as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
A bill for an act
relating to early childhood education; modifying school readiness program
requirements; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section
124D.15, by adding a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section
124D.15, subdivision 3.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 124D.15, subdivision 3,
is amended to read:
A school readiness program provider must:
(1) assess each child's deleted text begin cognitivedeleted text end new text begin kindergarten readinessnew text end skills when the child enters
and again before the child leaves the program to inform program planning and promote
kindergarten readiness;
(2) deleted text begin provide comprehensive program content based on early childhood research and
professional practice that is focused on children's cognitive skills and development and
preparesdeleted text end new text begin align program curriculum and learning standards with kindergarten curriculum
and learning standards to prepare new text end children for the transition to kindergartendeleted text begin , including
early literacy skillsdeleted text end ;
(3) arrange for early childhood screening and appropriate referral;
(4) involve parents in program planning and decision making;
(5) deleted text begin coordinate with relevant community-baseddeleted text end new text begin provide for comprehensive family
new text end services; deleted text begin and
deleted text end
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(6) have a total class size of no more than 18 students and a child-to-adult ratio
of nine to one;
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(7) meet a minimum of 2.5 hours per day, four days per week;
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(8) employ necessary qualified teachers;
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(9) have a strong accountability system with documented learning standards and be
highly rated by the quality rating system;
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(10) provide compensatory services in language, literacy, and mathematical thinking
in a developmentally appropriate manner;
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deleted text begin (6)deleted text end new text begin (11)new text end cooperate with adult basic education programs and other adult literacy
programsnew text begin ; and
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new text begin (12) provide children's mental health consultation as needednew text end .
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This section is effective July 1, 2009.
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Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.15, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
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Each school district operating a school readiness
program must ensure that the school readiness program curriculum and learning standards
are aligned with kindergarten curriculum and learning standards.
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This section is effective July 1, 2009.
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$....... is appropriated in fiscal year 2010 from the general fund to the commissioner
of education for the school readiness program under Minnesota Statutes, sections 124D.15
and 124D.16.
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