Section 21-2-706 - Developmental preschool funding(a) Expenditures by the division for developmental preschool services shall be subject to the following: (i) Contractual payments to developmental preschool service providers shall be sufficient for the providers to provide adequate services for children age birth through five (5) years of age with developmental disabilities and delays, including compensation levels for early childhood special educators, occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech-language therapists that are competitive with local school district compensation levels for those categories;(ii) Contractual payments to developmental preschool service providers shall be sufficient for the providers to pay for professional development activities of their professional employees and for a statewide program to identify children age birth through five (5) years of age in need of developmental preschool services;(iii) Contracts with developmental preschool service providers shall require that the providers adopt evidence-based best practices, as defined by the division by rule and regulation;(iv) Three percent (3%) matching local funds shall be required in contracts with any developmental preschool service provider.(b) For purposes of calculating payments to service providers for the subsequent fiscal year and preparing the division's budget request to the legislature, the division shall multiply the number of children age birth through five (5) years of age with developmental disabilities who are eligible for and placed on an individualized education program or individualized family service plan through developmental preschool services on May 1 of the school year immediately preceding the budget request by eleven thousand seven hundred ninety-six dollars ($11,796.00) per child per year. Eligibility for developmental preschool services shall be determined by the state rules and regulations governing an individualized education program or an individualized family service plan.(c) Repealed By Laws 2008, Ch. 86, § 2.(d) The per child amount specified in subsection (b) of this section shall be increased by the amount of five hundred four dollars ($504.00) to provide:(e) Commencing with the budget request for the fiscal year 2026 and for each fiscal year thereafter, the department shall prepare an exception budget request necessary to adjust the amounts calculated pursuant to subsections (b) and (d) of this section and as previously adjusted pursuant to this subsection, to reflect the most recent external cost adjustment enacted by the legislature pursuant to W.S. 21-13-309(o). The intent of this subsection is for each budget request to incorporate all previous adjustments made pursuant to this subsection.(f) Funds appropriated under subsection (d) of this section shall only be distributed to developmental preschool service providers that have established collaborative service agreements with professional social-emotional development service providers to provide early intervention services.(g) For purposes of calculating payments to service providers made under this section for the subsequent fiscal year, if the per child amounts specified in this section would result in service providers receiving payments that are different from the available appropriation, the payments shall be adjusted on a pro rata basis so each service provider receives the same percentage of the per child amounts without exceeding the total available appropriation.Amended by Laws 2024, ch. 95,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by Laws 2017 , ch. 103, § 1, eff. 7/1/2017.