MN HF1880

Modifies scholarship award amounts by removing the $5,000 cap per child and instead requiring the commissioner to establish a target average scholarship amount based on a rate survey conducted under section 119B.13.

Establishes automatic annual funding for the early learning scholarship program beginning in fiscal year 2016, with the baseline appropriation equal to the lesser of twice the previous year's appropriation or the actual amount needed to fund all eligible scholarship requests.

Increases the fiscal year 2015 appropriation for early learning scholarships from $23,000,000 to $43,000,000, with up to $950,000 annually reserved for program administration.

Allows four-star rated programs with eligible children enrolled or on waiting lists to notify the commissioner of their desire to enhance services, enabling the commissioner to designate predetermined scholarship slots for those programs.

Maintains existing requirements that scholarships are awarded for 12-month periods and that scholarship recipients must complete development screening within 90 days of attending an eligible program.