1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
Engrossments | ||
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Introduction | Posted on 02/20/2008 | |
1st Engrossment | Posted on 02/26/2008 |
A bill for an act
relating to education; providing for school readiness assessments and
kindergarten transition strategies; appropriating money.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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In order to increase the capacity of school districts to
improve the performance of children at risk for not being fully prepared for kindergarten,
school readiness assessment and kindergarten transition strategy grants are established.
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(a) The commissioner of education must provide
resources and technical assistance to enable a participating school district to offer
comprehensive and developmentally appropriate assessments to entering kindergartners,
or where applicable, children in prekindergarten programs and to develop and implement
kindergarten transition strategies.
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(b) A district's assessment tool must be research-based and must assist with
identifying risk and informing instructional improvement. A participating school district
must coordinate with community and school-based early childhood programs.
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(c) An effective kindergarten transition strategy may include:
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(1) transition plans for children entering kindergarten;
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(2) a transition planning team composed of representatives from early care and
education providers, elementary school staff, including kindergarten teachers, parents,
and community members;
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(3) information and education for parents, program providers, and educators on:
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(i) comprehensive child development;
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(ii) the skills and knowledge incoming kindergartners should demonstrate; and
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(iii) related community resources;
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(4) building community awareness about the importance of children's school
readiness; and
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(5) fostering collaboration among child care, Head Start, early childhood family
education, school readiness, family, friend and neighbor, and other early childhood
programs and elementary school providers.
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A school district must submit its application to the
commissioner in the form and manner required by the commissioner. The commissioner
must select school districts to receive grants giving priority to districts with high poverty
rates. To the extent practical, the selected districts must be located throughout the state.
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A school district that receives a grant must submit an
annual report to the commissioner in the form and manner required by the commissioner.
The report must include a description of the assessment tool, process, and results.
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The sums indicated in this
section are appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the
fiscal years designated.
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For school
readiness and kindergarten transition strategies:
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$ new text end |
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....... new text end |
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..... new text end |
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2009 new text end |
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Of this amount, $....... is for program administration. This appropriation must be
added to the base budget.
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