Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to enhance workforce development by funding an online program focused on early childhood education. This program is meant to support early childhood educators in Minnesota by providing accessible, no-cost training and professional development opportunities.

Main Provisions

• Funding: The bill allocates $750,000 for each fiscal year of 2026 and 2027. This money will be drawn from the workforce development fund and managed by the commissioner of employment and economic development, alongside the commissioner of children, youth, and families.

• Program Operation: The funds will be used to purchase and operate an online professional educator program designed for early childhood education. Important details include:

  • The program will be available for free to Minnesota residents who are early childhood educators or high school students.
  • Up to $250,000 each year is specifically set aside to reimburse schools that support the program, with a stipulation that at least half of these funds go to schools located outside the seven-county metropolitan area of Minnesota.

Significant Changes

• Educational Access: The introduction of this online program represents a new approach to providing educational support, specifically targeting early childhood educators and high school students interested in this field. It ensures accessibility by being available in both English and Spanish and delivered online.

• Program Features: This program will cover a comprehensive set of topics and provide robust professional development opportunities, including:

  • Courses required to earn a child development associate credential.
  • Continuing education units accredited internationally.
  • Compliance with federal health and safety training standards.
  • A variety of content delivery methods like videos, games, interactive assignments, and more.
  • Accessibility across various devices and flexibility in learning (both synchronous and asynchronous options).

• Reimbursement and Focus on Equity: Emphasis on equitable distribution of resources by ensuring at least 50% of funding supports schools beyond the metropolitan area.

Relevant Terms

• Early Childhood Education
• Workforce Development
• Child Development Associate Credential
• Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
• Federal Training Requirements
• Seven-County Metropolitan Area
• Professional Learning Community
• Learning Management System (LMS)