SF 487

1st Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:13am

A bill for an act
relating to early childhood education; creating an Office of Early Learning;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 4.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [4.046] OFFICE OF EARLY LEARNING.
new text end

new text begin (a) An Office of Early Learning is established to coordinate a high-quality early
childhood system in Minnesota to make such programs more effective and to improve
the educational outcomes of all children. The governor must appoint, subject to the
advice and consent of the senate, a director who is a recognized expert in the field of
early childhood care and education who will facilitate communication and coordinate
prekindergarten and child care programs under the administration of the Departments of
Education and Human Services.
new text end

new text begin (b) The director of the Office of Early Learning must report to the commissioners
of education and human services and must coordinate Departments of Education and
Human Services staff efforts to:
new text end

new text begin (1) coordinate and facilitate resources and public funding streams for early childhood
education and child care, and ensure the accountability and coordinated development of
all early childhood education and child care services to children from birth to age five;
new text end

new text begin (2) work with the Departments of Education and Human Services and the Minnesota
Early Learning Foundation (MELF) to create common standards for quality early
childhood programming;
new text end

new text begin (3) create a seamless transition from early childhood programs to kindergarten that
aligns with kindergarten through grade 3 standards;
new text end

new text begin (4) encourage family choice by ensuring a system of public and private market
programs that is publicly funded, high-quality, regulated, and that reflects the diversity of
the family values and cultural heritage represented in the community;
new text end

new text begin (5) develop and oversee an effective data collection system to support the necessary
functions of a coordinated system of early childhood education and child care;
new text end

new text begin (6) plan and implement a quality rating and improvement system that is based on
the goal that all Minnesota's children have access to high-quality early learning and care
programs in a range of settings that meet the needs of children and their families; and
new text end

new text begin (7) prior to the creation of a quality rating and improvement system, employ the
Minnesota quality rating system rating tool in use in fiscal year 2008.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin OFFICE OF EARLY LEARNING; ESTABLISHMENT.
new text end

new text begin The governor must appoint the director of the Office of Early Learning according to
Minnesota Statutes, section 4.046, by December 1, 2009.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end