HF 3290

1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; providing for school readiness assessments and
kindergarten transition strategies; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin SCHOOL READINESS ASSESSMENTS AND KINDERGARTEN
TRANSITION STRATEGIES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin In order to increase the capacity of school districts to
improve the performance of children at risk for not being fully prepared for kindergarten,
school readiness assessment and kindergarten transition strategy grants are established.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Technical assistance. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of education must provide
resources and technical assistance to enable a participating school district to offer
comprehensive and developmentally appropriate assessments to entering kindergartners,
or where applicable, children in prekindergarten programs and to develop and implement
kindergarten transition strategies.
new text end

new text begin (b) A district's assessment tool must be research-based and must assist with
identifying risk and informing instructional improvement. A participating school district
must coordinate with community and school-based early childhood programs.
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new text begin (c) An effective kindergarten transition strategy may include:
new text end

new text begin (1) transition plans for children entering kindergarten;
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new text begin (2) a transition planning team composed of representatives from early care and
education providers, elementary school staff, including kindergarten teachers, parents,
and community members;
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new text begin (3) information and education for parents, program providers, and educators on:
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new text begin (i) comprehensive child development;
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new text begin (ii) the skills and knowledge incoming kindergartners should demonstrate; and
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new text begin (iii) related community resources;
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new text begin (4) building community awareness about the importance of children's school
readiness; and
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new text begin (5) fostering collaboration among child care, Head Start, early childhood family
education, school readiness, family, friend and neighbor, and other early childhood
programs and elementary school providers.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin A school district must submit its application to the
commissioner in the form and manner required by the commissioner. The commissioner
must select school districts to receive grants giving priority to districts with high poverty
rates. To the extent practical, the selected districts must be located throughout the state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Annual report. new text end

new text begin A school district that receives a grant must submit an
annual report to the commissioner in the form and manner required by the commissioner.
The report must include a description of the assessment tool, process, and results.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Minnesota 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 School readiness and kindergarten transition strategies. new text end

new text begin For school
readiness and kindergarten transition strategies:
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	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2009 new text end

new text begin Of this amount, $....... is for program administration. This appropriation must be
added to the base budget.
new text end