Section 1. Length of school year; hours of instruction. Requires that the school calendar for prekindergarten, if offered by the district, must include at least 350 hours of instruction for the school year.

Effective date: makes this section effective for the 2017-2018 school year and later.

Section 2. Revenue amount. Modifies the alternative teacher compensation revenue allowance beginning in fiscal year 2019 to account for the expected additional enrollment of prekindergarten pupils so that the total basic alternative teacher compensation aid appropriation remains within the statutory cap.

Section 3. Long-term facilities maintenance revenue. Modifies the calculation of long-term facilities maintenance revenue to include costs approved by the commissioner for remodeling existing instructional space to accommodate prekindergarten instruction.

Effective date: makes this section effective for revenue in fiscal year 2018 and later.

Section 4. Program reimbursement. Provides that the state reimburses a district $1.30 for each school breakfast served to a prekindergarten pupil.

Effective date: makes this section effective for revenue in fiscal year 2018 and later.

Section 5. No fees. Prohibits a district from charging a fee for a school breakfast served to a prekindergarten pupil.

Effective date: makes this section effective for revenue in fiscal year 2018 and later.

Section 6. Prekindergarten program.

Subdivision 1. Programs authorized. Authorizes a school district or charter school to operate a voluntary prekindergarten program for four-year-old pupils.

Subdivision 2. Program characteristics. Requires that a program under this section prepare children for kindergarten and meet certain program characteristics related to instruction, assessment, class size, teacher licensure and qualifications, community involvement and coordination, parent engagement, and professional development, among other requirements.

Subdivision 3. Child eligibility. Provides that a child is eligible to participate if they are at least four years old on September 1, not yet enrolled in kindergarten, and have received all required screenings and immunizations.

Subdivision 4. Hours of instruction. Clarifies that the program must meet the required minimum hours of instruction.

Effective date: makes this section effective July 1, 2017.

Section 7. English learner. Provides that a prekindergarten pupil may meet the definition of “English learner” for the purposes of English learner programming and aid.

Effective date: makes this section effective for revenue in fiscal year 2018 and later.

Section 8. Admission requirements and enrollment. Clarifies that a charter school that offers a prekindergarten program that is free to all participants may offer kindergarten enrollment priority to participants in its prekindergarten program.

Section 9. Pupil unit. Provides that a prekindergarten pupil, except a pupil with a disability or assessed for a disability, counts as 0.6 pupil units.

Effective date: makes this section effective for revenue in fiscal year 2018 and later.

Section 10. Declining enrollment revenue. Excludes prekindergarten pupil units from the calculation of declining enrollment revenue.