EARLY Act

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Expanded Access to Real Learning for our Young Act or the EARLY Act This bill authorizes the Department of Education to award competitive grants to states to carry out full-day prekindergarten programs. The programs must: be located at public schools, if practicable, or otherwise carried out by private or other community providers; permit parents, regardless of income, to voluntary enroll their four-year old children in the programs and do so at no cost if their combined income does not exceed 400% of the poverty line; be full-day programs that run the length of the regular school year; maintain a maximum class size of 20 children, with at least 1 prekindergarten teacher per classroom; ensure that the ratio of children to prekindergarten teachers and teacher aides does not exceed 10 to 1; be taught by teachers who are paid a salary comparable to kindergarten through grade 12 teachers at the state's public schools; and meet a minimum level of parental engagement set by the state. Grant priority shall be given to states that carry out the programs at public schools. The federal share of a grant may not exceed 75% of the prekindergarten program's costs.…