1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to early education; modifying eligibility criteria for the voluntary
1.3 prekindergarten program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142D.08,
1.4 subdivision 4.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142D.08, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 4.Eligibility.(a) An eligible child means a child who:
1.8 (1) is four years of age as of September 1 in the calendar year in which the school year
1.9commences; and
1.10 (2) meets at least one of the following criteria:
1.11 (i) qualifies for free or reduced-priced meals;
1.12 (ii) qualifies for the rate at application specified in section 142E.10, subdivision 1,
1.13paragraph (a), clause (2), in the current calendar year;
1.14 (iii) is an English language learner as defined by section 124D.59, subdivision 2;
1.15 (iv) is American Indian;
1.16 (v) has experienced homelessness in the last 24 months, as defined under the federal
1.17McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, United States Code, title 42, section 1143a;
1.18 (vi) was identified as having a potential risk factor that may influence learning through
1.19health and developmental screening under sections 142D.09 to 142D.093;
1.20 (vii) is in foster care; is in kinship care, including children receiving Northstar kinship
1.21care assistance under sections 142A.60 to 142A.612; or is in need of child protection services;
1Section 1.
25-03214 as introduced02/04/25 REVISOR CR/NS
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1345NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: UTKE)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/13/2025
Referred to Health and Human Services 2.1 (viii) has a parent who is a migrant or seasonal agricultural laborer under section 181.85;
2.2or
2.3 (ix) has a parent who is incarcerated; or.
2.4 (x) is defined as at-risk by the school district.
2.5 (b) School districts and charter schools must use state funding for eligible children to
2.6the extent it is available. A child may participate in a voluntary prekindergarten program
2.7on a fee-for-service basis if the child does not meet the eligibility criteria in paragraph (a)
2.8or state funding is not available. A school district or charter school must adopt a sliding-fee
2.9schedule based upon family income and must waive a fee for a participant unable to pay.
2.10 (c) Each eligible child must complete a health and developmental screening within 90
2.11days of program enrollment under sections 142D.09 to 142D.093, and provide documentation
2.12of required immunizations under section 121A.15.
2.13 (d) A child with an individualized education program may not be excluded from
2.14participation in a program under this section if all other eligibility requirements are satisfied
2.15and the individualized education program team determines that with reasonable
2.16accommodations the child can fully participate and make progress toward their goals and
2.17objectives.
2Section 1.
25-03214 as introduced02/04/25 REVISOR CR/NS