1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to early childhood; removing a funding framework linked to the quality 
1.3 	rating and improvement system; amending eligibility criteria for a program to 
1.4 	accept early learning scholarships;amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, sections 
1.5 	124D.142; 124D.165, subdivision 4.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 124D.142, is amended to read:
1.8 	124D.142 QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM.
1.9 	(a) There is established a quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) framework to 
1.10 	ensure that Minnesota's children have access to high-quality early learning and care programs 
1.11 	in a range of settings so that they are fully ready for kindergarten by 2020. Creation of a 
1.12 	standards-based voluntary quality rating and improvement system includes:
1.13 	(1) quality opportunities in order to improve the educational outcomes of children so 
1.14 	that they are ready for school. The framework shall be based on the Minnesota quality rating 
1.15 	system rating tool and a common set of child outcome and program standards and informed 
1.16 	by evaluation results;
1.17 	(2) a tool to increase the number of publicly funded and regulated early learning and 
1.18 	care services in both public and private market programs that are high quality. If a program 
1.19 	or provider chooses to participate, the program or provider will be rated and may receive
1.20 	but eligibility for public funding shall not be associated with or depend upon the rating. The 
1.21 	state shall develop a plan to link future early learning and care state funding to the framework 
1.22 	in a manner that complies with federal requirements; and
2.1 	(3) tracking progress toward statewide access to high-quality early learning and care 
2.2 	programs, progress toward the number of low-income children whose parents can access 
2.3 	quality programs, and progress toward increasing the number of children who are fully 
2.4 	prepared to enter kindergarten.
2.5 	(b) In planning a statewide quality rating and improvement system framework in 
2.6 	paragraph (a), the state shall use evaluation results of the Minnesota quality rating system 
2.7 	rating tool in use in fiscal year 2008 to recommend:
2.8 	(1) a framework of a common set of child outcome and program standards for a voluntary 
2.9 	statewide quality rating and improvement system; and
2.10 	(2) a plan to link future funding to the framework described in paragraph (a), clause (2); 
2.11 	and
2.12 	(3) a plan for how the state will realign existing state and federal administrative resources 
2.13 	to implement the voluntary quality rating and improvement system framework. The state 
2.14 	shall provide the recommendation in this paragraph to the early childhood education finance 
2.15 	committees of the legislature by March 15, 2011.
2.16 	(c) Prior to the creation of a statewide quality rating and improvement system in paragraph 
2.17 	(a), the state shall employ the Minnesota quality rating system rating tool in use in fiscal 
2.18 	year 2008 in the original Minnesota Early Learning Foundation pilot areas and additional 
2.19 	pilot areas supported by private or public funds with its modification as a result of the 
2.20 	evaluation results of the pilot project.

2.21 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 124D.165, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
2.22 		Subd. 4.Early childhood program eligibility. (a) In order to be eligible to accept an 
2.23 	early learning scholarship, a program must:
2.24 	(1) participate in the quality rating and improvement system under section 124D.142; 
2.25 	and
2.26 	(2) beginning July 1, 2020, have a three- or four-star rating in the quality rating and 
2.27 	improvement system.
2.28 	(a) A program is eligible to receive an early learning scholarship regardless of its 
2.29 	participation in the quality rating and improvement system under section 124D.142.
2.30 	(b) Any program accepting scholarships must use the revenue to supplement and not 
2.31 	supplant federal funding.
3.1 	(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), all Minnesota early learning foundation scholarship 
3.2 	program pilot sites are eligible to accept an early learning scholarship under this section.