1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; continuing research of 
  1.3             kindergarten programs; providing a grant to 
  1.4             Independent School District No. 191, Burnsville; 
  1.5             appropriating money. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [KINDERGARTEN STUDY.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [CAREI.] The Center for Applied Research 
  1.9   and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of 
  1.10  Minnesota shall provide to the commissioner of education the 
  1.11  framework for its research and comparative study of the no-fee, 
  1.12  all-day kindergarten program implemented in the 2003-2004 school 
  1.13  year by Independent School District No. 191, Burnsville.  Upon 
  1.14  completion of the study, the center shall provide to the 
  1.15  commissioner its results and findings. 
  1.16     Subd. 2.  [EVALUATION AREAS.] At a minimum, the no-fee, 
  1.17  all-day kindergarten program under subdivision 1 shall be 
  1.18  compared against a fee-based, all-day kindergarten program and a 
  1.19  no-fee, half-day kindergarten program, and the areas evaluated 
  1.20  shall include academic outcomes, longitudinal outcomes for 
  1.21  students, differences in teaching and curriculum, parental 
  1.22  perceptions, and financial implications.  
  1.23     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  1.24     $500,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2005 from the 
  1.25  general fund to the commissioner of education for a grant to 
  2.1   Independent School District No. 191, Burnsville, to continue its 
  2.2   no-fee, all-day kindergarten program for the purpose of the 
  2.3   study under section 1.