early childhood education; providers; appropriation

SB 1650 establishes Arizona's Quality Early Childhood Education Supplemental Assistance Grant Program, appropriating $175 million for the 2025-2026 school year to fund early childhood learning services for children from low-income families (at or below 100% of the federal poverty level). The program prioritizes providers serving these families, including Head Start recipients and Title I preschool programs, requiring them to supplement rather than replace existing funding. Key provisions mandate providers to offer mixed-income classrooms, research-based curricula, disability-inclusive services (ensuring at least 10% of participants have disabilities), and coordinated health screenings while meeting Head Start quality standards. This directly affects early childhood providers, low-income families, and children with disabilities through concrete service and funding requirements.