2007 Minnesota Statutes

124D.15 SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS.
    Subdivision 1. Establishment; purpose. A district or a group of districts may establish a
school readiness program for children age three to kindergarten entrance. The purpose of a school
readiness program is to prepare children to enter kindergarten.
    Subd. 2.[Repealed, 1Sp2005 c 5 art 7 s 21]
    Subd. 3. Program requirements. A school readiness program provider must:
    (1) assess each child's cognitive skills when the child enters and again before the child leaves
the program to inform program planning and promote kindergarten readiness;
    (2) provide comprehensive program content based on early childhood research and
professional practice that is focused on children's cognitive skills and development and prepares
children for the transition to kindergarten, including early literacy skills;
    (3) arrange for early childhood screening and appropriate referral;
    (4) involve parents in program planning and decision making;
    (5) coordinate with relevant community-based services; and
    (6) cooperate with adult basic education programs and other adult literacy programs.
    Subd. 3a. Application and reporting requirements. (a) A school readiness program
provider must submit a biennial plan for approval by the commissioner before receiving aid under
section 124D.16. The plan must describe how the program meets the program requirements under
subdivision 3. A school district by April 1 must submit the plan for approval by the commissioner
in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner. One-half the districts must first submit
the plan by April 1, 2006, and one-half the districts must first submit the plan by April 1, 2007, as
determined by the commissioner.
(b) Programs receiving school readiness funds annually must submit a report to the
department.
    Subd. 4.[Repealed, 1Sp2005 c 5 art 7 s 21]
    Subd. 5. Services with new or existing providers. A district may contract with a charter
school or community-based organization to provide eligible children developmentally appropriate
services that meet the program requirements in subdivision 3. In the alternative, a district may
pay tuition or fees to place an eligible child in an existing program. A district may establish a
new program where no existing, reasonably accessible program meets the program requirements
in subdivision 3. Districts must submit a copy of each contract to the commissioner with the
biennial plan. Services may be provided in a site-based program or in the home of the child or a
combination of both. The district may not restrict participation to district residents.
    Subd. 6.[Repealed, 1Sp2005 c 5 art 7 s 21]
    Subd. 7.[Repealed, 1Sp2005 c 5 art 7 s 21]
    Subd. 8.[Repealed, 1Sp2005 c 5 art 7 s 21]
    Subd. 9.[Repealed, 1Sp2005 c 5 art 7 s 21]
    Subd. 10. Supervision. A program provided by a board must be supervised by a licensed
early childhood teacher, a certified early childhood educator, or a licensed parent educator.
    Subd. 11.[Repealed, 1Sp2005 c 5 art 7 s 21]
    Subd. 12. Program fees. A district must adopt a sliding fee schedule based on a family's
income but must waive a fee for a participant unable to pay.
    Subd. 13.[Repealed, 1Sp2005 c 5 art 7 s 21]
    Subd. 14. Assistance. The department must assist districts, upon request, with programs
under this section.
History: 1991 c 265 art 7 s 6; 1993 c 224 art 4 s 8; 1994 c 647 art 4 s 11; 1997 c 162 art
1 s 3,4; 1998 c 397 art 3 s 20-27,103; art 11 s 3; 1999 c 205 art 1 s 70; 1Sp2003 c 9 art 7 s 8;
1Sp2005 c 5 art 7 s 6-12; 2007 c 146 art 9 s 13