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HF 3463

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

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to early childhood education; creating an at-risk prekindergarten
program; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 124D.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [124D.168] AT-RISK PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin An at-risk prekindergarten program is established
to serve at-risk three- and four-year-old children in quality prekindergarten settings to
create opportunities for Minnesota's youngest children to develop and learn to their fullest
potential.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Child eligibility. new text end

new text begin A child must be at least three years old on September 1
of that year, not yet enrolled in kindergarten, and be a resident of a school district in which
one of the programs is located.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Program eligibility. new text end

new text begin At-risk prekindergarten program funds may be
granted to school districts that meet the program requirements under subdivision 4.
Districts may contract with qualifying preschool or child care programs to provide
services. At least ... percent of students must be served by nondistrict operated programs.
Districts must apply to the commissioner of education for program funds on the forms and
according to the timelines of the commissioner. The commissioner shall give preference
to districts that serve the most at-risk children, based on the percentage of students
participating in the free and reduced-price lunch program. Districts that have fewer than
50 percent of students participating in the free and reduced-price lunch program are not
eligible to receive at-risk prekindergarten program funds. To the extent possible, the
commissioner must provide for distribution of funds to metropolitan, suburban, and rural
areas of the state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Program requirements. new text end

new text begin School districts must administer a
prekindergarten program that meets the following requirements in order to be eligible for
at-risk prekindergarten program funding:
new text end

new text begin (1) programs must have a total class size of no more than 18 students and a child to
adult ratio of nine to one;
new text end

new text begin (2) programs must meet a minimum of two and one-half hours per day, four days
per week;
new text end

new text begin (3) curriculum and learning standards must be aligned between the prekindergarten,
participating child care, and kindergarten programs;
new text end

new text begin (4) programs must employ necessary qualified teachers or be rated a three or four by
the Quality Rating System;
new text end

new text begin (5) programs must have a strong accountability system with documented learning
standards, and must be highly rated by the Quality Rating System;
new text end

new text begin (6) each child must be assessed at program entrance and again at program exit;
new text end

new text begin (7) programs must offer comprehensive family services including developmental,
behavioral, and health screening;
new text end

new text begin (8) programs must offer compensatory services in language, literacy, and
mathematical thinking in a developmentally appropriate manner;
new text end

new text begin (9) programs must provide children's mental health consultation as needed; and
new text end

new text begin (10) programs must develop collaborative partnerships with school-based early
childhood programs, kindergarten teachers and other school officials, Head Start, and
community-based child care programs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Program alignment. new text end

new text begin Each school district receiving at-risk prekindergarten
funding must ensure that the at-risk prekindergarten program curriculum and learning
standards are aligned with kindergarten curriculum and learning standards.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin (a) The amount of the grant awarded to each participating district
must not be more than $13,000 per child served for full-time programs and $6,000 per
child served for part-time programs.
new text end

new text begin (b) A district may establish a new program where no existing, reasonably accessible
program meets the program requirements in subdivision 4. A district may contract with a
qualified preschool or child care program to provide eligible children developmentally
appropriate services that meet the requirements in subdivision 4. Districts must submit a
copy of each contract to the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (c) A qualified program that offers services including home visits, parent supports,
social services, and health referrals to the most at-risk children may receive a bonus
above the maximum payment in paragraph (a) in the amount of ten percent of the per
child payment rate for each child served.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS; DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year 2009 to the commissioner
of education for the at-risk prekindergarten program under Minnesota Statutes, section
124D.168.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2008.
new text end