HF 2983

2nd Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to early childhood education; creating an Office of Early Learning;
creating an advisory board on school readiness; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapters 4; 124D.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [4.046] OFFICE OF EARLY LEARNING.
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new text begin (a) An Office of Early Learning is established to coordinate a high quality early
childhood system in Minnesota to make such programs more effective, and to improve
the educational outcomes of all children. The governor must appoint, and the senate
must confirm, a director who is a recognized expert in the field of early childhood care
and education who will facilitate communication and coordinate prekindergarten and
child care programs under the administration of the Departments of Education, Health,
and Human Services.
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new text begin (b) The director of the Office of Early Learning must coordinate Departments of
Education, Health, and Human Services staff efforts to:
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new text begin (1) consolidate and coordinate resources and public funding streams for early
education and child care, and ensure the accountability and coordinated development of
all early education and child care services to children from birth to age five;
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new text begin (2) work with the Departments of Education, Health, and Human Services and the
Minnesota Early Learning Foundation (MELF) to create common standards for quality
early childhood programming and rules for teacher training and certification;
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new text begin (3) create a seamless transition from early childhood programs to kindergarten;
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new text begin (4) encourage family choice by ensuring a mixed system of high-quality public and
private programs, with local points of entry, staffed by well-qualified professionals;
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new text begin (5) ensure parents a decisive role in the planning, operation, and evaluation of
programs that aid families in the care of children;
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new text begin (6) provide consumer education and accessibility to early education and child care
resources;
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new text begin (7) advance the quality of early education and child care programs in order to
support the healthy development of children and preparation for their success in school;
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new text begin (8) develop a seamless service delivery system of early education and child care
programs administered by local, state, and federal agencies, with local points of entry;
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new text begin (9) develop and manage an effective data collection system to support the necessary
functions of a coordinated system of early education and child care in order to enable
accurate evaluation of its impact;
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new text begin (10) respect and be sensitive to family values and cultural heritage; and
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new text begin (11) establish the administrative framework for and promote the development of
early education and child care services in order to provide that these services, staffed
by well-qualified professionals, are available in every community for all families that
express a need for them.
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new text begin (c) The director of the Office of Early Learning must report to the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over the early childhood education and child care programs
by February 1 of each year on the status of the work required under paragraph (b) and
any statutory changes necessary to improve quality and increase access. The director
also must present to these same legislative committees by February 1, 2009, a detailed
plan, with an implementation timeline, to co-locate state early childhood education and
child care assistance programs and services.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 2.

new text begin [124D.141] STATE ADVISORY BOARD ON SCHOOL READINESS.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin A 12-member State Advisory Board on School
Readiness is established. The director of the Office of Early Learning shall staff the
advisory board and assist in developing a coordinated, efficient, and cost-effective system
for delivering throughout Minnesota early childhood programs that focus on early care
and education, health care, and family support.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Board members; terms. new text end

new text begin (a) The advisory board includes the following
12 members:
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new text begin (1) the commissioner of employment and economic development or the
commissioner's designee;
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new text begin (2) the commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee;
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new text begin (3) the commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee;
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new text begin (4) the commissioner of human services or the commissioner's designee;
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new text begin (5) four public members appointed jointly by the majority and minority leaders in
the house and senate who are recognized experts in early care and education;
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new text begin (6) two public members appointed jointly by the majority and minority leaders in the
house and senate who are community or business leaders; and
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new text begin (7) two parents who have a child under age six.
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new text begin The public members must be representative of communities of color.
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new text begin (b) Members appointed by the majority and minority leaders in the house and senate
serve staggered three-year terms. Board members must nominate and elect a chair and
other officers from among the public members. Members initially appointed to the board
shall assign themselves by lot to terms of one, two, or three years. The chair must notify
the governor on the assignment of these terms. The board shall meet regularly at the times
and places the board determines. Meetings shall be called by the chair or at the written
request of any three members. Members' terms, compensation, removal, and vacancies
are governed by section 15.0575.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The board shall recommend to the governor and the legislature:
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new text begin (1) the most effective method to improve the coordination and delivery of early care
and education services that integrates child care, preschools, and family support services
and programs;
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new text begin (2) a multiyear plan for effectively and efficiently coordinating and integrating
state services for early care and education, improving service delivery and standards
of care, avoiding duplication and fragmentation of service, and enhancing public and
private investment;
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new text begin (3) methods for measuring the quality, quantity, and effectiveness of early care and
education programs throughout the state;
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new text begin (4) how to identify and measure school readiness indicators on a regular basis;
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new text begin (5) how to track, enhance, integrate, and coordinate federal, state, and local funds
allocated for early care and education and related family support services;
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new text begin (6) policy changes to improve children's ability to start school ready to learn; and
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new text begin (7) how to provide technical assistance to community efforts that promote school
readiness and encourage community organizations to collaborate in promoting school
readiness.
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new text begin (b) The board shall convene separate policy work groups to make recommendations
to the governor and the legislature on:
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new text begin (1) financing early childhood programs;
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new text begin (2) building a coordinated service delivery system based on an assessment of early
childhood systems and available state and federal funding;
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new text begin (3) integrating a coordinated, collaborative health care component, including
medical homes, parent education, family support, behavioral health, and early education,
into early childhood programs and avoiding duplication of services;
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new text begin (4) enhancing the quality and measuring the cost of child care and preschool
programs; and
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new text begin (5) improving the wages, benefits, and supply of early childhood professionals.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Board expenses. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding section 15.059, board members must
not be paid a per diem or reimbursed for any expense associated with their membership on
the advisory board.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Board expiration. new text end

new text begin The State Advisory Board on School Readiness
expires January 1, 2013.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end