MN HF3714

Children in foster care must receive highest priority enrollment in school-age care, youth after-school enrichment, and before/after-school community education programs, with districts required to process verification documentation within 48 hours.

Foster care status added as an explicit eligibility risk factor for school readiness programs and elevated to highest priority (alongside children under age 4) for early learning scholarship applications.

Foster parents and relative custodians elevated to third priority (from no specific priority) for basic sliding fee child care assistance when waiting lists are in effect.

Northstar foster care child care allowance modified to eliminate the reduced benefit level for children ages 7-12, applying the same adjustment scale for all children under 13 based on weekly hours of care needed.

Licensing agencies required to provide prospective child foster care license holders with information about Northstar foster care benefits, child care costs, and early childhood education programs during the licensing process.