SF1345

S.F. No. 1345 is a legislative bill that focuses on modifying the eligibility requirements for children to participate in Minnesota's voluntary prekindergarten program. The changes include:

1. Age Requirement: A child must be four years old by September 1 of the school year they are entering.

2. Eligibility Criteria: A child can be eligible for the program if they meet one or more of the following conditions:

   • Qualifies for free or reduced-priced meals.
   • Meets specific financial criteria related to health care.
   • Is an English Language Learner.
   • Is American Indian.
   • Has experienced homelessness in the past 24 months.
   • Has been identified as having potential risk factors that may affect learning.
   • Is in foster care, kinship care, or needs child protection services.
   • Has a parent who is a migrant or seasonal agricultural laborer.
   • Has a parent who is incarcerated.
   • Is defined as at-risk by their school district.

3. Funding and Fees: If state funding is available, it should be used for eligible children. If a child does not meet the eligibility criteria or if state funding is unavailable, they may still participate on a fee-for-service basis, with fees adjusted based on family income. Fees will be waived for families unable to pay.

4. Health and Developmental Screening: Enrolled children must complete health and developmental screenings within 90 days of joining the program and must also provide documentation of required immunizations.

5. Inclusion: Children with individualized education programs (IEPs) cannot be excluded from participating if they meet the other eligibility criteria and can participate with reasonable accommodations.

This bill aims to make prekindergarten education accessible to a broader group of children, focusing on those who may benefit most from early educational opportunities.