MN SF3626

Requires school districts to coordinate school readiness programs (ages 3-kindergarten entrance) with voluntary prekindergarten programs and include coordination plans in their world's best workforce planning documents.

Establishes comprehensive program requirements for voluntary prekindergarten including play-based learning, at least 350 hours of instruction per school year, staff-to-child ratios of 1:10 with maximum group size of 20, and teacher salaries comparable to kindergarten through grade 12 instructional staff.

Prioritizes funding for voluntary prekindergarten programs in high-poverty schools based on concentration of kindergarten students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches and presence of existing quality-rated early learning programs.

Eliminates participation limits for voluntary prekindergarten programs beginning in fiscal year 2020, allowing universal access after limited enrollment periods in fiscal years 2018-2019 (6,160 and 7,160 participants respectively).

Modifies early learning scholarship administration to prioritize children with young parents pursuing education, children in foster care or experiencing homelessness, and those in geographic areas lacking voluntary prekindergarten or school readiness programs.