1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education finance; authorizing a prekindergarten program;amending 
1.3 	Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 126C.05, subdivision 1; proposing coding for 
1.4 	new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D; repealing Minnesota Statutes 
1.5 	2006, section 126C.10, subdivisions 31a, 31b.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. [124D.165] PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Programs authorized. A school district may offer a prekindergarten 
1.9 	program for four year old children upon approval of the commissioner of education. 
1.10 	A school district must submit its program application to the commissioner in the form 
1.11 	and manner required by the commissioner.
1.12 		Subd. 2.Program characteristics. A prekindergarten program must prepare 
1.13 	children for kindergarten and include the following:
1.14 	(1) compensatory instruction that accelerates children's language and literacy skills 
1.15 	and mathematical thinking;
1.16 	(2) instructional content and activities that are of sufficient length and intensity to 
1.17 	address learning needs;
1.18 	(3) an assessment of each child's cognitive skills when the child enters and again 
1.19 	before the child leaves the program to inform program planning and promote kindergarten 
1.20 	readiness;
1.21 	(4) teachers trained in child development and early education instruction; and
1.22 	(5) class sizes of less than 20 children and child staff ratios of ten to one or less.
1.23 	Each child participating in a prekindergarten program must have a learning plan 
1.24 	created by the family and teacher designed to meet each child's stage of development and 
2.1 	learning style. Teachers must participate in regular professional development activities 
2.2 	to keep current on best practices.
2.3 		Subd. 3.Pupil eligibility. A child may participate in a prekindergarten program if 
2.4 	the child:
2.5 	(1) is at least four years old on September 1;
2.6 	(2) has completed the developmental screening under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19; 
2.7 	and
2.8 	(3) qualifies for free and reduced-price lunch, or is an English language learning 
2.9 	child who is four years old on September 1.

2.10 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2007.

2.11 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 126C.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.12 		Subdivision 1.Pupil unit. Pupil units for each Minnesota resident pupil under the 
2.13 	age of 21 or who meets the requirements of section 120A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph 
2.14 	(c), in average daily membership enrolled in the district of residence, in another district 
2.15 	under sections 123A.05 to 123A.08, 124D.03, 124D.06, 124D.07, 124D.08, or 124D.68; 
2.16 	in a charter school under section 124D.10; or for whom the resident district pays tuition 
2.17 	under section 123A.18, 123A.22, 123A.30, 123A.32, 123A.44, 123A.488, 123B.88, 
2.18 	subdivision 4, 124D.04, 124D.05, 125A.03 to 125A.24, 125A.51, or 125A.65, shall be 
2.19 	counted according to this subdivision. 
2.20 	(a) A prekindergarten pupil with a disability who is enrolled in a program approved 
2.21 	by the commissioner and has an individual education plan is counted as the ratio of the 
2.22 	number of hours of assessment and education service to 825 times 1.25 with a minimum 
2.23 	average daily membership of 0.28, but not more than 1.25 pupil units. 
2.24 	(b) A prekindergarten pupil who is assessed but determined not to be disabled is 
2.25 	counted as the ratio of the number of hours of assessment service to 825 times 1.25. 
2.26 	(c) A kindergarten pupil with a disability who is enrolled in a program approved 
2.27 	by the commissioner is counted as the ratio of the number of hours of assessment and 
2.28 	education services required in the fiscal year by the pupil's individual education program 
2.29 	plan to 875, but not more than one.
2.30 	(d) A kindergarten pupil, and any pupil participating in a prekindergarten program 
2.31 	under section 124D.165, who is not included in paragraph (c) is counted as .557 of a 
2.32 	pupil unit for fiscal year 2000 and thereafter.
2.33 	(e) A pupil who is in any of grades 1 to 3 is counted as 1.115 pupil units for fiscal 
2.34 	year 2000 and thereafter. 
3.1 	(f) A pupil who is any of grades 4 to 6 is counted as 1.06 pupil units for fiscal 
3.2 	year 1995 and thereafter. 
3.3 	(g) A pupil who is in any of grades 7 to 12 is counted as 1.3 pupil units.
3.4 	(h) A pupil who is in the postsecondary enrollment options program is counted 
3.5 	as 1.3 pupil units.

3.6 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2008.

3.7 	Sec. 3.  REPEALER.
 3.8 	Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 126C.10, subdivisions 31a and 31b, are repealed.

3.9 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2008.