HF1147

Purpose

• Expand opportunities for student learning by allowing school boards to offer school-age care programs for eligible children from kindergarten through grade 6 as part of a community education program.
• Provide an option for external organizations (insured, for-profit or nonprofit) to use school facilities to run a school-age care program if the school board chooses not to offer one.

Main Provisions

• The school board may offer a school-age care program for eligible children as part of community education, to broaden learning opportunities.
• If the school board does not offer a program, an appropriate insured community group, for-profit entity, or nonprofit organization may use available school facilities to run a school-age care program.

Eligibility and Participants

• Eligible children include:
  • Children not yet enrolled in kindergarten who meet the definition of a child with a disability (per section 125A.02, subdivisions 1 or 1a).
  • Children not yet enrolled in kindergarten who are experiencing family or related problems of a temporary nature.
  • Children enrolled in the district from kindergarten through grade 6.

Program Requirements and Operations

• Programs must include:
  • Adult-supervised activities when school is not in session.
  • Parental involvement in program design and direction.
  • Partnerships with the kindergarten through 12 system and other public or private entities.
  • Opportunities for trained secondary school students to work with younger children as part of a community service program.
  • Access to available school facilities (gym, sports equipment, computer labs, media centers) when not in use, with districts establishing reasonable access rules.
  • Requirements for organizations to request access, provide evidence of adequate insurance, and maintain a staff training plan.

Facility Access, Scheduling, and Oversight

• Districts may establish rules for access:
  • Organizations must request access and provide a proposed schedule.
  • Organizations must provide evidence of adequate insurance.
  • Organizations must maintain a plan showing staff adequacy and training to supervise facility use.
• Districts may charge a sliding fee based on family income and may receive funds from other public or private sources.
• Districts must develop standards for school-age child care programs.
• The commissioner of education may not adopt rules for school-age care programs.

Financial Management

• Districts must maintain a separate account within the community services fund for all funds related to the school-age care program.
• Districts may seek funding from other public or private sources to support the program.

Governance, Coordination, and Compliance

• Districts are encouraged to coordinate the school-age care program with related education and youth services (e.g., special education, vocational education, adult basic education, early childhood family education, K-12 instruction and curriculum services, youth development, and youth service agencies) and with related services provided by other governmental or nonprofit agencies.

Significant Changes from Existing Law

• Expands eligibility to include certain prekindergarten-eligible children (including some who are not yet enrolled in kindergarten) and children with temporary family-related challenges.
• Allows external insured organizations to use school facilities to operate a school-age care program if the school board does not offer one.
• Establishes a formal requirement for a separate district fund accounting specific to school-age care programs.
• Shifts or limits state regulatory authority by prohibiting the commissioner of education from adopting rules for school-age care programs.
• Emphasizes community partnerships and cross-program coordination with multiple education and youth-service entities.

Relevant Terms - School-age care program - Community education - Eligible children - Child with a disability (125A.02 subdivisions 1 or 1a) - Kindergarten through Grade 6 (K-6) - Prekindergarten eligibility - Adult-supervised programs - Parental involvement - Public/private partnerships - Insured organization - For-profit entity - Nonprofit organization - Access to facilities (gym, sports equipment, computer labs, media centers) - Scheduling and facility use - Insurance evidence - Staff training plan - Sliding fee based on family income - Community services fund - Separate accounting - Coordination with special education, vocational education, adult basic education, early childhood family education, K-12 programs - Youth development and youth service agencies - Related services from government and nonprofit agencies - Commissioner of education (rulemaking authority)