Child care providers who want to improve their facilities, train staff or buy early learning curricula could benefit from $500,000 appropriated in the omnibus early childhood bill approved by the House Finance Committee April 27. The federal funds are intended to support providers to prepare for evaluation through a statewide Quality Rating and Improvement System.
Approved the next day by the House Ways and Means Committee, the bill’s policy provisions will go to the House floor, independently or as part of the omnibus K-12 education bill, said Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood), who sponsors
HF2760/
SF2505* with Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka).
The bill would also direct the governor’s early childhood advisory council to take up several tasks including:
• creation of an early care and education report card;
• a recommendation on how to screen and assess whether young children are developmentally ready for school;
• strategies to address the developmental needs of those children who may not be school-ready; and
• creation of an office of early learning.
The bill also incorporates
HF3220, sponsored by Rep. Gail Kulick Jackson (DFL-Milaca), which would make it easier for teen parents to get child care funds re-authorized on the school calendar schedule. That change would help the young parents retain consistent child care so they can stay in school.
A provision that would cut $7.5 million in unexpended funds from the basic sliding fee child care program is expected to be included in the omnibus health and human services bill. The funds unused by counties to subsidize child care for income-eligible working families would ordinarily go to other counties with waiting lists for child care subsidies; however, this year they will be used to offset the General Fund deficit, Slawik said.
The Senate passed its version 53-12 April 19.
The year without a K-12 law
School funding is flat, no reforms enacted
(view full story)
Published 6/1/2010
House K-12 omnibus bill fast-tracked
Senate slow to respond with companion legislation
(view full story)
Published 5/13/2010
K-12 education omnibus bill stalls
Teacher licensure proposals in contention
(view full story)
Published 5/6/2010
K-12 education bill moves forward
Measures would activate reforms, stabilize school funding
(view full story)
Published 4/29/2010
Resuscitating Race to the Top bid
New bid could hinge on proposals to boost teacher effectiveness
(view full story)
Published 4/22/2010
Raiders of the lost fund
Slew of reforms could boost Permanent School Fund income
(view full story)
Published 3/25/2010
Schools shore up state’s checkbook
Obscure law forces drawdown of school reserves before state can borrow
(view full story)
Published 2/25/2010
At Issue: No shifts, no cuts
Education funding in a holding pattern
(view full story)
Published 5/29/2009
At Issue: E-12 education bill that might have been
Funding held steady with no shifts proposed, but no Minnesota Miracle
(view full story)
Published 5/15/2009
At Issue: Investing in quality care for kids
Lawmakers hope for long-term benefits of early investment
(view full story)
Published 4/24/2009
At Issue: Building a better formula
Omnibus K-12 education finance bill floor debate highlights obstacles
(view full story)
Published 4/24/2009
At Issue: Whose values are they anyway?
Lawmaker carries on family legacy with sex education bill
(view full story)
Published 4/17/2009
First Reading: One school doesn’t fit all
Efforts put forward to tailor charter school law
(view full story)
Published 4/10/2009
At Issue: Hopeful education goals in a dismal year
Omnibus bill addresses changing needs and future demands
(view full story)
Published 4/3/2009
At Issue: Getting kids to move
Bill aims to ensure ‘No child left on their behind’
(view full story)
Published 2/20/2009
First Reading: Accountability funding for all
A ‘New Minnesota Miracle’ requires a leap of faith
(view full story)
Published 2/13/2009
At Issue: Q Comp found wanting
Performance measure has perks, but is it affordable?
(view full story)
Published 2/6/2009
At Issue: Reforming education, saving money
Bipartisan support shown for mandate reduction and shared services
(view full story)
Published 1/23/2009
Feature: Passing the torch of democracy
Youth immerse themselves in lingo and actions of lawmaking
(view full story)
Published 1/16/2009