1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
A bill for an act
relating to early childhood education; establishing an advisory school readiness
board to make recommendations to the governor and the legislature on
developing a coordinated, efficient, and cost-effective system for delivering
early childhood programs throughout the state; proposing coding for new law
in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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A 12-member State Advisory Board on School
Readiness is established in the Office of the Governor to advise the governor and the
legislature on developing a coordinated, efficient, and cost-effective system for delivering
throughout Minnesota early childhood programs that focus on early care and education,
health care, and family support.
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(a) The advisory board includes the following
12 members:
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(1) the commissioner of employment and economic development or the
commissioner's designee;
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(2) the commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee;
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(3) the commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee;
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(4) the commissioner of human services or the commissioner's designee;
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(5) five public members appointed jointly by the majority and minority leaders in the
house and senate who are recognized experts in early care and education; and
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(6) three public members appointed jointly by the majority and minority leaders in
the house and senate who are community or business leaders.
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(b) Members appointed by the majority and minority leaders in the house and senate
serve staggered three-year terms. Board members must nominate and elect a chair and
other officers from among the public members. Members initially appointed to the board
shall assign themselves by lot to terms of one, two, or three years. The chair must notify
the governor on the assignment of these terms. The board shall meet regularly at the times
and places the board determines. Meetings shall be called by the chair or at the written
request of any three members. Members' terms, compensation, removal, and vacancies
are governed by section 15.0575.
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(a) The board shall recommend to the governor and the legislature:
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(1) the most effective method to improve the coordination and delivery of early care
and education services that integrates child care, preschools, and family support services
and programs;
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(2) a multiyear plan for effectively and efficiently coordinating and integrating
state services for early care and education, improving service delivery and standards
of care, avoiding duplication and fragmentation of service, and enhancing public and
private investment;
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(3) methods for measuring the quality, quantity, and effectiveness of early care and
education programs throughout the state;
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(4) how to identify and measure school readiness indicators on a regular basis;
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(5) how to track, enhance, integrate, and coordinate federal, state, and local funds
allocated for early care and education and related family support services;
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(6) policy changes to improve children's ability to start school ready to learn;
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(7) how to provide technical assistance to community efforts that promote school
readiness and encourage community organizations to collaborate in promoting school
readiness.
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(b) The board shall convene separate policy work groups to make recommendations
to the governor and the legislature on:
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(1) financing early childhood programs;
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(2) building a coordinated service delivery system based on an assessment of early
childhood systems and available state and federal funding;
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(3) integrating a coordinated, collaborative health care component, including
medical homes, parent education, family support, behavioral health and early education,
into early childhood programs and avoiding duplication of services;
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(4) enhancing the quality and measuring the cost of child care and preschool
programs; and
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(5) improving the wages, benefits, and supply of early childhood professionals.
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The State Advisory Board on School Readiness
expires January 1, 2013.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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