ND SB2250

Transfer authority to distribute early childhood education grants from the Department of Commerce to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Award $2,000 per child eligible for free lunches and $1,000 per child eligible for reduced lunches under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, provided the child is a state resident, age four by August first, and enrolled in programs lasting at least 400 hours over 32 consecutive weeks.

Require providers to notify parents quarterly of the total grant amount awarded, the pro rata amount attributable to their child, and the grant source, with standardized notification forms required by the Superintendent.

Reduce a provider's next grant payment by 50 percent for failing to meet notification requirements, and make providers ineligible for one year if they fail notification requirements a second time.

Authorize the Superintendent of Public Instruction to implement a uniform accounting, budgeting, and reporting system for grant recipients, with authority to withhold or forfeit grants for non-compliance with data submission requirements.