Purpose

The bill provides funding from Minnesota’s general fund to support the ParentChild program through the Department of Children Youth and Families. Its goal is to support early childhood literacy and school readiness for young children.

Main provisions

• Funding source: Money is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Children Youth and Families for the ParentChild program in the fiscal years identified in the bill.
• Program focus: The grant is to be used to implement the ParentChild program’s evidence-based and research-validated early childhood literacy and school readiness activities for children ages 16 months to four years.
• Location and expansion: The program must be implemented at existing ParentChild program locations in Cass County, Hennepin County, Rice County, and the cities of Rochester and St. Cloud, or at any new rural, suburban, or urban locations.
• Funding level: The base appropriation is $1,800,000 for fiscal year 2028 and later.

Significance and impact

• Purpose and reach: Establishes dedicated funding to expand and sustain early literacy and school readiness services for toddlers and preschool-aged children.
• Growth potential: Allows future expansion beyond current locations to additional rural, suburban, or urban communities.
• Long-term financing: Sets a fixed funding baseline starting in FY 2028, indicating ongoing support for the program.

Relationship to existing law

• This is an appropriation to the Department of Children Youth and Families specifically for the ParentChild program, creating or continuing a funding line to support its activities. It does not specify other changes to program rules or law beyond establishing the grant and base funding.

Notable terms from the bill

• ParentChild program
• Department of Children Youth and Families
• general fund
• appropriation
• grant
• evidence-based
• research-validated
• early childhood literacy
• school readiness
• children ages 16 months to four years
• Cass County
• Hennepin County
• Rice County
• Rochester
• St. Cloud
• fiscal year 2028
• base

Relevant Terms ParentChild program Department of Children Youth and Families general fund appropriation grant evidence-based research-validated early childhood literacy school readiness children ages 16 months to four years Cass County Hennepin County Rice County Rochester St. Cloud fiscal year 2028 base