HF 1325

1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; authorizing a prekindergarten program; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 126C.05, subdivision 1; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D; repealing Minnesota Statutes
2006, section 126C.10, subdivisions 31a, 31b.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [124D.165] PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Programs authorized. new text end

new text begin A school district may offer a prekindergarten
program for four year old children upon approval of the commissioner of education.
A school district must submit its program application to the commissioner in the form
and manner required by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Program characteristics. new text end

new text begin A prekindergarten program must prepare
children for kindergarten and include the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) compensatory instruction that accelerates children's language and literacy skills
and mathematical thinking;
new text end

new text begin (2) instructional content and activities that are of sufficient length and intensity to
address learning needs;
new text end

new text begin (3) an assessment of each child's cognitive skills when the child enters and again
before the child leaves the program to inform program planning and promote kindergarten
readiness;
new text end

new text begin (4) teachers trained in child development and early education instruction; and
new text end

new text begin (5) class sizes of less than 20 children and child staff ratios of ten to one or less.
new text end

new text begin Each child participating in a prekindergarten program must have a learning plan
created by the family and teacher designed to meet each child's stage of development and
learning style. Teachers must participate in regular professional development activities
to keep current on best practices.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Pupil eligibility. new text end

new text begin A child may participate in a prekindergarten program if
the child:
new text end

new text begin (1) is at least four years old on September 1;
new text end

new text begin (2) has completed the developmental screening under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19;
and
new text end

new text begin (3) qualifies for free and reduced-price lunch, or is an English language learning
child who is four years old on September 1.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2007.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 126C.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Pupil unit.

Pupil units for each Minnesota resident pupil under the
age of 21 or who meets the requirements of section 120A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph
(c), in average daily membership enrolled in the district of residence, in another district
under sections 123A.05 to 123A.08, 124D.03, 124D.06, 124D.07, 124D.08, or 124D.68;
in a charter school under section 124D.10; or for whom the resident district pays tuition
under section 123A.18, 123A.22, 123A.30, 123A.32, 123A.44, 123A.488, 123B.88,
subdivision 4, 124D.04, 124D.05, 125A.03 to 125A.24, 125A.51, or 125A.65, shall be
counted according to this subdivision.

(a) A prekindergarten pupil with a disability who is enrolled in a program approved
by the commissioner and has an individual education plan is counted as the ratio of the
number of hours of assessment and education service to 825 times 1.25 with a minimum
average daily membership of 0.28, but not more than 1.25 pupil units.

(b) A prekindergarten pupil who is assessed but determined not to be disabled is
counted as the ratio of the number of hours of assessment service to 825 times 1.25.

(c) A kindergarten pupil with a disability who is enrolled in a program approved
by the commissioner is counted as the ratio of the number of hours of assessment and
education services required in the fiscal year by the pupil's individual education program
plan to 875, but not more than one.

(d) A kindergarten pupil new text begin , and any pupil participating in a prekindergarten program
under section 124D.165, new text end who is not included in paragraph (c) is counted as .557 of a
pupil unit for fiscal year 2000 and thereafter.

(e) A pupil who is in any of grades 1 to 3 is counted as 1.115 pupil units for fiscal
year 2000 and thereafter.

(f) A pupil who is any of grades 4 to 6 is counted as 1.06 pupil units for fiscal
year 1995 and thereafter.

(g) A pupil who is in any of grades 7 to 12 is counted as 1.3 pupil units.

(h) A pupil who is in the postsecondary enrollment options program is counted
as 1.3 pupil units.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2008.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 126C.10, subdivisions 31a and 31b, new text end new text begin are repealed.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2008.
new text end