Missouri Senate

Perfected

QUALITY RATING SYSTEM

This act requires the Department of Social Services in collaboration with the Departments of Health and Senior Services, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Mental Health to develop by September 1, 2008, a quality rating system for early childhood and before-and after-school programs licensed by the Department of Health and Senior Services that operate in this state. The licensing of such facilities shall be the baseline, while the highest rating includes accreditation. All early childhood programs accredited by the Nation Association for the Education of Young Children shall receive the highest level of the rating system. The departments shall utilize the model from the existing Missouri quality rating system pilots developed by the University of Missouri Center for Family Policy and Research to establish the system. The system will allow consumers and parents to evaluate and select high quality programs and creates a system of accountability for policymakers and those who fund such programs.

By July 1, 2011, all licensed child care facilities voluntarily receiving quality improvement funds and services shall, upon the facilities' request, be rated using the quality rating system established under this act. The Coordinating Board of Early Childhood shall develop a plan for a tiered system of reimbursement for child care subsidies based on the quality rating system established under this act. The proposed plan shall be submitted to the General Assembly with recommendations for implementation of the reimbursement system by December 31, 2009. The plan shall only become effective upon passage of a concurrent resolution by the General Assembly authorizing the implementation of the plan.

The Quality Rating System Program Improvement Grant Fund is established and shall consist of all gifts, donations, transfers, moneys appropriated by the general assembly, and bequests to the fund. Money in the fund shall be used to provide grants directly to licensed providers seeking assistance for quality improvements to undergo evaluation under the quality rating system established under this act or to community-based organizations assisting providers with such improvements. The grants shall be awarded in such a manner to ensure geographic diversity among the grantees.

The Department of Social Services in collaboration with the Departments of Health and Senior Services, and Elementary and Secondary Education shall be responsible for promoting and distributing materials to educate the public and providers about the quality rating system established under this act. By January 1, 2010, the ratings of the quality rating system shall be posted on the Internet in a format easily understood and accessible by the public.

The provisions relating to the quality rating system shall sunset in six years.

These provisions are similar to SB 161 (2007). SECTION 210.205

NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

In addition, certain neighborhood youth development programs shall be exempt from state child care licensing requirements so long as the program meets specified standards and guidelines as prescribed in the act. SECTION 210.278

MISSOURI PRESCHOOL PLUS GRANT PROGRAM

This act creates the Missouri Preschool Plus Grant Program as a pilot program within the Missouri Preschool Project. The program will serve up to 1250 students with preschool services and will be administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in collaboration with the Coordinating Board for Early Childhood. School districts that are classified as unaccredited and non-sectarian community-based organizations located within such school districts may receive grants. Any school district that receives students from a provisionally accredited or unaccredited school district as a result of a school district boundary line change election, as provided in section 162.431, may also receive grants. Grants run for three years and are renewable. At least fifty percent of the placements must be offered through non-sectarian community-based organizations. Children who are one or two years away from kindergarten entry may participate in the program. Children of active duty military personnel will receive admission preference.

If a school district becomes classified as provisionally accredited or accredited, it may complete the length of an existing grant and be eligible for one additional renewal for three years. The program must comply with current early childhood standards. Community-based organization grantees may employ teachers with at least an associate's degree provided they show they are on the path to obtaining a bachelor's degree within five years. School districts and non-sectarian community-based organizations must collect short-term and long-term data about student performance where feasible. The Department must make a good faith effort to collect long-term student performance data as required in the act for students who attend non-public schools.

The Department will accept applications in a competitive bid process to begin implementing the program in the 2009-2010 school year. The program will be funded through general appropriations and will not be funded through money from the Gaming Commission Fund. The General Assembly must appropriate an amount sufficient to adequately fund the program, an amount of $5 million in any fiscal year.

The provisions relating to the preschool plus grant program will sunset, if not reauthorized, in six years.

These provisions are similar to SB 779 (2008). SECTION 162.1168

ADRIANE CROUSE