1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; providing for children's early literacy; appropriating money;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119A.50, by adding a subdivision.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119A.50, is amended by adding a 
1.6 	subdivision to read:
1.7 		Subd. 3.Words Work; early childhood literacy program. (a) A research-based 
1.8 	early childhood literacy program premised on actively involved parents, ongoing 
1.9 	professional staff development, and high quality early literacy program standards is 
1.10 	established to increase the literacy skills of children participating in Head Start to prepare 
1.11 	them to be successful readers and to increase families' participation in providing early 
1.12 	literacy experiences to their children. Program providers must:
1.13 	(1) work to prepare children to be successful learners;
1.14 	(2) work to close the achievement gap for at-risk children;
1.15 	(3) use an integrated approach to early literacy that daily offers a literacy-rich 
1.16 	classroom learning environment composed of books, writing materials, writing centers, 
1.17 	labels, rhyming, and other related literacy materials and opportunities;
1.18 	(4) support children's home language while helping the children master English and 
1.19 	use multiple literacy strategies to provide a cultural bridge between home and school;
1.20 	(5) use literacy mentors, ongoing literacy groups, and other teachers and staff  to 
1.21 	provide appropriate, extensive professional development opportunities in early literacy 
1.22 	and classroom strategies for preschool teachers and other preschool staff;
2.1 	(6) use ongoing data-based assessments that enable preschool teachers to understand, 
2.2 	plan, and implement literacy strategies, activities, and curriculum that meet children's 
2.3 	literacy needs and continuously improve children's literacy; and
2.4 	(7) foster participation by parents, community stakeholders, literacy advisors, and 
2.5 	evaluation specialists. 
2.6 	Program providers are encouraged to collaborate with qualified, community-based 
2.7 	early childhood providers in implementing this program and to seek nonstate funds to 
2.8 	supplement the program.
2.9 	(b) The commissioner, in consultation with program providers under paragraph (a), 
2.10 	must collect longitudinal literacy data on children in order to evaluate the impact of the 
2.11 	children's early literacy program on children's success in developing the prereading skills 
2.12 	they need for long-term academic success.

2.13 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.14 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; CHILDREN'S EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM.
 2.15 	$1,000,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2009 are appropriated 
2.16 	from the general fund to the commissioner of education for Words Work as described 
2.17 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 119A.50, subdivision 3. Any balance in fiscal year 2008 
2.18 	does not cancel but is available in fiscal year 2009.

2.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.