MN HF1

Establishes home visiting grants ($30,000,000 in fiscal year 2021) for evidence-based and evidence-informed programs serving pregnant women and families with young children, with 75% directed to evidence-based programs addressing health equity.

Modifies early learning scholarship program eligibility to serve children from birth through age three and expands the kindergarten readiness assessment to all districts beginning 2021-2022 school year with data integration into statewide longitudinal systems.

Increases child care assistance rates up to the 75th percentile of market rates ($170,000,000) and allocates $20,000,000 to reduce basic sliding fee program waiting lists in calendar years 2020-2021.

Establishes REETAIN grant program ($2,500,000) to retain trained child care professionals in the workforce and increases tuition scholarship amounts from $5,000 to $10,000 per year for early childhood educator training.

Appropriates funds for family, friend, and neighbor caregiver support ($1,000,000), First Children's Finance loans ($3,000,000), child care business development grants ($10,000,000 and $3,850,000), and family child care licensing modernization ($1,500,000).