Bill > HF4870

This bill establishes the Minnesota Board of Early Care and Education to support the development of children in early care and education programs by setting quality standards, improving educator qualifications, and consolidating existing state support. The board will consist of appointed members representing various stakeholders, including childcare providers, parents, educators, and health professionals, and will be responsible for approving "quality recognition pathways," which are standardized processes to demonstrate a program's excellence, and establishing standards for early childhood educator qualifications. The bill also mandates that early care and education programs must participate in a quality recognition pathway to receive state and federal funding, and it amends existing law to include the new Board in the review process for the child care development fund plan, with an appropriation for the Board's operations.