Establishes Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program. Directs Early Learning Division to administer program. Requires persons certified or registered by Office of Child Care to comply with provisions of program.
Directs State Board of Education to adopt social emotional learning standards and statewide social emotional framework. Directs Department of Education to convene advisory group for purposes of adopting standards and framework.
Expands State Board of Education rulemaking authority to include authority to adopt rules for public kindergartens and public elementary and secondary schools consistent with goal of increasing educator diversity.
Authorizes Teacher Standards and Practices Commission to approve certain educator preparation programs that are nontraditional pathway to licensure. Expands types of entities that may sponsor or provide approved educator preparation programs.
Increases amount of scholarships awarded by Higher Education Coordinating Commission to culturally and linguistically diverse teacher candidates.
Modifies requirements related to parties and contents of intergovernmental agreement establishing Educator Advancement Council. Prescribes council membership requirements.
Authorizes Department of Education to award grants from Statewide Education Initiatives Account to certain eligible public charter schools. Prescribes requirements related to application and use of grants.
Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2021.

Statutes affected:
A-Engrossed: 329A.280, 329A.330, 342.437, 326.051, 342.120, 348.295, 342.940, 327.254
B-Engrossed: 329A.280, 329A.330, 342.437, 326.051, 342.120, 348.295, 342.940, 327.254
Enrolled: 329A.280, 329A.330, 342.437, 326.051, 342.120, 348.295, 342.940, 327.254