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SF 4984

Mindful Foundations pilot program for students in prekindergarten through grade 1 establishment and appropriation

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Julia Coleman and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes a Mindful Foundations trauma-informed early childhood pilot (PK–1) with curriculum, training, progress monitoring, and evaluation to inform statewide adoption.

Referred to Education Finance
#appropriations #educationandeducationdepartment #education-pre-kindergarten-12
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Bill Summary · SF 4984

Summary of SF 4984 (Mindful Foundations pilot program for students in prekindergarten through grade 1)

Date: 2026 legislative session (Minnesota)

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a Mindful Foundations pilot program aimed at trauma-informed education for early learners (prekindergarten through grade 1).
  • The program includes curriculum delivery, classroom management guidance, progress monitoring, family and staff training, and program evaluation.
  • Aims to inform potential statewide adoption or phased expansion based on pilot results.

Key provisions and changes

Program establishment and funding

  • Creates a Mindful Foundations pilot program funded from the General Fund.
  • Total appropriation: $1,200,000 for fiscal year 2027 (directed to the Department of Education for the pilot).

Grant structure and use of funds

Grants must be directed toward a trauma-informed early childhood pilot, collaboratively agreed upon by:
- Department of Education (DOE)
- A participating attending member serving as a fiscal/compliance administrator with full authority over curriculum delivery, implementation, progress monitoring, and evaluation (vested in the curriculum developer).

Grant activities must include:
1. Delivery of the Mindful Foundations curriculum (including the LOVEE Method: Listen, Observe, Value, Empathize, Evolve) in eligible classrooms in one or more school districts or licensed early childhood programs.
2. Recruitment, hiring, and training of one field progress-monitoring specialist per pilot school location to conduct structured classroom observations and collect program data under supervision of the curriculum developer.
3. Leadership, staff, and family training, plus ongoing weekly consultation throughout the pilot year.
4. Administration of the Mindful Foundations progress monitoring system across domains involving students, educators, families, and classroom environments.
5. Support for statewide evaluation of trauma-informed early childhood practices to inform potential expansion.

Selection of pilot sites

  • The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the curriculum developer, will establish a voluntary application process for eligible school districts and licensed early childhood programs.
  • Timeline for selection: applications by May 1, 2027; notification of selected districts/programs no later than May 15, 2027.
  • Selection criteria include:
    • Demonstrated administrative commitment to whole-school trauma-informed practice
    • Classrooms serving prekindergarten through grade 1
    • Adequate organizational capacity to support full curriculum implementation

Reporting and evaluation

  • By January 15, 2028, the grant recipient must submit a written report to:
    • The Commissioner of Education
    • The chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through 12th-grade education (finance and policy)
  • Required report content:
    • Summary of pilot implementation
    • Quantitative and qualitative findings from the progress monitoring system across student, educator, family, and classroom environment domains
    • Analysis of the curriculum’s impact on educator retention and family engagement
    • Recommendations regarding statewide adoption or phased expansion, including a proposed implementation framework and budget

Effective date

  • The act becomes effective the day after final enactment.

Who is affected

  • Early childhood education settings serving prekindergarten through grade 1 (public districts and licensed early childhood programs) that participate in the Mindful Foundations pilot.
  • Department of Education, through administration of the grant, coordination with the curriculum developer, and execution of progress monitoring and evaluation.
  • School administrators, teachers, families, and students in pilot sites (with emphasis on trauma-informed practices and classroom climate).

Procedural and timeline highlights

  • Fiscal year 2027: grant funding of $1,200,000 allocated to the pilot.
  • May 1, 2027: voluntary application deadline for pilot sites.
  • May 15, 2027: notice to selected sites.
  • 2027–2028: implementation and ongoing supports, including training and data collection.
  • January 15, 2028: mandatory progress and impact report to legislature and DOE leadership.
  • Subsequent years: potential statewide adoption or phased expansion based on evaluation outcomes and recommendations.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to similar trauma-informed or early childhood mental health programs or draft a one-page briefing for stakeholders.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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