MN HF1230

Expands voluntary prekindergarten program application groups from four to five by separating Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts as individual groups, with St. Paul, other metropolitan equity region districts, rural equity region districts, and charter schools as separate groups.

Modifies early learning scholarship eligibility to add children designated as homeless under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act as a separate eligible category and clarifies that parents/guardians are not required to provide income verification if the child meets certain eligibility criteria.

Requires voluntary prekindergarten programs to provide at least 350 hours of instruction per school year, measure child development using state-approved screening tools, and maintain staff-to-child ratios of one-to-ten with maximum group size of 20 children.

Updates assessment requirements to use formative measures aligned with state early learning standards and specifies other age-appropriate versions from the state-approved menu of kindergarten entry profile measures.

Establishes highest priority for early learning scholarships to children with a parent under age 21 pursuing high school completion, children in foster care or needing protective services, and children who experienced homelessness in the last 24 months.