A bill for an act relating to early childhood education and care, including by modifying provisions related to the statewide preschool program, the child development coordinating council, programs for at-risk children, the responsibilities of the department of education, the early childhood Iowa initiative, and the state child care assistance program, establishing the child care continuum partnership grants pilot program within the department of health and human services, making appropriations and reducing appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

SF 445 modifies Iowa's early childhood education programs to expand access and improve quality. It allows community-based child care centers to directly participate in the statewide preschool program (rather than only partnering with school districts) and sets new requirements for these centers, including demonstrating readiness for high-quality instruction and participating in data collection. The bill also establishes a new "child care continuum partnership grants pilot program" within the Department of Health and Human Services to support coordinated early care services. These changes affect school districts, community child care providers, and children enrolled in preschool programs, with funding adjustments included to support the modifications.