Plain English Breakdown
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.
SF4984 • 2026
Mindful Foundations pilot program for students in prekindergarten through grade 1 establishment and appropriation
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
Introduction and first reading
Mindful Foundations pilot program for students in prekindergarten through grade 1 establishment and appropriation
A bill for an act relating to education; establishing the Mindful Foundations pilot program for students in prekindergarten through grade 1; requiring a report; appropriating money. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: Section 1. new text begin MINDFUL FOUNDATIONS PILOT PROGRAM. new text end new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Department of Education. new text end new text begin The sum indicated in this section is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year designated. new text end new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Mindful Foundations pilot program grant. new text end new text begin For a grant to Mindful Foundations for the purposes described in subdivision 3: new text end new text begin $ new text end new text begin 1,200,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2027 new text end new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Grant uses. new text end new text begin The grant money appropriated for the Mindful Foundations pilot program must be directed toward a trauma-informed early childhood pilot program agreed upon by the Department of Education for prekindergarten through grade 1 classroom management and behavioral guidance programs. The pilot program must be collaboratively agreed upon by the commissioner of education and an attending member as fiscal and compliance administrator, with full operational authority over curriculum delivery, implementation, progress monitoring, and evaluation vested in the curriculum developer. The grant money must be used to: new text end new text begin (1) deliver the Mindful Foundations curriculum, including the LOVEE Method (Listen, Observe, Value, Empathize, Evolve), in prekindergarten through grade 1 classrooms in one or more selected school districts or licensed early childhood programs; new text end new text begin (2) recruit, hire, and train one field progress monitoring specialist per pilot school location to conduct structured classroom observations and collect program data under the supervision of the curriculum developer; new text end new text begin (3) provide leadership, staff, and family training and ongoing weekly consultation throughout the pilot year; new text end new text begin (4) administer the Mindful Foundations progress monitoring system across student, educator, family, and classroom environment domains; and new text end new text begin (5) support statewide evaluation of trauma-informed early childhood practices to inform potential expansion. new text end new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Selection of pilot districts or programs. new text end new text begin The commissioner, in consultation with the curriculum developer, must establish a voluntary application process for eligible school districts and licensed early childhood programs by May 1, 2027. The commissioner must notify selected districts and 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, and organizational capacity to support full curriculum implementation. new text end new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Report required. new text end new text begin By January 15, 2028, the grant recipient must submit a written report to the commissioner of education and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education finance and policy. The report must include a summary of pilot program implementation; quantitative and qualitative findings from the Mindful Foundations progress monitoring system across student, educator, family, and classroom environment domains; analysis of the curriculum's impact on educator retention and family engagement; and recommendations regarding statewide adoption or phased expansion, including a proposed implementation framework and budget. new text end new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end