142D.06 SCHOOL READINESS AID.

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Subdivision 1.Amount of aid.

(a) A district is eligible to receive school readiness aid for eligible prekindergarten pupils enrolled in a school readiness program under section 142D.05 if the biennial plan required by section 142D.05, subdivision 3, has been approved by the commissioner.

(b) A district must receive school readiness aid equal to:

(1) the number of four-year-old children in the district on October 1 for the previous school year times the ratio of 50 percent of the total school readiness aid for that year to the total number of four-year-old children reported to the commissioner for the previous school year; plus

(2) the number of pupils enrolled in the school district from families eligible for the free or reduced-price meals program for the previous school year times the ratio of 50 percent of the total school readiness aid for that year to the total number of pupils in the state from families eligible for the free or reduced-price meals program for the previous school year.

(c) The total school readiness aid entitlement equals $23,558,000 for fiscal year 2016 and $33,683,000 for fiscal year 2017 and later. §

Subd. 2.Use of aid.

School readiness aid shall be used only to provide a school readiness program and may be used to provide transportation. Not more than five percent of program revenue, as defined in subdivision 3, may be used for the cost of administering the program. Aid must be used to supplement and not supplant local, state, and federal funding. Aid may not be used for instruction and services required under sections 125A.03 to 125A.24 and 125A.65. Aid may not be used to purchase land or construct buildings, but may be used to lease or renovate existing buildings. §

Subd. 3.Reserve account.

School readiness revenue, which includes aids, fees, grants, and all other revenues received by the district school readiness programs, must be maintained in a reserve account within the community service fund. §

Subd. 4.Funding.

The commissioner and the commissioner of education shall enter into an agreement under which the commissioner of education shall distribute funds appropriated for programs under this section. Funding is subject to sections 127A.41 and 127A.45, subdivision 13.

History:

1991 c 265 art 7 s 13; 1992 c 363 art 2 s 5; 1992 c 499 art 7 s 2; 1993 c 224 art 4 s 22,23; 1994 c 483 s 1; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1997 c 162 art 4 s 59,60; 1998 c 397 art 3 s 74,75,103; art 11 s 3; 1999 c 205 art 1 s 70; 2000 c 489 art 1 s 8; 1Sp2001 c 3 art 1 s 10-13; 1Sp2003 c 9 art 7 s 9,10; 1Sp2005 c 5 art 7 s 13,14; 2012 c 239 art 3 s 6; 2014 c 312 art 20 s 9; 1Sp2015 c 3 art 9 s 5; 2023 c 55 art 9 s 19; 2024 c 80 art 4 s 15,26; 2024 c 115 art 16 s 42; 2025 c 20 s 108; 1Sp2025 c 10 art 10 s 3

History: History: 1991 c 265 art 7 s 13; 1992 c 363 art 2 s 5; 1992 c 499 art 7 s 2; 1993 c 224 art 4 s 22,23; 1994 c 483 s 1; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1997 c 162 art 4 s 59,60; 1998 c 397 art 3 s 74,75,103; art 11 s 3; 1999 c 205 art 1 s 70; 2000 c 489 art 1 s 8; 1Sp2001 c 3 art 1 s 10-13; 1Sp2003 c 9 art 7 s 9,10; 1Sp2005 c 5 art 7 s 13,14; 2012 c 239 art 3 s 6; 2014 c 312 art 20 s 9; 1Sp2015 c 3 art 9 s 5; 2023 c 55 art 9 s 19; 2024 c 80 art 4 s 15,26; 2024 c 115 art 16 s 42; 2025 c 20 s 108; 1Sp2025 c 10 art 10 s 3