HF 2334

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

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing an early childhood
education pilot program for at-risk children between
the age of three and entering kindergarten.

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

Section 1. new text begin PILOT PROGRAM FOR AT-RISK PRE-K CHILDREN.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; eligibility; application
process. new text end

new text begin (a) An early childhood education pilot program for
at-risk children between the age of three and entering
kindergarten is established to develop or expand developmentally
appropriate and cost-effective programs for children who:
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new text begin (1) are members of a household with an income less than 75
percent of the statewide median family income;
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new text begin (2) live in divorced or separated households headed by a
single parent;
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new text begin (3) have experienced residential instability or
homelessness in the past 12 months;
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new text begin (4) have a parent who has not received a high school
diploma or its equivalent;
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new text begin (5) speak a primary language other than English;
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new text begin (6) are determined by a qualified early childhood or other
professional to require additional developmental screening,
diagnosis, or treatment; or
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new text begin (7) have a parent who has undergone treatment for chemical
abuse or mental illness.
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new text begin (b) An applicant for a grant must be a qualified provider
of care, education, and social services for young children and
their families. The applicant must demonstrate to the
satisfaction of the education commissioner that, at a minimum,
the applicant:
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new text begin (1) has successfully operated an early childhood program
for two or more calendar years;
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new text begin (2) addresses the physical and educational needs of young
children and their families; and
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new text begin (3) measures its success in meeting the needs of the young
children and families it serves.
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new text begin (c) To obtain a grant under this section, a qualified
provider must submit an application to the education
commissioner in the form and manner the commissioner
prescribes. The application must demonstrate the applicant's
qualifications, consistent with paragraph (b), and describe how
the applicant proposes to develop or expand a developmentally
appropriate and cost-effective program for at-risk young
children and their families. The commissioner may require an
applicant to submit additional information.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grant awards. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may award up to
five grants to qualified providers throughout the state. The
amount of the grant shall be based on the number of children and
families expected to participate in the provider's program.
Grant recipients must use the grant award to provide a
developmentally appropriate and cost-effective program for
at-risk young children and their families.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Evaluation. new text end

new text begin The commissioner, after evaluating
the programmatic and cost-effectiveness of the grant recipients'
programs and identifying the elements of developmentally
appropriate and cost-effective programs for at-risk young
children and their families, must submit by January 15, 2008, a
written report of the commissioner's findings to the early
childhood committees in the legislature.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2005.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $........ is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal
year 2006 to the commissioner of education for the purpose of a
pilot program to develop or expand developmentally appropriate
and cost-effective programs for at-risk young children and their
families under section 1. Any funds not expended in fiscal year
2006 do not cancel and are available in fiscal year 2007.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2005.
new text end