SF 3482 Summary

• Establishes voluntary prekindergarten programs for 4-year-olds with at least 350 hours annual instruction, staff-to-child ratio of 1:10, and comparable teacher salaries to K-12 staff; allocates $27.1M for FY2017, $40.9M for FY2018, and $61.5M for FY2019 and later

• Creates "Minnesota's Future Teachers Grant Program" providing financial assistance to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing teacher licensure, with priority for high needs schools and underrepresented student populations

• Establishes "Stepping Up for Kids" program providing tuition assistance to paraprofessionals currently employed in Minnesota schools who are enrolled in teacher licensure programs

• Increases school breakfast and lunch aid, with free breakfast for all prekindergarten and kindergarten students, and raises long-term facilities maintenance revenue limits to support school building improvements

• Appropriates $1M for Help Me Grow early childhood identification system, $2.75M for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) implementation, and $2M for special education online reporting system