HF 1026

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:43am

A bill for an act
relating to education; amending early childhood education provisions; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 124D.135, subdivision 3; 124D.15,
subdivisions 1, 3, by adding subdivisions; 124D.19, subdivisions 10, 14;
124D.522; 299A.297; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 124D; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 121A.27; 124D.13,
subdivision 13.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.135, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:

Subd. 3.

Early childhood family education levy.

(a) By September 30 of each
year, the commissioner shall establish a tax rate for early childhood family education
revenue that raises $22,135,000 in each fiscal year. If the amount of the early childhood
family education levy would exceed the early childhood family education revenue, the
early childhood family education levy must equal the early childhood family education
revenue. deleted text begin Beginning with levies for fiscal year 2011, a district may not certify an early
childhood family education levy unless it has met the annual program data reporting and
biennial plan requirements under section 124D.13, subdivision 13.
deleted text end

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for fiscal year 2009 only, the commissioner shall
establish a tax rate for early education revenue that raises $13,565,000.

Sec. 2.

new text begin [124D.145] EARLY LEARNING SYSTEM.
new text end

new text begin The early learning system is defined to be the coherent structure of
research-based curriculum content, instructional practice, program and child assessment,
performance-based child and programmatic standards, professional development,
engagement and outreach, accountability, financing, and governance efforts that contribute
to all aspects of children's development and to prepare all children for kindergarten. This
includes children's readiness for success in meeting Minnesota's kindergarten academic
standards under section 120B.021. The system is delivered through a variety of public and
private child care, preschool, Head Start, and school-based programs and services.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.15, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Establishment; purpose.

A district or a group of districts may
establish a school readiness program for children age three to kindergarten entrance.
The purpose of a school readiness program is to prepare children to enter kindergarten new text begin ,
especially children most at-risk for being unprepared for kindergarten new text end .

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.15, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Program requirements.

A school readiness program provider must:

(1) assess each child's cognitive skills new text begin with a comprehensive child assessment
instrument new text end when the child enters and again before the child leaves the program to inform
program planning new text begin and parents new text end and promote kindergarten readiness;

(2) provide comprehensive program content new text begin and intentional instructional practice
aligned with the state early childhood learning guidelines and kindergarten standards and
new text end based on early childhood research and professional practice that is focused on children's
cognitive new text begin , social, emotional, and physical new text end skills and development and prepares children
for the transition to kindergarten, including early literacy skills;

new text begin (3) coordinate appropriate kindergarten transition with parents and kindergarten
teachers;
new text end

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end arrange for early childhood screening and appropriate referral;

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end involve parents in program planning and decision making;

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end coordinate with relevant community-based services; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (6) deleted text end new text begin (7) new text end cooperate with adult basic education programs and other adult literacy
programs deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (8) ensure staff-child ratios of one to ten and maximum group size of 20 children
with the first staff required to be a teacher; and
new text end

new text begin (9) serve children a minimum of 12 hours per week.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.15, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 10a. new text end

new text begin Teachers. new text end

new text begin A school board must employ necessary qualified teachers
trained in early childhood curriculum content, instruction, and competency as determined
by the commissioner. Areas of competency include early childhood development, child
observation and assessment, and curriculum planning.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.15, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 15. new text end

new text begin Program rating. new text end

new text begin A district school readiness program receives a rating
of four stars in any publicly funded pilot early childhood quality rating system. Upon
completion of the quality rating system pilot evaluation, the commissioner shall review
the pilot evaluation and findings to determine if they are consistent with a four-star rating
for a district's school readiness program.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.19, subdivision 10, is amended to read:

Subd. 10.

Youth service programs.

(a) A school board may offer, as part of a
community education program with a youth development program, a youth service
program that provides young people with meaningful opportunities to become involved in
their community, develop individual capabilities, make career connections, seek support
networks and services, become active citizens, and address community needs through
youth service. The board may award up to one credit, or the equivalent, toward graduation
for a pupil who completes the youth service requirements of the district. The community
education advisory council, after considering the results of the commissioner's study
under section 124D.50, subdivision 1, must design the program in cooperation with the
district planning, evaluating and reporting committee and local organizations that train
volunteers or need volunteers' services.

(b) Programs must include:

(1) preliminary training for pupil volunteers conducted, when possible, by
organizations experienced in such training;

(2) supervision of the pupil volunteers to ensure appropriate placement and adequate
learning opportunity;

(3) sufficient opportunity, in a positive setting for human development, for pupil
volunteers to develop general skills in preparation for employment, to enhance self-esteem
and self-worth, and to give genuine service to their community;

(4) integration of academic learning with the service experience; and

(5) integration of youth community service with elementary and secondary
curriculum.

(c) Youth service projects include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) human services for the elderly, including home care and related services;

(2) tutoring and mentoring;

(3) training for and providing emergency services;

(4) services at extended day programs;

(5) environmental services; and

(6) service-learning programs in which schools, including postsecondary schools,
and employers work together with young people to provide them with meaningful
opportunities for community service and with the academic and technical skills that
employers require.

(d) deleted text begin The commissioner shall maintain a list of acceptable projects with a description
of each project. A project that is not on the list must be approved by the commissioner.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end A youth service project must have a community sponsor that may be a
governmental unit or nonprofit organization. To assure that pupils provide additional
services, each sponsor must assure that pupil services do not displace employees or reduce
the workload of any employee.

deleted text begin (f) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end The commissioner shall assist districts in planning youth service programs,
implementing programs, and developing recommendations for obtaining community
sponsors.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.19, subdivision 14, is amended to read:

Subd. 14.

Community education; annual report.

Each district offering a
community education program under this section must annually report to the department
information regarding deleted text begin the cost per participant and cost per contact hour for deleted text end each
community education program, including youth after-school enrichment programs, that
receives aid or levy. deleted text begin The department must include cost per participant and cost per contact
hour information by program in the community education annual report.
deleted text end

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.522, is amended to read:

124D.522 ADULT BASIC EDUCATION SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICE
GRANTS.

(a) The commissioner, in consultation with the policy review task force under
section 124D.521, may make grants to nonprofit organizations to provide services that
are not offered by a district adult basic education program or that are supplemental to
either the statewide adult basic education program, or a district's adult basic education
program. The commissioner may make grants for: staff development for adult basic
education teachers and administrators; training for volunteer tutors; training, services, and
materials for serving disabled students through adult basic education programs; statewide
promotion of adult basic education services and programs; development and dissemination
of instructional and administrative technology for adult basic education programs;
programs which primarily serve communities of color; adult basic education distance
learning projects, including television instruction programs; and other supplemental
services to support the mission of adult basic education and innovative delivery of adult
basic education services.

(b) The commissioner must establish eligibility criteria and grant application
procedures. Grants under this section must support services throughout the state, focus on
educational results for adult learners, and promote outcome-based achievement through
adult basic education programs. Beginning in fiscal year 2002, the commissioner may
make grants under this section from the state total adult basic education aid set aside for
supplemental service grants under section 124D.531. Up to one-fourth of the appropriation
for supplemental service grants must be used for grants for adult basic education programs
to encourage and support innovations in adult basic education instruction and service
delivery. A grant to a single organization cannot exceed deleted text begin $100,000 deleted text end new text begin 20 percent of the total
supplemental services aid new text end . Nothing in this section prevents an approved adult basic
education program from using state or federal aid to purchase supplemental services.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 299A.297, is amended to read:

299A.297 OTHER DUTIES.

The commissioner of public safety, in consultation with the Chemical Abuse and
Violence Prevention Council, shall:

(1) provide information and assistance upon request to school preassessment teams
established under section 121A.26 deleted text begin and school and community advisory teams established
under section 121A.27 deleted text end ;

(2) provide information and assistance upon request to the State Board of Pharmacy
with respect to the board's enforcement of chapter 152;

(3) cooperate with and provide information and assistance upon request to the
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Section in the Department of Human Services;

(4) coordinate the policy of the office with that of the Narcotic Enforcement Unit in
the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; and

(5) coordinate the activities of the regional drug task forces, provide assistance and
information to them upon request, and assist in the formation of task forces in areas of
the state in which no task force operates.

Sec. 11. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 121A.27; and 124D.13, subdivision 13, new text end new text begin are
repealed.
new text end