HF 1901

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to early education; providing for
coordination of early care and education programs.

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

Section 1. new text begin COORDINATION OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION
PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioners of education, human services, and
health shall identify how they will coordinate activities and
resources, with input from local communities and tribes,
including setting priorities, aligning policies, and leveraging
existing resources to achieve the goal for increased school
readiness of all Minnesota children. The commissioners shall
report on the progress made, which must include information on:
new text end

new text begin (1) coordinating and disseminating resources and
information on school readiness and early care and education,
health and nutrition, including child mental health, and family
support to:
new text end

new text begin (i) parents and families with children birth to age five
through key entry points, such as women, infants, and children
(WIC), family home visiting, child welfare, public and private
health care providers, and other public programs; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) early care and education providers, public and private
health care providers, foster care providers, temporary care
providers, shelters, crisis nurseries, and other facilities
providing long-term or temporary care for young children, birth
to age five;
new text end

new text begin (2) supporting families, schools, and communities in
facilitating the transition of young children into the
kindergarten environment;
new text end

new text begin (3) identifying, coordinating, and sharing resources and
strategies between departments that address the cultural and
linguistic needs of families served;
new text end

new text begin (4) amending the state Medicaid plan to expand the use of
the child and teen checkup funding for allowable child
development services such as outreach for early childhood
screening, and streamlining the process for voluntary
certification of school districts as child and teen checkup
providers; and
new text end

new text begin (5) referring children age three to five in the child
welfare system to the interagency early intervention system for
a developmental screen and referral to services if problems are
identified.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioners shall report to the legislative
committees having jurisdiction over early care and education
issues by March 1, 2006.
new text end