1. (a)

   1. (1) In this section the following terms have the meanings indicated.
   2. (2) “Economically disadvantaged background” means a family whose income would make a child eligible for free or reduced price meals if the child were in kindergarten.

   3. (3) “Eligible child” means a child:

      1. (i) Who is from an economically disadvantaged background;
      2. (ii) Whose parent or guardian seeks to enroll the child in a public prekindergarten program; and
      3. (iii) Who is 4 years old on September 1 of the school year in which the parent or legal guardian seeks to enroll the child in a public prekindergarten program.
   4. (4) “Eligible for free or reduced price meals” means eligible for free or reduced price meals based on eligibility requirements established by the United States Department of Agriculture.
2. (b) By the 2007-2008 school year, all eligible children shall be admitted free of charge to publicly funded prekindergarten programs established by each of the county boards.
3. (c) Renumbered as Education § 7-1A-02(a) by Acts 2021, c. 36, § 2, eff. March 14, 2021.
4. (d) Renumbered as Education § 7-1A-02(b) by Acts 2021, c. 36, § 2, eff. March 14, 2021.
5. (e) In the comprehensive master plan that is submitted under § 5-401 of this article, a county board shall identify the strategies that will be used in that county to ensure that publicly funded prekindergarten programs are available to all eligible children in that county by the 2007-2008 school year.

Added by Acts 2002, c. 288, § 2, eff. July 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2014, c. 2, § 1, eff. June 1, 2014; Acts 2016, c. 67, § 1, eff. July 1, 2016; Acts 2019, c. 8, § 5; Acts 2021, c. 36, § 2, Eff. March 14, 2021.