) The proportion of enrolled Tier I children who are 4 years old shall increase annually so that all Tier I children who are 4 years old shall be enrolled in a full–day prekindergarten program.

(c) Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, Tier II children not described under subsection (a)(2)(i) of this section may be enrolled in a full–day prekindergarten program if space is available to encourage socioeconomic diversity in prekindergarten classrooms.

(d) Priority in expanding prekindergarten slots shall be provided to 3– and 4–year olds who are:

(1) Tier I children;

(2) Children with disabilities, regardless of income; or

(3) Children from homes in which English is not the primary spoken language.

(e) The ability of a family to choose the prekindergarten provider in which to enroll their child does not supersede local authority to set school attendance boundaries.