HF 1785

1st Engrossment - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 05/11/2020 09:23am

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring participation in preschool and prekindergarten and
prohibiting disciplinary dismissals; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 121A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [121A.425] FULL AND EQUITABLE PARTICIPATION IN PRESCHOOL
AND PREKINDERGARTEN.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Disciplinary dismissals prohibited. new text end

new text begin A pupil enrolled in a preschool or
prekindergarten program, including a child participating in early childhood family education,
school readiness, school readiness plus, voluntary prekindergarten, Head Start, or other
school-based preschool or prekindergarten program may not be subject to dismissals under
this chapter. Notwithstanding the language in this subdivision, expulsions and exclusions
may be used only after resources as outlined in subdivision 2 have been exhausted, and only
in circumstances where there is an ongoing serious safety threat to the child or others.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Nonexclusionary discipline. new text end

new text begin A school district or charter school must ensure
that a pupil described in subdivision 1 fully participates in a preschool or prekindergarten
program described in subdivision 1 by providing one or more of the following services:
new text end

new text begin (1) collaborating with the pupil's family or guardian, child mental health consultant or
provider, education specialist, or other community-based support;
new text end

new text begin (2) creating a plan, written with the parent or guardian, that details the action and support
needed for the pupil to fully participate in a preschool or prekindergarten program;
new text end

new text begin (3) providing a referral for needed support services, including parenting education, home
visits, or other supportive educational interventions; or
new text end

new text begin (4) an evaluation to determine if the pupil is eligible for special education services or
section 504 services.
new text end