Section

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Expanding MDE developmental assessment administered to entering kindergartners. (a) Directs the education commissioner to encourage school districts to voluntarily administer the school readiness kindergarten assessment according to a specified timeline.

(b) Requires the commissioner to annually report assessment results to the legislature.

Makes this section effective July 1, 2007.

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Early childhood community hub planning and implementation grants.

Subd. 1. Establishment. Establishes a two-year grant program to increase children's school readiness using early childhood community hubs that provide families with access to community care and education services, school, health services, and other support services.

Subd. 2. Eligibility; application. (a) makes grants available to school districts and tribal schools interested in collaborating with community-based early childhood care and education providers to maximize families' services.

(b) Directs grant applicants to apply to the education commissioner to establish a community hub in an appropriate community location. Requires applicants to assess existing community resources and needs for services that support families and neighborhoods. Requires a school administrator to oversee the collaboration.

(c) Allows interested applicants to also apply to make a prekindergarten to grade 3 school readiness and success a community hub component.

Subd. 3. Program components. (a) Requires grant recipients to provide an ongoing assessment of local resources and needs for services that support families and neighborhoods, develop and implement a plan to improve school readiness, develop collaborative partnerships, provide kindergarten transition services, develop and implement an evaluation plan, and assign an unduplicated MARSS number to each participating child.

(b) Directs applicants to agree to contract with a qualified program coordinator.

(c) Requires an applicant to agree to provide a 15 percent local match for any grant. Prohibits grantees from using the grant to supplant existing early childhood initiatives.

Subd. 4 Advisory committees. Requires an early childhood community hub to have an advisory committee.

Subd. 5. Prekindergarten to grade 3 school readiness and academic success grant component. Allows interested applicants to also apply to include a prekindergarten to grade 3 school readiness and success component that: provides high quality prekindergarten programming; provides all-day kindergarten; aligns kindergarten through grade 3 standards, curriculum and assessments; requires a qualified professional to supervise early childhood classrooms; coordinates prekindergarten through grade 3 programs; provides meaningful transition activities; promotes parent involvement; and provides program accountability.

Subd. 6. Application; grant awards. Makes grants available only to qualified applicants. Determines the grant amount based upon the number of children and families expected to be served, the programs and services the grantee expects to provide, and whether the grantee expects to include a prekindergarten to grade 3 school readiness and success component. Directs the commissioner to award 60 percent of the grant funds to applicants having 50 percent or more enrolled children eligible for the federal lunch program. Requires a geographical distribution. Prohibits grantees from using grant funds to supplant existing programs. Directs the Education Department to provide assistance upon request.

Subd. 7. Evaluation. Directs the commissioner to provide for an evaluation of the program and to recommend to the legislature by February 15, 2010, whether to expand the program.

Makes the program effective July 1, 2007.

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Appropriation.

Subd. 1. Department of Education. Appropriates money from the general fund to the Education Department in the fiscal years designated.

Subd. 2. Early childhood community hub grants. Appropriates $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2009 for the early childhood community hub grants.

Subd. 3. Prekindergarten through grade 3 program grants. Appropriates $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2009 for the prekindergarten through grade 3 program grants.

Subd. 4. Kindergarten readiness assessment. Appropriates unspecified amounts in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 for the kindergarten readiness assessment.

Makes this section effective July 1, 2007.