(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Eligible town” means a town in which a priority school, as defined in § 10-16p, is located or a town ranked one to fifty when all towns are ranked in ascending order according to town wealth, as defined in subdivision (26) of § 10-262f, whose school district is not a priority school district pursuant to § 10-266p;

(2) “Eligible regional school readiness council” means a regional school readiness council, pursuant to subsection (c) of § 10-16r, for a region in which a priority school is located;

(3) “Eligible children” means children (A) three and four years of age and children five years of age who are not eligible to enroll in school pursuant to § 10-15c, or who are eligible to enroll in school and will attend a school readiness program pursuant to § 10-16t, and (B) who reside (i) in an area served by a priority school or a former priority school, as described in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of § 10-16p, (ii) in a town ranked one to fifty when all towns are ranked in ascending order according to town wealth, as defined in subdivision (26) of § 10-262f, whose school district is not a priority school district pursuant to § 10-266p, (iii) in a town formerly a town described in clause (ii) of this subparagraph, as provided for in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of § 10-16p, or (iv) in a town designated as an alliance district, as defined in § 10-262u, whose school district is not a priority school district pursuant to § 10-266p;

(4) “School readiness program” has the same meaning as provided in § 10-16p;

(5) “Priority school” has the same meaning as provided in § 10-16p;

(6) “Accredited” has the same meaning as provided in § 10-16p; and

(7) “Seeking accreditation” has the same meaning as provided in § 10-16p.

(b) The Commissioner of Early Childhood shall establish a grant program for eligible towns and eligible regional school readiness councils for (1) start-up of school readiness classrooms, and (2) providing spaces to all eligible children in accredited school readiness programs and school readiness programs seeking accreditation. An eligible town or eligible regional school readiness council may apply for such grant to the commissioner, at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes.