1.1A bill for an act1.2relating to early childhood; modifying early education, prevention, 1.3self-sufficiency, and lifelong learning; making changes to child care assistance 1.4provisions; making supplemental appropriations and reductions to appropriations;1.5amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 119B.025, subdivision 1; 119B.09, 1.6subdivision 4; 121A.16; 121A.17, subdivision 5; 124D.141, subdivisions 1, 1.72; 124D.15, subdivision 12, by adding a subdivision; 124D.20, subdivision 8; 1.8Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, sections 124D.10, subdivision 8; 124D.15, 1.9subdivision 3.1.10BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:1.11ARTICLE 11.12EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, PREVENTION, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, 1.13AND LIFELONG LEARNING1.14    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 121A.16, is amended to read:1.15121A.16 EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT 1.16SCREENING; PURPOSE.1.17The legislature finds that early detection of children's health and developmental 1.18problems can reduce their later need for costly care, minimize their physical and 1.19educational disabilities, and aid in their rehabilitation. The purpose of sections 
         121A.161.20to 
         121A.19 is to assist parents and communities in improving the health of Minnesota 1.21children and in planning educational and health programs. Charter schools that elect to 1.22provide a screening program must comply with the requirements of sections 121A.16 to 1.23121A.19.1.24    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 121A.17, subdivision 5, is amended to read:2.1    Subd. 5. Developmental screening program information. The board must inform 2.2each resident family with a child eligible to participate in the developmental screening 2.3program, and a charter school that provides screening must inform families that apply 2.4for admission to the charter school, about the availability of the program and the state's 2.5requirement that a child receive a developmental screening or provide health records 2.6indicating that the child received a comparable developmental screening from a public 2.7or private health care organization or individual health care provider not later than 30 2.8days after the first day of attending kindergarten in a public school. A school district 2.9must inform all resident families with eligible children under age seven,and a charter 2.10school that provides screening must inform families that apply for admission to the charter 2.11school, that their children may receive a developmental screening conducted either by the 2.12school district or by a public or private health care organization or individual health care 2.13provider and that the screening is not required if a statement signed by the child's parent 2.14or guardian is submitted to the administrator or other person having general control and 2.15supervision of the school that the child has not been screened.2.16    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, section 124D.10, subdivision 8, is 2.17amended to read:2.18    Subd. 8. Federal, state, and local requirements. (a) A charter school shall meet all 2.19federal, state, and local health and safety requirements applicable to school districts.2.20(b) A school must comply with statewide accountability requirements governing 2.21standards and assessments in chapter 120B.2.22(c) A school sponsored by a school board may be located in any district, unless the 2.23school board of the district of the proposed location disapproves by written resolution.2.24(d) A charter school must be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, 2.25employment practices, and all other operations. A sponsor may not authorize a charter 2.26school or program that is affiliated with a nonpublic sectarian school or a religious 2.27institution. A charter school student must be released for religious instruction, consistent 2.28with section 
         120A.22, subdivision 12, clause (3).2.29(e) Charter schools must not be used as a method of providing education or 2.30generating revenue for students who are being home-schooled.2.31(f) The primary focus of a charter school must be to provide a comprehensive 2.32program of instruction for at least one grade or age group from five through 18 years 2.33of age. Instruction may be provided to people younger than five years and older than 2.3418 years of age.2.35(g) A charter school may not charge tuition.3.1(h) A charter school is subject to and must comply with chapter 363A and section 3.2121A.04
         .3.3(i) A charter school is subject to and must comply with the Pupil Fair Dismissal 3.4Act, sections 
         121A.40 to 
         121A.56, and the Minnesota Public School Fee Law, sections 3.5123B.34
          to 
         123B.39.3.6(j) A charter school is subject to the same financial audits, audit procedures, and 3.7audit requirements as a district. Audits must be conducted in compliance with generally 3.8accepted governmental auditing standards, the Federal Single Audit Act, if applicable, 3.9and section 
         6.65. A charter school is subject to and must comply with sections 
         15.054; 3.10118A.01
         ; 
         118A.02; 
         118A.03; 
         118A.04; 
         118A.05; 
         118A.06; 
         471.38; 
         471.391; 
         471.392; and 3.11471.425
         . The audit must comply with the requirements of sections 
         123B.75 to 
         123B.83, 3.12except to the extent deviations are necessary because of the program at the school. 3.13Deviations must be approved by the commissioner and authorizer. The Department of 3.14Education, state auditor, legislative auditor, or authorizer may conduct financial, program, 3.15or compliance audits. A charter school determined to be in statutory operating debt under 3.16sections 
         123B.81 to 
         123B.83 must submit a plan under section 
         123B.81, subdivision 4.3.17(k) A charter school is a district for the purposes of tort liability under chapter 466.3.18(l) A charter school must comply with chapters 13 and 13D; and sections 
         120A.22, 3.19subdivision 7
         ; 
         121A.75; and 
         260B.171, subdivisions 3 and 5.3.20(m) A charter school is subject to the Pledge of Allegiance requirement under 3.21section 
         121A.11, subdivision 3.3.22(n) A charter school offering online courses or programs must comply with section 3.23124D.095
         .3.24(o) A charter school and charter school board of directors are subject to chapter 181.3.25(p) A charter school must comply with section 
         120A.22, subdivision 7, governing 3.26the transfer of students' educational records and sections 
         138.163 and 
         138.17 governing 3.27the management of local records.3.28(q) A charter school that provides early childhood health and developmental 3.29screening must comply with sections 121A.16 to 121A.19.3.30    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.141, subdivision 1, is amended to read:3.31    Subdivision 1. Membership; duties. Two members of the house of representatives, 3.32one appointed by the speaker and one appointed by the minority leader; and two members 3.33of the senate appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules 3.34and Administration, including one member of the minority; the commissioner of health or 3.35the commissioner's designee; and two parents with a child under age six, shall be added 4.1to the membership of the State Advisory Council on Early Education and Care. The 4.2council must fulfill the duties required under the federal Improving Head Start for School 4.3Readiness Act of 2007 as provided in Public Law 110-134.4.4    Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.141, subdivision 2, is amended to read:4.5    Subd. 2. Additional duties. The following duties are added to those assigned 4.6to the council under federal law:4.7    (1) make recommendations on the most efficient and effective way to leverage state 4.8and federal funding streams for early childhood and child care programs;4.9    (2) make recommendations on how to coordinate or colocate early childhood and 4.10child care programs in one state Office of Early Learning;. The council shall establish 4.11a task force to develop these recommendations. The task force shall include two 4.12nonexecutive or legislative branch representatives from the council; six representatives 4.13from the early childhood caucus; two representatives each from the Departments of 4.14Education, Human Services, and Health; one representative each from a local public health 4.15agency, a local county human services board, and a school district; and two representatives 4.16from the private nonprofit organizations that support early childhood programs in 4.17Minnesota. In developing recommendations, the task force shall consider how to:4.18(i) consolidate and coordinate resources and public funding streams for early 4.19childhood education and child care, and ensure the accountability and coordinated 4.20development of all early childhood education and child care services to children from birth 4.21to kindergarten entrance; 4.22(ii) create a seamless transition from early childhood programs to kindergarten; 4.23(iii) encourage family choice by ensuring a mixed system of high-quality public and 4.24private programs, with local points of entry, staffed by well-qualified professionals; 4.25(iv) ensure parents a decisive role in the planning, operation, and evaluation of 4.26programs that aid families in the care of children; 4.27(v) provide consumer education and accessibility to early childhood education 4.28and child care resources; 4.29(vi) advance the quality of early childhood education and child care programs in 4.30order to support the healthy development of children and preparation for their success 4.31in school; 4.32(vii) develop a seamless service delivery system with local points of entry for early 4.33childhood education and child care programs administered by local, state, and federal 4.34agencies; 5.1(viii) develop and manage an effective data collection system to support the 5.2necessary functions of a coordinated system of early childhood education and child care in 5.3order to enable accurate evaluation of its impact; 5.4(ix) respect and be sensitive to family values and cultural heritage; and 5.5(x) establish the administrative framework for and promote the development of early 5.6childhood education and child care services in order to provide that these services, staffed 5.7by well-qualified professionals, are available in every community for all families that 5.8express a need for them. 5.9In addition, the task force must consider the following responsibilities for transfer 5.10to the Office of Early Learning: 5.11(A) responsibilities of the commissioner of education for early childhood education 5.12programs and financing under sections 119A.50 to 119A.535, 121A.16 to 121A.19, and 5.13124D.129 to 124D.2211; 5.14(B) responsibilities of the commissioner of human services for child care assistance, 5.15child care development, and early childhood learning and child protection facilities 5.16programs and financing under chapter 119B and section 256E.37; and 5.17(C) responsibilities of the commissioner of health for family home visiting programs 5.18and financing under section 145A.17.5.19Any costs incurred by the council in making these recommendations will be paid 5.20from private funds. If no private funds are received, the council will not proceed in 5.21making these recommendations. The council will report its recommendations to the 5.22governor and the legislature by January 15, 2011;5.23    (3) review program evaluations regarding high-quality early childhood programs; 5.24and5.25    (4) make recommendations to the governor and legislature, including proposed 5.26legislation on how to most effectively create a high-quality early childhood system in 5.27Minnesota in order to improve the educational outcomes of children so that all children 5.28are school-ready by 2020.;5.29(5) make recommendations to the governor and the legislature by March 1, 2011, on 5.30the creation and implementation of a statewide school readiness report card to monitor 5.31progress toward the goal of having all children ready for kindergarten by the year 2020. 5.32The recommendations shall include what should be measured including both children and 5.33system indicators, what benchmarks should be established to measure state progress 5.34toward the goal, and how frequently the report card should be published. In making their 5.35recommendations, the council shall consider the indicators and strategies for Minnesota's 5.36early childhood system report, the Minnesota school readiness study, developmental 6.1assessment at kindergarten entrance, and the work of the council's accountability 6.2committee. Any costs incurred by the council in making these recommendations will be 6.3paid from private funds. If no private funds are received, the council will not proceed in 6.4making these recommendations; and6.5(6) make recommendations to the governor and the legislature on how to screen 6.6earlier and comprehensively assess children for school readiness in order to provide 6.7increased early interventions and increase the number of children ready for kindergarten. 6.8In formulating their recommendations, the council shall consider (i) ways to interface 6.9with parents of children who are not participating in early childhood education or care 6.10programs, (ii) ways to interface with family child care providers, child care centers, and 6.11school-based early childhood and Head Start programs, (iii) if there are age-appropriate 6.12and culturally sensitive screening and assessment tools for three-, four-, and five-year-olds, 6.13(iv) the role of the medical community in screening, (v) incentives for parents to have 6.14children screened at an earlier age, (vi) incentives for early education and care providers 6.15to comprehensively assess children in order to improve instructional practice, (vii) how to 6.16phase in increases in screening and assessment over time, (viii) how the screening and 6.17assessment data will be collected and used and who will have access to the data, (ix) 6.18how to monitor progress toward the goal of having 50 percent of three-year-old children 6.19screened and 50 percent of five-year-old children assessed for school readiness by 2015 6.20and 100 percent of three-year-old children screened and five-year-old children assessed 6.21for school readiness by 2020, and (x) costs to meet these benchmarks. The council shall 6.22consider the screening instruments and comprehensive assessment tools used in Minnesota 6.23early childhood education and care programs and kindergarten. The council may survey 6.24early childhood education and care programs in the state to determine the screening and 6.25assessment tools being used or rely on previously collected survey data, if available. For 6.26purposes of this subdivision, "school readiness" is defined as the child's skills, knowledge, 6.27and behaviors at kindergarten entrance in these areas of child development: social; 6.28self-regulation; cognitive, including language, literacy, and mathematical thinking; and 6.29physical. For purposes of this subdivision, "screening" is defined as the activities used to 6.30identify a child who may need further evaluation to determine delay in development or 6.31disability. For purposes of this subdivision, "assessment" is defined as the activities used 6.32to determine a child's level of performance in order to promote the child's learning and 6.33development. Any costs incurred by the council in making these recommendations will 6.34be paid from private funds. If no private funds are received, the council will not proceed 6.35in making these recommendations. The council will report its recommendations to the 6.36governor and legislature by January 15, 2012, with an interim report on February 15, 2011.7.1    Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, section 124D.15, subdivision 3, is 7.2amended to read:7.3    Subd. 3. Program requirements. A school readiness program provider must:7.4    (1) assess each child's cognitive skills with a comprehensive child assessment 7.5instrument when the child enters and again before the child leaves the program to inform 7.6program planning and parents and promote kindergarten readiness;7.7    (2) provide comprehensive program content and intentional instructional practice 7.8aligned with the state early childhood learning guidelines and kindergarten standards and 7.9based on early childhood research and professional practice that is focused on children's 7.10cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills and development and prepares children 7.11for the transition to kindergarten, including early literacy skills;7.12(3) coordinate appropriate kindergarten transition with parents and kindergarten 7.13teachers;7.14    (4) arrange for early childhood screening and appropriate referral;7.15    (5) (4) involve parents in program planning and decision making;7.16    (6) (5) coordinate with relevant community-based services;7.17    (7) (6) cooperate with adult basic education programs and other adult literacy 7.18programs;7.19(8) (7) ensure staff-child ratios of one-to-ten and maximum group size of 20 children 7.20with the first staff required to be a teacher; and7.21(9) (8) have teachers knowledgeable in early childhood curriculum content, 7.22assessment, and instruction.7.23    Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.15, subdivision 12, is amended to read:7.24    Subd. 12. Program fees. A district must adopt a sliding fee schedule based on a 7.25family's income but must waive a fee for a participant unable to pay. School districts must 7.26use school readiness aid for eligible children. Children who do not meet the eligibility 7.27requirements in subdivision 15 may participate on a fee-for-service basis.7.28    Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.15, is amended by adding a subdivision 7.29to read:7.30    Subd. 15.Eligibility. A child is eligible to participate in a school readiness program 7.31if the child:7.32(1) is at least three years old on September 1;7.33(2) has completed health and developmental screening within 90 days of program 7.34enrollment under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19; and8.1(3) has one or more of the following risk factors:8.2(i) qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch;8.3(ii) is an English language learning child;8.4(iii) is homeless;8.5(iv) has an individualized education program (IEP) or an individual interagency 8.6intervention plan (IIIP);8.7(v) is identified, through health and developmental screenings under sections 8.8121A.16 to 121A.19, with a potential risk factor that may influence learning; or8.9(vi) is defined as at risk by the school district.8.10    Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.20, subdivision 8, is amended to read:8.11    Subd. 8. Uses of general revenue. (a) General community education revenue 8.12may be used for:8.13(1) nonvocational, recreational, and leisure time activities and programs;8.14(2) programs for adults with disabilities, if the programs and budgets are approved 8.15by the department;8.16(3) adult basic education programs, according to section 
         124D.52; 8.17(4) summer programs for elementary and secondary pupils;8.18(5) implementation of a youth development plan;8.19(6) implementation of a youth service program;8.20(7) early childhood family education programs, according to section 
         124D.13; and8.21(8) school readiness programs, according to section 124D.15; and8.22(9) extended day programs, according to section 
         124D.19, subdivision 11. 8.23(9)(b) In addition to money from other sources, a district may use up to ten percent 8.24of its community education revenue for equipment that is used exclusively in community 8.25education programs. This revenue may be used only for the following purposes:8.26(i) (1) to purchase or lease computers and related materials;8.27(ii) (2) to purchase or lease equipment for instructional programs; and8.28(iii) (3) to purchase textbooks and library books.8.29(b) (c) General community education revenue must not be used to subsidize the 8.30direct activity costs for adult enrichment programs. Direct activity costs include, but 8.31are not limited to, the cost of the activity leader or instructor, cost of materials, or 8.32transportation costs.9.1ARTICLE 29.2CHILD CARE9.3    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 119B.025, subdivision 1, is amended to 9.4read:9.5    Subdivision 1. Factors which must be verified. (a) The county shall verify the 9.6following at all initial child care applications using the universal application:9.7(1) identity of adults;9.8(2) presence of the minor child in the home, if questionable;9.9(3) relationship of minor child to the parent, stepparent, legal guardian, eligible 9.10relative caretaker, or the spouses of any of the foregoing;9.11(4) age;9.12(5) immigration status, if related to eligibility;9.13(6) Social Security number, if given;9.14(7) income;9.15(8) spousal support and child support payments made to persons outside the 9.16household;9.17(9) residence; and9.18(10) inconsistent information, if related to eligibility.9.19(b) If a family did not use the universal application or child care addendum to apply 9.20for child care assistance, the family must complete the universal application or child care 9.21addendum at its next eligibility redetermination and the county must verify the factors 9.22listed in paragraph (a) as part of that redetermination. Once a family has completed a 9.23universal application or child care addendum, the county shall use the redetermination 9.24form described in paragraph (c) for that family's subsequent redeterminations. Eligibility 9.25must be redetermined at least every six months. For a family where at least one parent is 9.26under the age of 21, does not have a high school or general equivalency diploma, and is a 9.27student in a school district or another similar program that provides or arranges for child 9.28care, as well as parenting, social services, career and employment supports, and academic 9.29support to achieve high school graduation, the redetermination of eligibility shall be 9.30deferred beyond six months, but not to exceed 12 months, to the end of the student's 9.31school year. If a family reports a change in an eligibility factor before the family's next 9.32regularly scheduled redetermination, the county must recalculate eligibility without 9.33requiring verification of any eligibility factor that did not change.10.1(c) The commissioner shall develop a redetermination form to redetermine eligibility 10.2and a change report form to report changes that minimize paperwork for the county and 10.3the participant.10.4(d) Families have the primary responsibility to verify information. A county must 10.5consider the family's circumstances and ability to produce verification when initiating a 10.6request for verification. If a family is unable to verify an eligibility factor, the county 10.7must request written consent from the family to obtain verification from other sources. A 10.8county may not request a specific form of verification if another is more readily available. 10.9When verification of an eligibility factor other than income is not available despite the 10.10efforts of the county and the family, the county must accept a signed statement from the 10.11family attesting to the correctness of the information if one is provided. The county must 10.12deny or end assistance to families who refuse or deliberately fail to verify information.10.13EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective October 15, 2010.10.14    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 119B.09, subdivision 4, is amended to read:10.15    Subd. 4. Eligibility; annual income; calculation. Annual income of the applicant 10.16family is the current monthly income of the family multiplied by 12 or the income for 10.17the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of application, or income calculated 10.18by the method which provides the most accurate assessment of income available to the 10.19family. Self-employment income must be calculated based on gross receipts less operating 10.20expenses. Income must be recalculated when the family's income changes, but no less 10.21often than every six months. For a family where at least one parent is under the age 10.22of 21, does not have a high school or general equivalency diploma, and is a student in 10.23a school district or another similar program that provides or arranges for child care, 10.24as well as parenting, social services, career and employment supports, and academic 10.25support to achieve high school graduation, income must be recalculated when the family's 10.26income changes, but otherwise shall be deferred beyond six months, but not to exceed 12 10.27months, to the end of the student's school year. Income must be verified with documentary 10.28evidence. If the applicant does not have sufficient evidence of income, verification must 10.29be obtained from the source of the income.10.30EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective October 15, 2010.10.31    Sec. 3. QUALITY RATING SYSTEM TRAINING, COACHING, 10.32CONSULTATION, AND SUPPORTS.11.1The commissioner of human services shall direct $500,000 in federal child care 11.2development funds used for grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.21, in fiscal 11.3year 2011 for the purpose of providing statewide child care provider training, coaching, 11.4consultation, and supports to prepare for the voluntary Minnesota quality rating system. 11.5This is a onetime appropriation. In addition, to the extent that private funds are made 11.6available, the commissioner shall designate those funds for this purpose.11.7    Sec. 4. CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE REDETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY 11.8AND INFORMATION VERIFICATION.11.9The commissioner of human services shall use existing resources to implement 11.10the changes in this bill related to child care assistance redetermination of eligibility and 11.11information verification under Minnesota Statutes, sections 119B.025, subdivision 1, and 11.12119B.09, subdivision 4.11.13    Sec. 5. CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT FUND UNEXPENDED BALANCE.11.14In addition to the amount provided in Laws 2009, chapter 79, article 13, section 3, 11.15subdivision 4, paragraph (d), the commissioner shall carry over and expend in fiscal year 11.162011, $7,500,000 of the TANF funds transferred in fiscal year 2010 which reflect the 11.17child care and development fund unexpended balance for the basic sliding fee child care 11.18assistance program under Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.03. The commissioner shall 11.19ensure that all the funds are expended according to the federal child care and development 11.20fund regulations relating to TANF transfers.11.21    Sec. 6. BASIC SLIDING FEE.11.22The general fund appropriation for fiscal year 2011 for the basic sliding fee child 11.23care program under Laws 2009, chapter 79, article 13, section 3, subdivision 4, paragraph 11.24(d) is reduced by $7,500,000.