S.F. No. 3606 amends provisions relating to Parent Aware and kindergarten readiness assessments.

Section 1 (124D.142) makes technical updates and removes outdated language regarding the Parent Aware program. The section also establishes a requirement for the commissioner of human services to arrange an independent evaluation of the Parent Aware program, to be conducted by February 1, 2021, and then once every five years, to evaluate the quality, outcomes, and effectiveness of the program.

Section 2 (124D.162) requires the commissioner of education to implement a kindergarten readiness assessment and integrate the data reported from school districts into the state’s educational data systems, to inform instructional decision making, to improve our understanding of any connections between kindergarten readiness and later academic achievement, and to assist in evaluating the effectiveness of early childhood programs.

Section 3 is a fillable appropriation to fund the Parent Aware evaluation in section 1.