MN HF46

Establishes a universal all-day preschool program for children at least four years old on September 1 who are not yet enrolled in kindergarten, effective for fiscal year 2016 and later.

Requires qualifying preschool programs to employ licensed early childhood education teachers by January 1, 2017, align curriculum with kindergarten standards, assess children at program entrance and exit, and offer comprehensive family services including developmental, behavioral, and health screening.

Mandates programs provide compensatory services in language, literacy, and mathematical thinking in a developmentally appropriate manner and develop collaborative partnerships with Head Start programs, kindergarten teachers, and community-based child care programs.

Authorizes school districts to establish new preschool programs where no existing reasonably accessible program meets requirements and allows programs to lease space for program operations.

Provides a 10 percent bonus payment for qualified programs offering additional services including home visits, parent supports, social services, and health referrals for at-risk children.

Counts four-year-old preschool pupils as 1.0 pupil units for state funding purposes under section 126C.10, subdivision 2.