HF 2984

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to early childhood education; modifying the school-age care program;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.19, subdivision 11.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.19, subdivision 11, is amended to
read:

Subd. 11.

School-age care programs.

(a) A school board may offer, as part of a
community education program, a school-age care program for children from new text begin June 1 of the
year of new text end kindergarten new text begin enrollment new text end through new text begin August 31 of the year of new text end grade 6 new text begin completion new text end for
the purpose of expanding students' learning opportunities. If the school board chooses
not to offer a school-age care program, it may allow an appropriate insured community
group, for profit entity or nonprofit organization to use available school facilities for the
purpose of offering a school-age care program.

(b) A school-age care program must include the following:

(1) adult supervised programs while school is not in session;

(2) parental involvement in program design and direction;

(3) partnerships with the kindergarten through grade 12 system, and other public,
private, or nonprofit entities;

(4) opportunities for trained secondary school pupils to work with younger children
in a supervised setting as part of a community service program; and

(5) access to available school facilities, including the gymnasium, sports equipment,
computer labs, and media centers, when not otherwise in use as part of the operation of
the school. The school district may establish reasonable rules relating to access to these
facilities and may require that:

(i) the organization request access to the facilities and prepare and maintain a
schedule of proposed use;

(ii) the organization provide evidence of adequate insurance to cover the activities to
be conducted in the facilities; and

(iii) the organization prepare and maintain a plan demonstrating the adequacy and
training of staff to supervise the use of the facilities.

(c) The district may charge a sliding fee based upon family income for school-age
care programs. The district may receive money from other public or private sources
for the school-age care program. The board of the district must develop standards for
school-age child care programs. The commissioner of education may not adopt rules for
school-age care programs.

(d) The district shall maintain a separate account within the community services
fund for all funds related to the school-age care program.

(e) A district is encouraged to coordinate the school-age care program with its
special education, vocational education, adult basic education, early childhood family
education programs, kindergarten through grade 12 instruction and curriculum services,
youth development and youth service agencies, and with related services provided by
other governmental agencies and nonprofit agencies.