HF 5278

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/04/2024 02:52pm

A bill for an act
relating to workforce development; appropriating money for the purchase and
operation of an online early childhood development professional educator program.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; ONLINE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin (a) $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the workforce development fund
to the commissioner of human services for the purchase and operation of an online early
childhood development professional educator program. The commissioner must select an
online provider to provide a professional development program at no cost to early childhood
educators. The program selected must include all of the coursework in English or Spanish
necessary to earn a Child Development Associate Certificate upon successful completion,
must provide courses allowing for the award of Continuing Education Units accredited by
the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training, must provide health
and safety courses meeting federal annual training requirements under the child care
development block grant and the child care and development fund, and must be usable for
students in high school career and technical education programs. Membership in the program
must be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to Minnesota educators currently
working in, or Minnesota residents interested in working in, licensed early education
facilities, including prekindergarten programs, child care, Head Start Centers, resource and
referral agencies, and family child care homes. The provider selected by the department
must have a platform that includes:
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new text begin (1) online courses based on research and developmentally appropriate practices as defined
by national professional organizations such as the National Association for the Education
of Young Children;
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new text begin (2) content that spans early childhood development from birth to age three and that
covers topics such as developmental milestones, health and safety, working with children
with special needs, supporting families, and running a high-quality early education program;
new text end

new text begin (3) courses that include videos, interactive games, knowledge checks, and writing
assignments;
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new text begin (4) a system for program administrators and state agencies to capture course completion
data, certification status, and individual and group professional development progress;
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new text begin (5) courses in English and Spanish;
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new text begin (6) courses that are accessible on a range of computers and tablets;
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new text begin (7) professional development opportunities that are both synchronous and asynchronous;
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new text begin (8) a professional learning community with access to early childhood content experts
and opportunities to share knowledge with peers around the country;
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new text begin (9) a user-friendly system with support by a customer help desk; and
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new text begin (10) a professional development system housed on a learning management system with
proven capability to provide reliable simultaneous access to a network of early educators.
new text end

new text begin (b) The responsibilities, authorities, and appropriation under paragraph (a) shall transfer
to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families once the relevant transfers in Laws
2023, chapter 70, article 12, section 30, have occurred.
new text end