MN HF3510

Establishes a Department of Early Childhood Care and Education under a commissioner appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate to coordinate a high-quality early childhood system for children from birth to kindergarten entrance.

Transfers early childhood education program responsibilities from the Department of Education and child care, child development, family home visiting, and early learning programs from the Departments of Human Services and Health to the new department.

Requires the commissioner to coordinate resources and funding streams, create seamless transitions to kindergarten, encourage mixed public and private programs, ensure parent involvement in program planning and evaluation, and develop a data collection system for program evaluation.

Mandates the commissioner report to legislative committees by February 1 annually on early childhood program status and necessary statutory changes, with a detailed implementation plan for colocating early childhood assistance programs due by February 1, 2011.

Transfers all positions, appropriations, and funding related to early childhood programs from existing departments to the Department of Early Childhood Care and Education.