House Bill 817: Increase Per Pupil Funding Rate for Early Learning Collaboratives

January 23, 2023January 31, 2023 Bill Tracker

Latest Action

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On January 25, the House Education Committee voted to pass HB 817. The bill is now awaiting a vote on the House floor, which will likely take place in the coming weeks.

Explanation of the Bill

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HB 817 would permanently raise the funding rate for Early Learning Collaboratives to $2,500 per child for full-day programs and $1,250 per child for half-day programs. 

As it exists now, the Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2013 guarantees $2,150 per child for full-day programs and $1,075 per child for half-day programs.  The rate increase would account for the actual amount it takes to fund high-quality pre-K in Mississippi and would ensure that the state does not have to raise the rate every year through the budget bill as they did in the previous three legislative sessions.