1.1.................... moves to amend H.F. No. 2749, the first engrossment, as follows:
1.2Page 142, after line 4, insert:


1.5    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 120A.41, is amended to read:
1.6120A.41 LENGTH OF SCHOOL YEAR; HOURS OF INSTRUCTION.
1.7A school board's annual school calendar must include at least 425 hours of
1.8instruction for a kindergarten student without a disability, 935 hours of instruction for a
1.9student in grades 1 through 6, and 1,020 hours of instruction for a student in grades 7
1.10through 12, not including summer school. The school calendar for all-day kindergarten
1.11must include at least 850 hours of instruction for the school year. The school calendar for
1.12prekindergarten, if offered by the district, must include at least 425 hours of instruction
1.13for the school year. A school board's annual calendar must include at least 165 days of
1.14instruction for a student in grades 1 through 11 unless a four-day week schedule has been
1.15approved by the commissioner under section 124D.126.
1.16EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for the 2017-2018 school year and
1.17later.

1.18    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.09, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.19to read:
1.20    Subd. 9a. Prekindergarten early learning license; MinneK program. The Board
1.21of Teaching must adopt rules establishing the licenses that qualify a teacher to teach in a
1.22prekindergarten MinneK program under section 124D.171. The training and preparation
1.23requirements for these qualifying licenses must emphasize play-based learning and must
1.24prepare licensees to effectively implement MinneK program requirements.

2.1    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.26, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.2    Subd. 2. Exceptions. A person who teaches in a community education program
2.3which qualifies for aid pursuant to section 124D.52 shall continue to meet licensure
2.4requirements as a teacher. A person who teaches in an early childhood and family
2.5education program which is offered through a community education program and which
2.6qualifies for community education aid pursuant to section 124D.20 or early childhood
2.7and family education aid pursuant to section 124D.135 shall continue to meet licensure
2.8requirements as a teacher. A person who teaches in a community education course which
2.9is offered for credit for graduation to persons under 18 years of age shall continue to meet
2.10licensure requirements as a teacher. A person who teaches a driver training course which
2.11is offered through a community education program to persons under 18 years of age shall
2.12be licensed by the Board of Teaching or be subject to section 171.35. A license which is
2.13required for an instructor in a community education program pursuant to this subdivision
2.14shall not be construed to bring an individual within the definition of a teacher for purposes
2.15of section 122A.40, subdivision 1, or 122A.41, subdivision 1, clause (a).
2.16EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2017.

2.17    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 122A.415, subdivision 1, is
2.18amended to read:
2.19    Subdivision 1. Revenue amount. (a) A school district, intermediate school district,
2.20cooperative unit as defined in section 123A.24, subdivision 2, school site, or charter
2.21school that meets the conditions of section 122A.414 and submits an application approved
2.22by the commissioner is eligible for alternative teacher compensation revenue.
2.23(b) For school district and intermediate school district applications, the commissioner
2.24must consider only those applications to participate that are submitted jointly by a
2.25district and the exclusive representative of the teachers. The application must contain an
2.26alternative teacher professional pay system agreement that:
2.27(1) implements an alternative teacher professional pay system consistent with
2.28section 122A.414; and
2.29(2) is negotiated and adopted according to the Public Employment Labor Relations
2.30Act under chapter 179A, except that notwithstanding section 179A.20, subdivision 3, a
2.31district may enter into a contract for a term of two or four years.
2.32Alternative teacher compensation revenue for a qualifying school district or site in
2.33which the school board and the exclusive representative of the teachers agree to place
2.34teachers in the district or at the site on the alternative teacher professional pay system
2.35equals $260 the alternative teacher compensation allowance times the number of pupils
3.1enrolled at the district or site on October 1 of the previous fiscal year. The alternative
3.2teacher compensation allowance equals $260 for fiscal years 2015 to 2018, $246 for fiscal
3.3year 2019, and $244 for fiscal year 2020 and later. Alternative teacher compensation
3.4revenue for a qualifying intermediate school district or cooperative must be calculated
3.5under subdivision 4, paragraph (b).
3.6(c) For a newly combined or consolidated district, the revenue shall be computed
3.7using the sum of pupils enrolled on October 1 of the previous year in the districts entering
3.8into the combination or consolidation. The commissioner may adjust the revenue computed
3.9for a site using prior year data to reflect changes attributable to school closings, school
3.10openings, or grade level reconfigurations between the prior year and the current year.
3.11(d) The revenue is available only to school districts, intermediate school districts,
3.12cooperatives, school sites, and charter schools that fully implement an alternative teacher
3.13professional pay system by October 1 of the current school year.

3.14    Sec. 5. [123B.635] SCHOOL FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT REVENUE.
3.15    Subdivision 1. School facilities improvement revenue uses. (a) A school district
3.16may use its school facilities improvement revenue for:
3.17(1) lease agreements for school facilities;
3.18(2) facility modifications designed to enhance student and staff safety;
3.19(3) facilities improvements;
3.20(4) long-term facilities maintenance; and
3.21(5) new construction of instructional space, not to exceed in size 20 percent of the
3.22square footage of the previously existing building.
3.23(b) A school district qualifies for revenue under this section only if the district is not
3.24levying for building lease revenue under section 126C.40 for the same year.
3.25    Subd. 2. School facilities improvement revenue. (a) A school district's facilities
3.26improvement revenue equals $212 times the district's adjusted pupil units for that year.
3.27(b) A school district that is a member of an intermediate school district may include
3.28in its revenue under this section an additional amount not to exceed $65 times the adjusted
3.29pupil units of the member districts for school facilities improvement projects under
3.30subdivision 1.
3.31    Subd. 3. School facilities improvement levy. A district's school facilities
3.32improvement levy equals its school facilities improvement revenue times the lesser of one
3.33or the ratio of its adjusted net tax capacity per adjusted pupil unit in the year preceding the
3.34year the levy is certified to 125 percent of the state average adjusted net tax capacity per
3.35adjusted pupil unit for the current school year.
4.1    Subd. 4. School facilities improvement aid. A district's school facilities
4.2improvement aid equals the difference between its school facilities improvement revenue
4.3and levy.
4.4    Subd. 5. Choice of revenue. A school district that receives revenue under this
4.5section may not levy under section 126C.40 for the same school year.
4.6EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2017.

4.7    Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 123B.92, is amended by adding a subdivision
4.8to read:
4.9    Subd. 11. Voluntary prekindergarten pupil transportation aid. (a) A school
4.10district or charter school is eligible for prekindergarten pupil transportation aid equal to
4.11the lesser of:
4.12(1) its actual costs of transporting prekindergarten pupils to and from school during
4.13the previous school year, including summer session transportation; or
4.14(2) $200 times the number of prekindergarten pupils transported during the previous
4.15year.
4.16(b) For fiscal year 2018, the aid in paragraph (a) must be computed based on data
4.17from the current school year.
4.18EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for fiscal year 2018 and later.

4.19    Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.1158, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
4.20    Subd. 3. Program reimbursement. Each school year, the state must reimburse
4.21each participating school 30 cents for each reduced-price breakfast, 55 cents for each fully
4.22paid breakfast served to students in grades 1 to 12, and $1.30 for each fully paid breakfast
4.23served to a prekindergarten or kindergarten student.
4.24EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for revenue in fiscal year 2018 and
4.25later.

4.26    Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.1158, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
4.27    Subd. 4. No fees. A school that receives school breakfast aid under this section must
4.28make breakfast available without charge to all participating students in grades 1 to 12 who
4.29qualify for free or reduced-price meals and to all prekindergarten or kindergarten students.
4.30EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for revenue in fiscal year 2018 and
4.31later.

5.1    Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.13, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
5.2    Subd. 4. Home visiting program. A district that levies receives revenue for home
5.3visiting under section 124D.135, subdivision 6, shall use this revenue to include as part
5.4of the early childhood family education programs a parent education component that is
5.5designed to reach isolated or at-risk families.
5.6The home visiting program must:
5.7(1) incorporate evidence-informed parenting education practices designed to support
5.8the healthy growth and development of children, with a priority focus on those children
5.9who have high needs;
5.10(2) establish clear objectives and protocols for home visits;
5.11(3) encourage families to make a transition from home visits to site-based parenting
5.12programs;
5.13(4) provide program services that are community-based, accessible, and culturally
5.14relevant;
5.15(5) foster collaboration among existing agencies and community-based organizations
5.16that serve young children and their families, such as public health evidence-based models
5.17of home visiting and Head Start home visiting; and
5.18(6) provide information about and assist in making arrangements for an early
5.19childhood health and developmental screening when the child nears his or her third birthday.
5.20The home visiting program should be provided by licensed parenting educators,
5.21certified family life educators, or professionals with an equivalent license that reflect the
5.22demographic composition of the community to the extent possible, or licensed classroom
5.23teachers.

5.24    Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.13, is amended by adding a
5.25subdivision to read:
5.26    Subd. 4a. Digital home visiting. On a voluntary basis, a district may establish its
5.27own digital home visiting program or participate in the department's digital home visiting
5.28project that uses text messages, e-mails, and social media to provide families of young
5.29children with links to early childhood family education curricula.

5.30    Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.13, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
5.31    Subd. 9. District advisory councils. The board must appoint an advisory council
5.32from the area in which the program is provided. A majority of the council must be parents
5.33participating in the program, who represent the demographics of the community. The
5.34district must ensure, to the extent possible, that the council includes representation of
6.1families who are racially, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse. The council
6.2must assist the board in developing, planning, and monitoring the early childhood family
6.3education program. The council must report to the board and the community education
6.4advisory council. The council must review the district's home visiting plan at least every
6.5other year in order for the district to receive funds under section 124D.135, subdivision 6.

6.6    Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.13, subdivision 12, is amended to read:
6.7    Subd. 12. Assistance. The department must provide assistance to districts with
6.8programs described in this section. The department may coordinate a voluntary digital
6.9contact list consisting of the cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses of parents with
6.10young children in order to provide information on early childhood family education
6.11curricula. Any voluntary digital list created under this section is educational data under
6.12section 13.32. The department must establish guidelines that list barriers to learning and
6.13development affecting children served by early childhood family education programs.

6.14    Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.135, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
6.15    Subdivision 1. Revenue. The revenue for early childhood family education
6.16programs for a school district equals $120 for fiscal year 2014 and the formula allowance
6.17for the year times 0.023 for fiscal year 2015 and later, times the greater of:
6.18    (1) 150; or
6.19    (2) the number of people under five years of age residing in the district on October 1
6.20of the previous school year.
6.21EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2018
6.22and later.

6.23    Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.135, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
6.24    Subd. 6. Home visiting levy revenue. A (a) In addition to the revenue authorized in
6.25subdivision 1, a school district that is eligible to levy for early childhood family education
6.26under subdivision 3 and that enters into a collaborative agreement to provide education
6.27services and social services to families with young children through a home visiting
6.28program is eligible for state aid equal to $20 times the number of people under five years
6.29of age residing in the district on October 1 of the previous school year and may levy an
6.30amount equal not to exceed $1.60 times the number of people under five years of age
6.31residing in the district on September 1 of the last school year. Levy revenue under this
6.32subdivision must not be included as revenue under subdivision 1. The revenue must be
6.33used for home visiting programs under section 124D.13, subdivision 4.
7.1    (b) A school district providing financial support for classroom teachers to provide
7.2home visiting services must not supplant revenue used for that program with revenue
7.3received under this subdivision.
7.4EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2018
7.5and later.

7.6    Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.15, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
7.7    Subdivision 1. Establishment; purpose. A district or a group of districts may
7.8establish a school readiness program for children age three to kindergarten entrance.
7.9The purpose of a school readiness program is to prepare children to enter kindergarten.
7.10A school district that participates in the prekindergarten MinneK program under section
7.11124D.171 may modify its school readiness program to provide additional services to
7.12students participating in the prekindergarten MinneK program.

7.13    Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.15, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
7.14    Subd. 3. Program requirements. (a) A school readiness program provider must:
7.15    (1) assess each child's cognitive and language skills with a comprehensive child
7.16assessment instrument when the child enters and again before the child leaves the program
7.17to improve program planning and implementation, communicate with parents, and
7.18promote kindergarten readiness;
7.19    (2) provide comprehensive program content and intentional instructional practice
7.20aligned with the state early childhood learning guidelines and kindergarten standards and
7.21based on early childhood research and professional practice that is focused on children's
7.22cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills and development and prepares children
7.23for the transition to kindergarten, including early literacy and language skills;
7.24(3) coordinate appropriate kindergarten transition with parents and kindergarten
7.25teachers;
7.26    (4) involve parents in program planning and decision making;
7.27    (5) coordinate with relevant community-based services;
7.28    (6) cooperate with adult basic education programs and other adult literacy programs;
7.29(7) ensure staff-child ratios of one-to-ten and maximum group size of 20 children
7.30with the first staff required to be a teacher; and
7.31(8) have teachers knowledgeable in early childhood curriculum content, assessment,
7.32native and English language development programs, and instruction.
8.1(b) A school district offering a school readiness program in conjunction with a
8.2prekindergarten MinneK program under section 124D.171 may coordinate the activities
8.3required in paragraph (a) with its prekindergarten MinneK program.

8.4    Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.15, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
8.5    Subd. 3a. Application and reporting requirements. (a) Before receiving aid under
8.6section 124D.16, a school readiness program provider must submit a biennial plan for
8.7approval by the commissioner before receiving aid under section 124D.16 in the form and
8.8manner and by the date established by the commissioner. The plan must describe how
8.9the program meets the program requirements under subdivision 3. A school district by
8.10April 1 must submit the plan for approval by the commissioner in the form and manner
8.11prescribed by the commissioner. One-half the districts must first submit the plan by
8.12April 1, 2006, and one-half the districts must first submit the plan by April 1, 2007, as
8.13determined by the commissioner.
8.14(b) Programs receiving school readiness funds annually must submit a report to
8.15the department.

8.16    Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.15, subdivision 15, is amended to read:
8.17    Subd. 15. Eligibility. A Any child enrolled in a prekindergarten MinneK program
8.18may participate in a school readiness program and any other child is eligible to participate
8.19in a school readiness program if the child:
8.20(1) is at least three years old on September 1;
8.21(2) has completed health and developmental screening within 90 days of program
8.22enrollment under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19; and
8.23(3) has one or more of the following risk factors:
8.24(i) qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch;
8.25(ii) is an English learner;
8.26(iii) is homeless;
8.27(iv) has an individualized education program (IEP) or an individual interagency
8.28intervention plan (IIIP);
8.29(v) is identified, through health and developmental screenings under sections
8.30121A.16 to 121A.19, with a potential risk factor that may influence learning; or
8.31(vi) is defined as at-risk by the school district.

8.32    Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.165, as amended by Laws 2015, First
8.33Special Session chapter 3, article 9, section 6, is amended to read:
9.1124D.165 EARLY LEARNING SCHOLARSHIPS.
9.2    Subdivision 1. Establishment; purpose. There is established an early learning
9.3scholarships program in order to increase access to high-quality early childhood programs
9.4for children ages three to under the age of five.
9.5    Subd. 2. Family eligibility. (a) For a family to receive an early learning scholarship,
9.6parents or guardians must meet the following eligibility requirements:
9.7(1) have a child three or four years of under the age of five on September 1 of the
9.8current school year, who has not yet started kindergarten; and
9.9(2) have income equal to or less than 185 percent of federal poverty level income
9.10in the current calendar year, or be able to document their child's current participation in
9.11the free and reduced-price lunch program or child and adult care food program, National
9.12School Lunch Act, United States Code, title 42, sections 1751 and 1766; the Food
9.13Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Food and Nutrition Act, United States
9.14Code, title 7, sections 2011-2036; Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for
9.15School Readiness Act of 2007; Minnesota family investment program under chapter 256J;
9.16child care assistance programs under chapter 119B; the supplemental nutrition assistance
9.17program; or placement in foster care under section 260C.212.
9.18(b) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a parent under age 21 who
9.19is pursuing a high school or general education equivalency diploma is eligible for an early
9.20learning scholarship if the parent has a child age zero to five years old and meets the
9.21income eligibility guidelines in this subdivision.
9.22(c) Any siblings between the ages zero to five years old of a child who has been
9.23awarded a scholarship under this section must be awarded a scholarship upon request,
9.24provided the sibling attends the same program as long as funds are available.
9.25(d) A child who has received a scholarship under this section must continue to
9.26receive a scholarship each year until that child is eligible for kindergarten under section
9.27120A.20 and as long as funds are available.
9.28(e) Early learning scholarships may not be counted as earned income for the
9.29purposes of medical assistance under chapter 256B, MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L,
9.30Minnesota family investment program under chapter 256J, child care assistance programs
9.31under chapter 119B, or Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for School
9.32Readiness Act of 2007.
9.33(f) A child from an adjoining state whose family resides at a Minnesota address as
9.34assigned by the United States Postal Service, who has received developmental screening
9.35under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19, who intends to enroll in a Minnesota school district,
10.1and whose family meets the criteria of paragraph (a) is eligible for an early learning
10.2scholarship under this section.
10.3    Subd. 3. Administration. (a) The commissioner shall establish application
10.4timelines and determine the schedule for awarding scholarships that meets operational
10.5needs of eligible families and programs. The commissioner may prioritize applications on
10.6factors including family income, geographic location, and whether the child's family is on a
10.7waiting list for a publicly funded program providing early education or child care services.
10.8(b) For fiscal years 2014 and 2015 only, scholarships may not exceed $5,000 per year
10.9for each eligible child. For fiscal year 2016 and later, the commissioner shall establish
10.10a target for the average scholarship amount per child based on the results of the rate
10.11survey conducted under section 119B.02.
10.12(c) A four-star rated program that has children eligible for a scholarship enrolled
10.13in or on a waiting list for a program beginning in July, August, or September may notify
10.14the commissioner, in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, each year
10.15of the program's desire to enhance program services or to serve more children than
10.16current funding provides. The commissioner may designate a predetermined number of
10.17scholarship slots for that program and notify the program of that number. Beginning July
10.181, 2016, a school district or Head Start program qualifying under this paragraph may
10.19use its established registration process to enroll scholarship recipients and may verify a
10.20scholarship recipient's family income in the same manner as for other program participants.
10.21(d) A scholarship is awarded for a 12-month period. If the scholarship recipient has
10.22not been accepted and subsequently enrolled in a rated program within ten months of the
10.23awarding of the scholarship, the scholarship cancels and the recipient must reapply in
10.24order to be eligible for another scholarship. A child may not be awarded more than one
10.25scholarship in a 12-month period.
10.26(e) A child who receives a scholarship who has not completed development
10.27screening under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19 must complete that screening within 90
10.28days of first attending an eligible program.
10.29(f) For fiscal year 2017 and later, a school district or Head Start program enrolling
10.30scholarship recipients under paragraph (c) may apply to the commissioner, in the form
10.31and manner prescribed by the commissioner, for direct payment of state aid. Upon receipt
10.32of the application, the commissioner must pay each program directly for each approved
10.33scholarship recipient enrolled under paragraph (c) according to the metered payment
10.34system or another schedule established by the commissioner.
10.35    Subd. 4. Early childhood program eligibility. (a) In order to be eligible to accept
10.36an early learning scholarship, a program must:
11.1(1) participate in the quality rating and improvement system under section
11.2124D.142 ; and
11.3(2) beginning July 1, 2016, have a three- or four-star rating in the quality rating
11.4and improvement system.
11.5(b) Any program accepting scholarships must use the revenue to supplement and not
11.6supplant federal funding.
11.7(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), all Minnesota early learning foundation
11.8scholarship program pilot sites are eligible to accept an early learning scholarship under
11.9this section.
11.10    Subd. 5. Report required. The commissioner shall contract with an independent
11.11contractor to evaluate the early learning scholarship program. The evaluation must
11.12include recommendations regarding the appropriate scholarship amount, efficiency, and
11.13effectiveness of the administration, and impact on kindergarten readiness. By January
11.1415, 2016, the commissioner shall submit a written copy of the evaluation to the chairs
11.15and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with primary
11.16jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education.
11.17EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for early learning scholarships
11.18awarded on or after July 1, 2017.

11.19    Sec. 20. [124D.171] MINNEK PROGRAM.
11.20    Subdivision 1. Programs authorized. A school district or charter school may offer
11.21a voluntary prekindergarten MinneK program for all four-year-old children.
11.22    Subd. 2. Program characteristics. (a) These high-quality, state-funded voluntary
11.23prekindergarten MinneK programs must prepare children for kindergarten and meet the
11.24following state prekindergarten criteria:
11.25(1) provide compensatory instruction through play-based learning to foster
11.26children's social and emotional development, cognitive development, physical and motor
11.27development, and language and literacy skills, including the native language and literacy
11.28skills of English learners;
11.29(2) offer developmentally appropriate instructional content and child-centered
11.30activities of sufficient length and intensity to address children's learning needs;
11.31(3) use a formative measure to determine each child's cognitive and social skills
11.32when entering and before leaving a program, literacy screening, and other state-approved
11.33kindergarten entrance measures;
11.34(4) limit a class size to 20 or fewer children;
12.1(5) have a maximum ratio of ten children to one staff person in each class, and have
12.2at least one staff person in each class as the teacher of record;
12.3(6) have as the teacher of record a teacher licensed by the Board of Teaching and
12.4trained in child development, early language and literacy development, early education
12.5instruction, or native and English language development;
12.6(7) support collaboration and planning among community-based agencies,
12.7including community health and social service agencies, to ensure children's access to
12.8comprehensive services;
12.9(8) coordinate all relevant school programs and services, including special education,
12.10homeless, and English learner programs and services;
12.11(9) engage parents in culturally and linguistically responsive activities in
12.12prekindergarten through grade 3;
12.13(10) develop and implement curriculum, assessment, and instructional strategies
12.14aligned with the state's prekindergarten through grade 3 early learning guidelines and
12.15academic standards;
12.16(11) include children with disabilities in the prekindergarten program; and
12.17(12) coordinate professional development and training for school and
12.18community-based early learning providers that includes adult-child interactions.
12.19(b) A district must include in its world's best workforce plan a strategy to implement
12.20and measure the impact of its state-funded voluntary prekindergarten MinneK program.
12.21    Subd. 3. Child eligibility. A child may participate in a prekindergarten MinneK
12.22program if the child:
12.23(1) is not yet in kindergarten and is four years old on September 1 of that school year;
12.24(2) completes the early childhood health and development screening under sections
12.25121A.16 to 121A.19 within 45 days of enrolling; and
12.26(3) complies with the requirements of section 121A.15.
12.27    Subd. 4. Hours of instruction. A school board's annual school calendar for
12.28prekindergarten must meet the minimum hours requirement in section 120A.41.
12.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2017.

12.30    Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 124D.59, subdivision 2, is
12.31amended to read:
12.32    Subd. 2. English learner. (a) "English learner" means a pupil in kindergarten
12.33prekindergarten through grade 12 who meets the requirements under subdivision 2a or the
12.34following requirements:
13.1(1) the pupil, as declared by a parent or guardian first learned a language other than
13.2English, comes from a home where the language usually spoken is other than English, or
13.3usually speaks a language other than English; and
13.4(2) the pupil is determined by a valid assessment measuring the pupil's English
13.5language proficiency and by developmentally appropriate measures, which might include
13.6observations, teacher judgment, parent recommendations, or developmentally appropriate
13.7assessment instruments, to lack the necessary English skills to participate fully in
13.8academic classes taught in English.
13.9(b) A pupil enrolled in a Minnesota public school in any grade 4 through 12 who in
13.10the previous school year took a commissioner-provided assessment measuring the pupil's
13.11emerging academic English, shall be counted as an English learner in calculating English
13.12learner pupil units under section 126C.05, subdivision 17, and shall generate state English
13.13learner aid under section 124D.65, subdivision 5, if the pupil scored below the state cutoff
13.14score or is otherwise counted as a nonproficient participant on the assessment measuring
13.15the pupil's emerging academic English, or, in the judgment of the pupil's classroom
13.16teachers, consistent with section 124D.61, clause (1), the pupil is unable to demonstrate
13.17academic language proficiency in English, including oral academic language, sufficient to
13.18successfully and fully participate in the general core curriculum in the regular classroom.
13.19(c) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), a pupil in kindergarten prekindergarten
13.20through grade 12 shall not be counted as an English learner in calculating English learner
13.21pupil units under section 126C.05, subdivision 17, and shall not generate state English
13.22learner aid under section 124D.65, subdivision 5, if:
13.23(1) the pupil is not enrolled during the current fiscal year in an educational program
13.24for English learners under sections 124D.58 to 124D.64; or
13.25(2) the pupil has generated seven or more years of average daily membership in
13.26kindergarten through grade 12 in Minnesota public schools since July 1, 1996.
13.27EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2018.

13.28    Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 124E.11, is amended to read:
13.29124E.11 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND ENROLLMENT.
13.30    (a) A charter school may limit admission to:
13.31    (1) pupils within an age group or grade level;
13.32    (2) pupils who are eligible to participate in the graduation incentives program under
13.33section 124D.68; or
14.1    (3) residents of a specific geographic area in which the school is located when the
14.2majority of students served by the school are members of underserved populations.
14.3    (b) A charter school shall enroll an eligible pupil who submits a timely application,
14.4unless the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or
14.5building. In this case, pupils must be accepted by lot. The charter school must develop
14.6and publish, including on its Web site, a lottery policy and process that it must use when
14.7accepting pupils by lot.
14.8    (c) A charter school shall give enrollment preference to a sibling of an enrolled
14.9pupil and to a foster child of that pupil's parents and may give preference for enrolling
14.10children of the school's staff before accepting other pupils by lot. A charter school that
14.11is located in Duluth township in St. Louis County and admits students in kindergarten
14.12through grade 6 must give enrollment preference to students residing within a five-mile
14.13radius of the school and to the siblings of enrolled children. A If a charter school has a
14.14preschool or prekindergarten program under section 124E.06, subdivision 3, paragraph
14.15(a), that is free to all participants, the charter school may give enrollment preference to
14.16children currently enrolled in the school's free preschool or prekindergarten program under
14.17section 124E.06, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), who are eligible to enroll in kindergarten
14.18in the next school year.
14.19    (d) A person shall not be admitted to a charter school (1) as a kindergarten pupil,
14.20unless the pupil is at least five years of age on September 1 of the calendar year in which
14.21the school year for which the pupil seeks admission commences; or (2) as a first grade
14.22student, unless the pupil is at least six years of age on September 1 of the calendar year in
14.23which the school year for which the pupil seeks admission commences or has completed
14.24kindergarten; except that a charter school may establish and publish on its Web site a
14.25policy for admission of selected pupils at an earlier age, consistent with the enrollment
14.26process in paragraphs (b) and (c).
14.27    (e) Except as permitted in paragraph (d), a charter school may not limit admission
14.28to pupils on the basis of intellectual ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, or
14.29athletic ability and may not establish any criteria or requirements for admission that are
14.30inconsistent with this section.
14.31    (f) The charter school shall not distribute any services or goods of value to students,
14.32parents, or guardians as an inducement, term, or condition of enrolling a student in a
14.33charter school.
14.34    (g) Once a student is enrolled in the school, the student is considered enrolled in the
14.35school until the student formally withdraws or is expelled under the Pupil Fair Dismissal
15.1Act in sections 121A.40 to 121A.56. A charter school is subject to and must comply with
15.2the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, sections 121A.40 to 121A.56.
15.3(h) A charter school with at least 90 percent of enrolled students who are eligible
15.4for special education services and have a primary disability of deaf or hard-of-hearing
15.5may enroll prekindergarten pupils with a disability under section 126C.05, subdivision 1,
15.6paragraph (a), and must comply with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
15.7under Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 300.324, subsection (2), clause (iv).

15.8    Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 126C.05, subdivision 1, is
15.9amended to read:
15.10    Subdivision 1. Pupil unit. Pupil units for each Minnesota resident pupil under the
15.11age of 21 or who meets the requirements of section 120A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph
15.12(c), in average daily membership enrolled in the district of residence, in another district
15.13under sections 123A.05 to 123A.08, 124D.03, 124D.08, or 124D.68; in a charter school
15.14under chapter 124E; or for whom the resident district pays tuition under section 123A.18,
15.15123A.22 , 123A.30, 123A.32, 123A.44, 123A.488, 123B.88, subdivision 4, 124D.04,
15.16124D.05 , 125A.03 to 125A.24, 125A.51, or 125A.65, shall be counted according to this
15.17subdivision.
15.18    (a) A prekindergarten pupil with a disability who is enrolled in a program approved
15.19by the commissioner and has an individualized education program is counted as the ratio
15.20of the number of hours of assessment and education service to 825 times 1.0 with a
15.21minimum average daily membership of 0.28, but not more than 1.0 pupil unit.
15.22    (b) A prekindergarten pupil who is assessed but determined not to be disabled is
15.23counted as the ratio of the number of hours of assessment service to 825 times 1.0.
15.24    (c) A kindergarten pupil with a disability who is enrolled in a program approved
15.25by the commissioner is counted as the ratio of the number of hours of assessment and
15.26education services required in the fiscal year by the pupil's individualized education
15.27program to 875, but not more than one.
15.28    (d) A prekindergarten pupil who is not included in paragraph (a) or (b) is counted as
15.290.6 pupil unit if the pupil is enrolled in a free prekindergarten program available to all
15.30prekindergarten pupils at the pupil's school that meets the minimum hours requirement in
15.31section 120A.41 and the requirements in section 124D.171.
15.32    (e) A kindergarten pupil who is not included in paragraph (c) is counted as 1.0 pupil
15.33unit if the pupil is enrolled in a free all-day, every day kindergarten program available to
15.34all kindergarten pupils at the pupil's school that meets the minimum hours requirement in
16.1section 120A.41, or is counted as .55 pupil unit, if the pupil is not enrolled in a free all-day,
16.2every day kindergarten program available to all kindergarten pupils at the pupil's school.
16.3    (e) (f) A pupil who is in any of grades 1 to 6 is counted as 1.0 pupil unit.
16.4    (f) (g) A pupil who is in any of grades 7 to 12 is counted as 1.2 pupil units.
16.5    (g) (h) A pupil who is in the postsecondary enrollment options program is counted
16.6as 1.2 pupil units.
16.7EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2018
16.8and later.

16.9    Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.10, subdivision 2d, is amended to read:
16.10    Subd. 2d. Declining enrollment revenue. (a) A school district's declining
16.11enrollment revenue equals the greater of zero or the product of: (1) 28 percent of the
16.12formula allowance for that year and (2) the difference between the adjusted pupil units for
16.13the preceding year and the adjusted pupil units for the current year.
16.14(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for fiscal years 2015, 2016, and 2017 only, a pupil
16.15enrolled at the Crosswinds school shall not generate declining enrollment revenue for the
16.16district or charter school in which the pupil was last counted in average daily membership.
16.17(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for fiscal years 2018, 2019, and 2020 only,
16.18prekindergarten pupil units under section 126C.05, subdivision 1, paragraph (d), must be
16.19excluded from the calculation of declining enrollment revenue.

16.20    Sec. 25. Laws 2015, First Special Session chapter 3, article 9, section 8, subdivision 4,
16.21is amended to read:
16.22    Subd. 4. Head Start program. For Head Start programs under Minnesota Statutes,
16.23section 119A.52:

16.24		$	25,100,000	.....	2016
16.25		$	25,100,000	.....	2017

16.26For fiscal year 2018 and later, the annual base budget for this program is $78,266,000.

16.27    Sec. 26. APPROPRIATIONS.
16.28    Subdivision 1. Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are
16.29appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years
16.30designated.
16.31    Subd. 2. Microgrants for digital home visiting. (a) For microgrants for digital
16.32home visiting distribution of early childhood family education curricula:

17.1		$	.......	.....	2017

17.2(b) The Department of Education may establish the form and manner for applicants
17.3to apply for a microgrant. The department must consult with the Minnesota Early
17.4Learning Council and the Minnesota Association for Family and Early Education before
17.5awarding microgrants.
17.6(c) To the extent possible, microgrants must be awarded to applicants throughout
17.7Minnesota.
17.8(d) Each microgrant must not exceed $........
17.9    Subd. 3. Management costs. For management costs for the Department of
17.10Education and local early childhood family education programs to develop and maintain
17.11databases in order to provide digital curricula to parents of young children:

17.12		$	.......	.....	2017

17.13    Subd. 4. Facilities aid. For facilities aid under Minnesota Statutes, section
17.14123B.635:

17.15

$

.......

.....

2017

17.18    Section 1. [122A.187] GRANTS TO DISTRICT EMPLOYEES FOR
17.19PREKINDERGARTEN EARLY LEARNING TEACHING LICENSURE OR
17.20EXPANSION.
17.21    Subdivision 1. Program establishment; requirements. (a) An annual grant
17.22program is established to provide opportunities for district employees to attain:
17.23(1) a prekindergarten early learning teaching license; or
17.24(2) an additional subject area license in prekindergarten early learning.
17.25(b) Grants under this section are available to district employees who are:
17.26(1) education or teaching assistants or other nonlicensed district employees
17.27interested in becoming licensed prekindergarten early learning teachers; or
17.28(2) currently licensed classroom teachers interested in acquiring an additional
17.29subject area license in prekindergarten early learning.
17.30(c) All districts participating in this grant program must agree to support and monitor
17.31the progress of each grant recipient and to provide the recipients with student teaching
17.32opportunities, teacher mentoring, or other professional development opportunities, as
18.1appropriate. District employees receiving grant funding must agree to work in the district
18.2providing the funding for at least three school years after receiving a prekindergarten early
18.3learning license; the agreement must establish consequences for grant recipients who fail
18.4to complete the requisite three school years of work in the district but must not penalize a
18.5grant recipient who is prevented by a district action from completing the requisite work.
18.6    Subd. 2. Program funding. (a) The commissioner shall make grants with
18.7appropriations for this purpose to interested school districts on a first-come, first-served
18.8basis until funds are expended. Districts receiving funding must use the funding to help
18.9eligible individuals under subdivision 1 offset education costs, including tuition, textbooks,
18.10and other instructional materials, or for compensation to allow these individuals to complete
18.11student teaching requirements. The grant amount, excluding compensation, must not
18.12exceed the grant recipient's actual program or course costs in a school term or year minus
18.13any federal Pell grant or state grant the grant recipient is eligible to receive. Districts must
18.14award grants annually on a first-come, first-served basis to the extent funding is available.
18.15(b) To receive grant funding, eligible individuals must enroll and make satisfactory
18.16progress in a teacher preparation or other academic program offered by a local or regional
18.17postsecondary institution or program, and annually complete an application for federal
18.18student aid.
18.19(c) A district must recognize all credits earned under this program when placing a
18.20teacher on the district's salary schedule.
18.21EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective beginning in fiscal year 2017.

18.22    Sec. 2. [136A.1792] EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR LOAN FORGIVENESS
18.23PROGRAM.
18.24    Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms
18.25have the meanings given.
18.26(b) "Qualifying educational institution" means an institution of higher education that
18.27had in effect at the time of an applicant's attendance a program participation agreement
18.28under United States Code, title 20, chapter 28, subchapter IV, part F, section 1094.
18.29(c) "Qualifying position" means being employed as a licensed teacher teaching in a
18.30prekindergarten MinneK program under section 124D.171.
18.31(d) "Qualifying student loan" means a government, commercial, or foundation loan
18.32for actual costs paid for tuition and reasonable educational and living expenses related to
18.33attending a qualifying educational institution.
18.34(e) "Satisfactory academic progress" has the meaning given in section 136A.101,
18.35subdivision 10.
19.1    Subd. 2. Program established. (a) The commissioner must establish and administer
19.2a loan forgiveness program for early childhood educators.
19.3(b) Appropriations made to the program do not cancel and are available until
19.4expended.
19.5    Subd. 3. Eligibility. (a) To be eligible to receive loan forgiveness under this section,
19.6an applicant must:
19.7(1) be a Minnesota resident;
19.8(2) have a qualifying student loan;
19.9(3) have worked for a 12-month period in a qualifying position or positions; and
19.10(4) have earned, or demonstrate satisfactory academic progress towards earning,
19.11a license issued by the Board of Teaching that qualifies the applicant to teach in a
19.12prekindergarten MinneK program under section 122A.09, subdivision 9a.
19.13(b) An eligible applicant may receive one loan forgiveness award of the amount
19.14specified in this section for each 12-month period the applicant works in a qualifying
19.15position. An individual may receive no more than two loan forgiveness awards under
19.16this section.
19.17    Subd. 4. Application. (a) To be considered for a loan forgiveness award, an
19.18applicant must apply in a form and manner specified by the commissioner.
19.19(b) A participant must apply to the commissioner each year the participant wishes
19.20to receive an award under this section. The application must include proof that the
19.21participant has worked for a 12-month period in a qualifying position or positions.
19.22    Subd. 5. Amount of forgiveness. (a) The commissioner must provide a loan
19.23forgiveness award to an eligible applicant on a funds-available basis, as provided in this
19.24section.
19.25(b) For each year of work a participant completes, the participant is eligible for a
19.26loan forgiveness award equal to the lesser of:
19.27(1) $5,000; or
19.28(2) the remaining balance of a participant's qualifying student loans.
19.29    Subd. 6. Disbursement. The commissioner must disburse an award under this
19.30section directly to the participant's student loan servicer or servicers.
19.31    Subd. 7. Fund established. An early childhood educator loan forgiveness fund is
19.32created for depositing money appropriated to or received by the commissioner for the
19.33program. Money deposited in the fund shall not revert to any state fund at the end of any
19.34fiscal year but remains in the fund and is continuously available for loan forgiveness
19.35under this section.

20.1    Sec. 3. INCREASED ACCESS TO TEACHER LICENSURE ACADEMIC
20.2PROGRAMS; MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
20.3(a) No later than the 2017-2018 academic year, the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota
20.4State Colleges and Universities must design and implement a plan to increase the number
20.5of students, including nontraditional and underrepresented students, who are admitted to
20.6and complete an academic program leading to a license that qualifies an applicant to teach
20.7in a prekindergarten MinneK program, consistent with section 122A.09, subdivision 9a.
20.8    (b) The Board of Trustees must consult with the Board of Teaching, the
20.9commissioner of education, and other interested education stakeholders in developing
20.10the plan. At a minimum, the plan must enhance enrollment options for part-time and
20.11other nontraditional and underrepresented students and, if applicable, establish relevant
20.12academic programs on campuses that do not currently offer them. The plan must also
20.13include a process for waiver of any required tuition and fees for students enrolling in
20.14relevant programs who demonstrate an unmet financial need.
20.15(c) No later than January 15, 2017, the Board of Trustees must submit a report to
20.16the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and policy,
20.17kindergarten through grade 12 education finance and policy, and early childhood education
20.18policy on its progress in designing and implementing the plan. The report may also
20.19describe any anticipated needs that cannot be met using existing campus resources.
20.20(d) The Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota is requested to develop a
20.21plan consistent with the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b). No later than January
20.2215, 2017, the Board of Regents must submit a report to the legislative committees with
20.23jurisdiction over higher education finance and policy, kindergarten through grade 12
20.24education finance and policy, and early childhood education policy on its progress in
20.25designing and implementing the plan. The report may also describe any anticipated needs
20.26that cannot be met using existing campus resources. If the board does not implement a
20.27plan consistent with the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b), the board must include in
20.28its report an explanation for its decision not to implement such a plan.

20.29    Sec. 4. APPROPRIATION; PREKINDERGARTEN EARLY LEARNING
20.30TEACHING LICENSE GRANTS.
20.31(a) $....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the
20.32commissioner of education for individuals to attain a prekindergarten early learning
20.33teaching license under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.187.
20.34(b) The base for this program in fiscal year 2018 and later is $........

21.1    Sec. 5. REPEALER.
21.2Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 136A.128, subdivision 3, is repealed.


21.5    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 256E.37, is amended to read:
21.6256E.37 EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING AND CHILD PROTECTION
21.7FACILITIES.
21.8    Subdivision 1. Grant authority. The commissioner may make grants to state
21.9agencies and political subdivisions to construct, renovate, or rehabilitate facilities for
21.10early childhood programs, crisis nurseries, or parenting time centers. The following
21.11requirements apply:
21.12    (1) The facilities must be owned by the state or a political subdivision, but may
21.13be leased under section 16A.695 to organizations that operate the programs. The
21.14commissioner must prescribe the terms and conditions of the leases.
21.15    (2) A grant for an individual facility must not exceed $500,000 for each program
21.16that is housed in the facility, up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for a facility that houses
21.17three programs or more. Programs include school-based prekindergarten, Head Start,
21.18School Readiness, Early Childhood Family Education, licensed child care, and other early
21.19childhood intervention programs.
21.20    (3) State appropriations must be matched on a 50 percent basis with nonstate funds.
21.21The matching requirement must apply program wide and not to individual grants.
21.22(4) At least 80 percent of grant funds must be distributed to facilities located in
21.23counties not included in the definition under section 473.121, subdivision 4.
21.24    Subd. 2. Grant priority. (a) The commissioner must give priority to:
21.25    (1) projects in counties or municipalities with the highest percentage of children
21.26living in poverty;
21.27    (2) grants that involve collaboration among sponsors of programs under this section;
21.28and
21.29    (3) where feasible, grants for programs that utilize Youthbuild under sections
21.30116L.361 to 116L.366 for at least 25 percent of each grant awarded or $50,000 of the labor
21.31portion of the construction, whichever is less, if:
21.32    (i) the work is appropriate for Youthbuild, as mutually agreed upon by the grantee
21.33and the local Youthbuild program, considering safety and skills needed;
21.34    (ii) it is demonstrated by Youthbuild that using Youthbuild will not increase the
21.35overall cost of the project; and
22.1    (iii) eligible programs consult with appropriate labor organizations to deliver
22.2education and training.
22.3    (b) The commissioner may give priority to:
22.4    (1) projects that collaborate with child care providers, including all-day and
22.5school-age child care programs, special needs care, sick child care, nontraditional hour
22.6care, and programs that include services to refugee and immigrant families;
22.7    (2) grants for programs that will increase their child care workers' wages as a result
22.8of the grant; and
22.9    (3) projects that will improve access to and the quality of early childhood programs.
22.10EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

22.11    Sec. 2. EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING AND CHILD PROTECTION
22.12FACILITIES.
22.13    Subdivision 1. Appropriation. $15,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds
22.14fund and $5,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of human
22.15services for grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 256E.37.
22.16    Subd. 2. Bond sale. To provide the money appropriated in this section from the
22.17bond proceeds fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue
22.18bonds of the state in an amount up to $15,000,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with
22.19the effect prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the
22.20Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.
22.21EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
"22.22Renumber the articles in sequence and correct the internal references
22.23Amend the title accordingly