MN HF2961

Establishes five regional groups for voluntary prekindergarten program applications: Minneapolis school district, St. Paul school district, metropolitan equity region, rural equity region, and charter schools, with funding allocated based on each group's share of statewide kindergarten enrollment.

Requires school districts and charter schools to submit applications for program approval by January 30 of the fiscal year prior to implementation, with the commissioner reviewing applications by March 1 and prioritizing schools based on concentration of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches and availability of quality-rated early childhood programs.

Authorizes the commissioner of education to determine the total amount of Pathway II scholarships, with highest priority given to applications from children with parents under age 21 pursuing high school diplomas, children in foster care or needing protection, and children who have experienced homelessness in the last 24 months.

Makes school readiness plus program permanent with required program features including comprehensive child assessments, at least 350 hours of instruction per school year, staff-to-child ratios of one-to-ten, and at least one teacher per program.

Appropriates $21,429,000 for fiscal year 2018 and $28,571,000 for fiscal year 2019 for mixed delivery prekindergarten and school readiness plus programs, with a base of $29,100,000 for fiscal year 2020 and later.