Many changes to early care and education policy passed this legislative session. In an attempt to organize and track the milestones ahead, we’ve created this blog post and accompanying graphic. If you see something that needs to be added or corrected, let us know!! Email policy@thinksmall.org.Ìý
What’s included in this list?
Major policy changes, reports, and other implementation steps for: Ìý
- Early Learning Scholarships Ìý
- Child Care Assistance Program Ìý
- Department of Children, Youth, and FamiliesÌý
- Parent Aware Evaluation ProjectÌý
- Great Start ScholarshipsÌý
- Early Childhood Workforce ReportsÌý
- Child Care Regulation Modernization ProjectÌý
- Voluntary Pre-kindergartenÌý
What’s not included?Ìý
- Paid Family LeaveÌý
- Child Care Licensing (except for regulation modernization)Ìý
- Funding (for the most part). New funds usually becomes available at the beginning of the state‘s fiscal year, July 1.Ìý
What is an effective date?Ìý
Sometimes pieces of legislation include effective dates. These are instructions as to when changes should happen. An effective date is sort of like a due date—the time by which the change should be implemented. Effective dates can cover an entire program, or there can be different dates for each part of the program. Sometimes the change may be completed ahead of schedule. And sometimes the change may start to be rolled out by the effective date but then take longer to be in full effect.ÌýÌý
Occasionally, agency staff implementing the program will go back to legislators and ask for changes to the effective date, usually because they need more time. So, while these dates are important markers into when various pieces will be in place, it’s also important to keep in mind that it is a part of a process that includes adjustments along the way.Ìý
If changes are scheduled to happen on different days in the same month, the day of the change is listed at the beginning of the line. (e.g. 30-Report due on child care cost estimation model is for January 30, 2025).Ìý
October 30, 2023Ìý
- UPDATE October 2023: Rates have been announced!
- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) provider reimbursement rates increased to the 75th percentile of 2021 ratesÌý
December 2023Ìý
- UPDATE October 2023:
- Transition funding for stabilization grants ends. It may end before that if the new Great Start Compensation Support Payments program is already in place.ÌýÌý
´³²¹²Ô³Ü²¹°ù²âÌý2024ÌýÌý
- 1-Early Learning Scholarships eligibility expands to all income-eligible children birth to giveÌý
- 15-Report from Office of Child Care Community Partnerships (due annually)Ìý
February 1, 2024Ìý
- DHS will submit a report and proposed legislation to the legislature based on results from Child Care Regulations Modernization ProjectsÌý
March 1, 2024Ìý
- Report due on Department of Children, Youth, and FamiliesÌý
July 2024Ìý
- 1-Commissioner for Department of Children, Youth, and Families to be appointedÌý
- 1-$50 million available for 3,000 Voluntary Prekindergarten studentsÌý
- 1-Early Learning Scholarships add new priority groups of children whoÌý
- Have an incarcerated parentÌýÌý
- Have a parent in a substance use treatment programÌý
- Have a parent in a mental health treatment programÌýÌý
- Have experienced domestic violenceÌý
- Are need of child protective services regardless of family incomeÌý
- 1-Families will have to enroll in an early learning program within 3 months of being approved for an Early Learning Scholarship, with the opportunity to apply for an extension if necessary.Ìý
- 1-The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will create a schedule of tiered Early Learning Scholarship amounts based on the market rate survey conducted for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Early Learning Scholarship amounts for low-income and priority children in 4-Star programs will have to, at a minimum, pay amounts that align to the 75th percentile of market rates.ÌýÌý
- 1-The measure of family income eligibility for Early Learning Scholarships switches from 185% of the Federal Poverty Guideline to 47% of State Median Income to align with CCAPÌý
- Parent Aware evaluation report submitted to DHSÌý
August 25, 2024Ìý
- Family definition updated in the Child Care Assistance Program to include more types of caregivers
December 2024Ìý
- 31-Study due about how to implement Parent Aware One Star for all licensed programsÌý
- DHS will make recommendations for legislators based on Parent Aware evaluationÌý
January 2025Ìý
- 1-Early Learning Scholarships add new priority group of children who are not yet 4 years oldÌý
- 15- Report from the Office of Child Care Community PartnershipsÌý
- 30-Report due on child care cost estimation modelÌý
- 30-Report due on wage scale and comparable competenciesÌý
- 30-Report on Cost Estimation Model due
- 30-Wage Scale/Comparable Competencies due
July 1, 2025Ìý
- The income eligibility for Early Learning Scholarships expands from 47% of State Median Income to 85% of State Median Income
- A new Early Learning Scholarships priority is introduced for children in low-income families, with children in low-income families and existing priority groups receiving the highest priorityÌý
Fall 2025Ìý
- Kindergarten Entry Assessment will be implemented in all public and charter schools. This will be phased in across the state over three school years, with all public schools complying by the 2025-2026 school year.ÌýÌý
July 1, 2026Ìý
- Report due on status of planning for the Great Start Scholarships ProgramÌý
- All licensed child care programs will have a 1-star Parent Aware rating. Programs will be able to opt out of the new structure. Ìý
July 1, 2028Ìý
- Administrative structures and systems for the Great Start Scholarships Program shall be in placeÌý
- Teachers in public prek must have a license. This does not apply to educators working in a child care center. Teachers who have taught least 5 years in a qualifying program before September 1 2028 are exempt.
By Marie Huey, Public Policy and Advocacy Staff Leader
