HF 2226

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/16/2015 01:30pm

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; encouraging a digital home visiting program;
authorizing microgrants for curricular development; creating a system to
manage voluntary distribution of early childhood family education curricula;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.13.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.13, is amended to read:

124D.13 EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION (ECFE) PROGRAMS.

Subdivision 1.

Establishment; purpose.

A district that provides a community
education program under sections 124D.18 and 124D.19 may establish an early childhood
family education program. Two or more districts, each of which provides a community
education program, may cooperate to jointly provide an early childhood family education
program. The purpose of the early childhood family education program is to provide
parenting education to support children's learning and development.

Subd. 2.

Program requirements.

(a) Early childhood family education programs
are programs for children in the period of life from birth to kindergarten, for the parents
and other relatives of these children, and for expectant parents. To the extent that funds
are insufficient to provide programs for all children, early childhood family education
programs should emphasize programming for a child from birth to age three and
encourage parents and other relatives to involve four- and five-year-old children in school
readiness programs, and other public and nonpublic early learning programs. A district
may not limit participation to school district residents. Early childhood family education
programs must provide:

(1) programs to educate parents and other relatives about the physical, cognitive,
social, and emotional development of children and to enhance the skills of parents and
other relatives in providing for their children's learning and development;

(2) structured learning activities requiring interaction between children and their
parents or relatives;

(3) structured learning activities for children that promote children's development
and positive interaction with peers, which are held while parents or relatives attend parent
education classes;

(4) information on related community resources;

(5) information, materials, and activities that support the safety of children, including
prevention of child abuse and neglect;

(6) a community needs assessment that identifies new and underserved populations,
identifies child and family risk factors, particularly those that impact children's learning
and development, and assesses family and parenting education needs in the community;

(7) programming and services that are tailored to the needs of families and parents
prioritized in the community needs assessment; and

(8) information about and, if needed, assist in making arrangements for an early
childhood health and developmental screening under sections 121A.16 and 121A.17,
when the child nears the third birthday.

Early childhood family education programs should prioritize programming and
services for families and parents identified in the community needs assessment, particularly
those families and parents with children with the most risk factors birth to age three.

Early childhood family education programs are encouraged to provide parents of
English learners with translated oral and written information to monitor the program's
impact on their children's English language development, to know whether their children
are progressing in developing their English and native language proficiency, and to
actively engage with and support their children in developing their English and native
language proficiency.

The programs must include learning experiences for children, parents, and other
relatives that promote children's early literacy and, where practicable, their native language
skills and activities for children that require substantial involvement of the children's
parents or other relatives. The program may provide parenting education programming or
services to anyone identified in the community needs assessment. Providers must review
the program periodically to assure the instruction and materials are not racially, culturally,
or sexually biased. The programs must encourage parents to be aware of practices that
may affect equitable development of children.

(b) For the purposes of this section, "relative" or "relatives" means noncustodial
grandparents or other persons related to a child by blood, marriage, adoption, or foster
placement, excluding parents.

Subd. 3.

Substantial parental involvement.

The requirement of substantial
parental or other relative involvement in subdivision 2 means that:

(a) parents or other relatives must be physically present much of the time in classes
with their children or be in concurrent classes;

(b) parenting education or family education must be an integral part of every early
childhood family education program;

(c) early childhood family education appropriations must not be used for traditional
day care or nursery school, or similar programs; and

(d) the form of parent involvement common to kindergarten, elementary school, or
early childhood special education programs such as parent conferences, newsletters, and
notes to parents do not qualify a program under subdivision 2.

Subd. 4.

Home visiting program.

A district that levies for home visiting under
section 124D.135, subdivision 6, shall use this revenue to include as part of the early
childhood family education programs a parent education component that is designed to
reach isolated or at-risk families.

The home visiting program must:

(1) incorporate evidence-informed parenting education practices designed to support
the healthy growth and development of children, with a priority focus on those children
who have high needs;

(2) establish clear objectives and protocols for home visits;

(3) encourage families to make a transition from home visits to site-based parenting
programs;

(4) provide program services that are community-based, accessible, and culturally
relevant;

(5) foster collaboration among existing agencies and community-based organizations
that serve young children and their families, such as public health evidence-based models
of home visiting and Head Start home visiting; and

(6) provide information about and assist in making arrangements for an early
childhood health and developmental screening when the child nears his or her third birthday.

The home visiting program should be provided by licensed parenting educators,
certified family life educators, or professionals with an equivalent license that reflect the
demographic composition of the community to the extent possible.

new text begin Subd. 4a. new text end

new text begin Digital home visiting. new text end

new text begin A district may on a voluntary basis establish its
own digital home visiting program or participate in the Department of Education's digital
home visiting project to provide early childhood family education curricula links through
text messages, e-mails, and social media to families of young children.
new text end

Subd. 5.

Separate accounts.

The district must maintain a separate account within
the community education fund for money for early childhood family education programs.

Subd. 6.

Participants' fees.

A district must establish a reasonable sliding fee scale
but it shall waive the fee for a participant unable to pay.

Subd. 7.

Additional funding.

A district may receive funds from any governmental
agency or private source.

Subd. 8.

Coordination.

(a) A district must describe strategies to coordinate and
maximize public and private community resources and reduce duplication of services.

(b) A district is encouraged to coordinate adult basic education programs provided to
parents and early childhood family education programs provided to children to accomplish
the goals of section 124D.895.

Subd. 9.

District advisory councils.

The board must appoint an advisory council
from the area in which the program is provided. A majority of the council must be
parents participating in the program, who represent the demographics of the community.
The district must ensure, to the extent possible, that the council includes representation
of families who are racially, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse. The
council must assist the board in developing, planning, and monitoring the early childhood
family education program. The council must report to the board and the community
education advisory council.

Subd. 10.

Alternative council.

A board may direct the community education
council, required according to section 124D.19, subdivision 2, to perform the functions of
the Advisory Council for Early Childhood Family Education.

Subd. 11.

Teachers.

A school board must employ necessary licensed teachers for its
early childhood family education programs. The Board of Teaching, at its discretion, may
grant an applicant a variance under this subdivision, consistent with sections 122A.09,
subdivision 10, and 122A.25, and Board of Teaching rules.

Subd. 12.

Assistance.

The department must provide assistance to districts with
programs described in this section. new text begin The department may coordinate a voluntary digital
contact list consisting of text numbers and e-mail addresses of parents with young children
to provide information on early childhood family education curricula. new text end The department
must establish guidelines that list barriers to learning and development affecting children
served by early childhood family education programs.

Subd. 13.

Program data submission requirements.

Districts receiving early
childhood family education revenue under section 124D.135 must submit annual program
data, including data that demonstrates the program response to the community needs
assessment, to the department by July 15 in the form and manner prescribed by the
commissioner.

Subd. 14.

Supervision.

A program provided by a board must be supervised by a
licensed early childhood teacher or a licensed parent educator.

Subd. 15.

Parenting education transition program.

To the extent that funds are
sufficient, early childhood family education may provide parenting education transition
programming for parents of children birth to grade three in districts in which there is a
prekindergarten-grade three initiative in order to facilitate continued parent engagement
in children's learning and development. Early childhood family education programs are
encouraged to develop partnerships to provide a parenting education liaison to providers
of other public and nonpublic early learning programs, such as Head Start, school
readiness, child care, early childhood special education, local public health programs,
and health care providers.

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Microgrants for digital home visiting. new text end

new text begin (a) For microgrants for digital
home visiting distribution of early childhood family education curricula:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2016 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2017 new text end

new text begin (b) The Department of Education may establish the form and manner for applicants
to apply for a microgrant. The department must consult with the Minnesota Early
Learning Council and the Minnesota Association for Family and Early Education before
awarding microgrants.
new text end

new text begin (c) To the extent possible, microgrants must be awarded to applicants throughout
Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (d) Each microgrant must not exceed $........
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Management costs. new text end

new text begin For management costs for the Department of
Education and local early childhood family education programs to develop and maintain
databases in order to provide digital curricula to parents of young children:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2016 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2017 new text end