HF2760 Summary

• Early childhood screening and health records must be completed within 90 days of kindergarten entry; charter schools providing screening must inform families about availability and state requirements under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19.

• Charter schools must comply with federal, state, and local requirements including accountability standards in chapter 120B, nonsectarian operations, and early childhood health and developmental screening requirements.

• State Advisory Council on Early Education and Care expanded to include commissioner of health or designee and two parents with children under age six; council must establish task force to develop recommendations on coordinating early childhood programs and creating school readiness report card by January 15, 2012.

• Director of $500,000 in federal child care development funds for fiscal year 2011 to provide statewide child care provider training, coaching, consultation, and supports for voluntary Minnesota quality rating system; general fund appropriation for basic sliding fee child care program reduced by $7,500,000.

• School readiness program providers must assess cognitive skills at entry and exit, provide comprehensive instruction aligned with state guidelines and kindergarten standards, coordinate transitions with parents and kindergarten teachers, and maintain staff-child ratios of one-to-ten with maximum group size of 20 children.