Bill Text: MN SF1796 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Early childhood education scholarship cap elimination; elementary learning mentorship pilot program creation and appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-25 - Referred to Finance [SF1796 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-SF1796-Introduced.html
1.2relating to education finance; eliminating the early childhood education
1.3scholarship cap; creating an elementary learning pilot program; appropriating
1.4money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165,
1.5subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision; Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 8, section
1.65, subdivision 8.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165, subdivision 3,
1.9is amended to read:
1.10 Subd. 3. Administration. (a) The commissioner shall establish application
1.11timelines and determine the schedule for awarding scholarships that meets operational
1.12needs of eligible families and programs. The commissioner may prioritize applications on
1.13factors including family income, geographic location, and whether the child's family is on a
1.14waiting list for a publicly funded program providing early education or child care services.
1.15(b) Scholarships may be awardedup to $5,000 for each eligible child. The
1.16commissioner shall establish a target for the average scholarship amount per child
1.17based on the results of the rate survey conducted under section 119B.13, subdivision 1,
1.18paragraph (b), per year.
1.19(c) A four-star rated program that has children eligible for a scholarship enrolled
1.20in or on a waiting list for a program beginning in July, August, or September may notify
1.21the commissioner, in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, each year
1.22of the program's desire to enhance program services or to serve more children than
1.23current funding provides. The commissioner may designate a predetermined number of
1.24scholarship slots for that program and notify the program of that number.
2.1(d) A scholarship is awarded for a 12-month period. If the scholarship recipient has
2.2not been accepted and subsequently enrolled in a rated program within ten months of the
2.3awarding of the scholarship, the scholarship cancels and the recipient must reapply in
2.4order to be eligible for another scholarship. A child may not be awarded more than one
2.5scholarship in a 12-month period.
2.6(e) A child who receives a scholarship who has not completed development
2.7screening under sections121A.16 to
121A.19 must complete that screening within 90
2.8days of first attending an eligible program.
2.9EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
2.10 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165, is amended by adding
2.11a subdivision to read:
2.12 Subd. 6. Program funding. (a) Beginning in fiscal year 2016, the annual baseline
2.13appropriation for this program equals the lesser of:
2.14(1) twice the appropriation for the previous year; or
2.15(2) the actual amount necessary to fund all eligible scholarship requests.
2.16(b) There is annually appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
2.17education the amount necessary for early education scholarships according to paragraph
2.18(a). This amount must be reduced by the amount of any money specifically appropriated
2.19for the same purpose in any year from any state fund.
2.20EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
2.21 Sec. 3. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 8, section 5, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
2.22 Subd. 8. Early childhood education scholarships. For transfer to the Office of
2.23Early Learning for early learning scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section124D.165 :
2.27Up to $950,000 each year is for administration of this program.
2.28Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
2.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2014.
2.30 Sec. 4. ELEMENTARY LEARNING MENTORSHIP PILOT PROGRAM.
2.31 Subdivision 1. Establishment. For fiscal years 2015 through 2017, the
2.32commissioner of education shall develop an elementary learning mentorship pilot program
3.1to improve kindergarten through grade 3 achievement using volunteer mentorships that
3.2provides one-on-one advice and training to students who need educational assistance.
3.3 Subd. 2. Pilot site selection. The commissioner shall select five school districts to
3.4serve as pilot sites. The pilot sites must include three school districts whose administrative
3.5offices are located in the seven-county metropolitan area, one school district whose
3.6administrative offices are not located in the seven-county metropolitan area, and one
3.7district where a majority of the students served are American Indian children. Two of the
3.8eligible school districts located in the seven-county metropolitan area must have their
3.9administrative offices located in a city of the first class.
3.10 Subd. 3. Student selection. Pilot sites are solely responsible for determining which
3.11students in the pilot site school district are paired with mentors. Pilot sites must develop
3.12a selection method to pair students who need additional one-on-one assistance with
3.13volunteer mentors. Students who need additional assistance with academic achievement
3.14should be given preference for being paired with a mentor. Students may be mentored for
3.15any portion of the school year, as determined by the pilot site and the mentor.
3.16 Subd. 4. Mentorship criteria. Each pilot site must select volunteer mentors who
3.17will work with kindergarten through grade 3 students who need additional one-on-one
3.18assistance to improve educational achievement. Each pilot site is solely responsible for
3.19overseeing its mentors and ensuring that the mentor's work conforms with the site's
3.20academic program. Each pilot site may determine the appropriate number of mentors and
3.21how each mentor interacts with students. Mentors must act as individual advisors and
3.22assist with individual academic performance throughout the school year. At a minimum,
3.23mentors shall work with each student at least three hours per week. Mentors may work
3.24with students in the evenings and during the summer. Each pilot site must agree to allow
3.25mentors to work individually with students to advise students and to help improve each
3.26student's achievement. Mentors must work with each student's teacher to ensure that
3.27the mentorship guidance that is provided conforms to each teacher's lesson plan and
3.28curriculum. Pilot sites must be willing to allow mentors to work during the school day or
3.29after school with students needing additional assistance.
3.30 Subd. 5. Funding. In each year, the commissioner shall allocate 20 percent of the
3.31grant allocation to each pilot site. Each pilot site's grant allocation must be used to identify,
3.32select, and train mentors to work individually with students who are in need of achievement
3.33improvement. Grant allocations may also be used to purchase academic materials and to
3.34provide food and drink for students who are being mentored after the regular school day.
3.35The pilot site must agree to a financial and academic reporting mechanism determined by
3.36the commissioner for the purposes of preparing the report in subdivision 6.
4.1 Subd. 6. Report. By January 15, 2018, the commissioner shall report to the
4.2legislative committees in the legislature with responsibility for education finance on the
4.3effectiveness of the early learning mentorship pilot project. At a minimum, the report shall
4.4evaluate the extent to which mentorship improved achievement and attendance, reduced
4.5the achievement gap, and improved students' interest in learning. The report shall also
4.6examine mentorship techniques that proved successful.
4.7 Sec. 5. APPROPRIATION.
4.8 Subdivision 1. Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are
4.9appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years
4.10designated.
4.11 Subd. 2. Elementary learning mentorship pilot project. For elementary learning
4.12mentorship pilot project grants and administration:
4.14The Department of Education may retain up to five percent of this appropriation for
4.15administration of the pilot project.
4.16The base for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 is $1,500,000 each year. The base for
4.17fiscal year 2018 and later is $0.
4.18 Sec. 6. APPROPRIATION.
4.19 Subdivision 1. Board of the Arts. The sums indicated in this section are
4.20appropriated from the general fund to the Board of the Arts for the fiscal years designated.
4.21 Subd. 2. Arts education. For arts education in partnership with the President's
4.22Turnaround Arts Initiative:
4.24The base for fiscal year 2016 is $600,000. The base in fiscal year 2017 and thereafter
4.25is $0.
1.3scholarship cap; creating an elementary learning pilot program; appropriating
1.4money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165,
1.5subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision; Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 8, section
1.65, subdivision 8.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165, subdivision 3,
1.9is amended to read:
1.10 Subd. 3. Administration. (a) The commissioner shall establish application
1.11timelines and determine the schedule for awarding scholarships that meets operational
1.12needs of eligible families and programs. The commissioner may prioritize applications on
1.13factors including family income, geographic location, and whether the child's family is on a
1.14waiting list for a publicly funded program providing early education or child care services.
1.15(b) Scholarships may be awarded
1.16commissioner shall establish a target for the average scholarship amount per child
1.17based on the results of the rate survey conducted under section 119B.13, subdivision 1,
1.18paragraph (b), per year.
1.19(c) A four-star rated program that has children eligible for a scholarship enrolled
1.20in or on a waiting list for a program beginning in July, August, or September may notify
1.21the commissioner, in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, each year
1.22of the program's desire to enhance program services or to serve more children than
1.23current funding provides. The commissioner may designate a predetermined number of
1.24scholarship slots for that program and notify the program of that number.
2.1(d) A scholarship is awarded for a 12-month period. If the scholarship recipient has
2.2not been accepted and subsequently enrolled in a rated program within ten months of the
2.3awarding of the scholarship, the scholarship cancels and the recipient must reapply in
2.4order to be eligible for another scholarship. A child may not be awarded more than one
2.5scholarship in a 12-month period.
2.6(e) A child who receives a scholarship who has not completed development
2.7screening under sections
2.8days of first attending an eligible program.
2.9EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
2.10 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165, is amended by adding
2.11a subdivision to read:
2.12 Subd. 6. Program funding. (a) Beginning in fiscal year 2016, the annual baseline
2.13appropriation for this program equals the lesser of:
2.14(1) twice the appropriation for the previous year; or
2.15(2) the actual amount necessary to fund all eligible scholarship requests.
2.16(b) There is annually appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
2.17education the amount necessary for early education scholarships according to paragraph
2.18(a). This amount must be reduced by the amount of any money specifically appropriated
2.19for the same purpose in any year from any state fund.
2.20EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
2.21 Sec. 3. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 8, section 5, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
2.22 Subd. 8. Early childhood education scholarships. For transfer to the Office of
2.23Early Learning for early learning scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section
| 2.24 |
$ |
23,000,000 |
..... |
2014 |
|
| 2.25 2.26 |
$ |
63,000,000 |
..... |
2015 |
2.28Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
2.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2014.
2.30 Sec. 4. ELEMENTARY LEARNING MENTORSHIP PILOT PROGRAM.
2.31 Subdivision 1. Establishment. For fiscal years 2015 through 2017, the
2.32commissioner of education shall develop an elementary learning mentorship pilot program
3.1to improve kindergarten through grade 3 achievement using volunteer mentorships that
3.2provides one-on-one advice and training to students who need educational assistance.
3.3 Subd. 2. Pilot site selection. The commissioner shall select five school districts to
3.4serve as pilot sites. The pilot sites must include three school districts whose administrative
3.5offices are located in the seven-county metropolitan area, one school district whose
3.6administrative offices are not located in the seven-county metropolitan area, and one
3.7district where a majority of the students served are American Indian children. Two of the
3.8eligible school districts located in the seven-county metropolitan area must have their
3.9administrative offices located in a city of the first class.
3.10 Subd. 3. Student selection. Pilot sites are solely responsible for determining which
3.11students in the pilot site school district are paired with mentors. Pilot sites must develop
3.12a selection method to pair students who need additional one-on-one assistance with
3.13volunteer mentors. Students who need additional assistance with academic achievement
3.14should be given preference for being paired with a mentor. Students may be mentored for
3.15any portion of the school year, as determined by the pilot site and the mentor.
3.16 Subd. 4. Mentorship criteria. Each pilot site must select volunteer mentors who
3.17will work with kindergarten through grade 3 students who need additional one-on-one
3.18assistance to improve educational achievement. Each pilot site is solely responsible for
3.19overseeing its mentors and ensuring that the mentor's work conforms with the site's
3.20academic program. Each pilot site may determine the appropriate number of mentors and
3.21how each mentor interacts with students. Mentors must act as individual advisors and
3.22assist with individual academic performance throughout the school year. At a minimum,
3.23mentors shall work with each student at least three hours per week. Mentors may work
3.24with students in the evenings and during the summer. Each pilot site must agree to allow
3.25mentors to work individually with students to advise students and to help improve each
3.26student's achievement. Mentors must work with each student's teacher to ensure that
3.27the mentorship guidance that is provided conforms to each teacher's lesson plan and
3.28curriculum. Pilot sites must be willing to allow mentors to work during the school day or
3.29after school with students needing additional assistance.
3.30 Subd. 5. Funding. In each year, the commissioner shall allocate 20 percent of the
3.31grant allocation to each pilot site. Each pilot site's grant allocation must be used to identify,
3.32select, and train mentors to work individually with students who are in need of achievement
3.33improvement. Grant allocations may also be used to purchase academic materials and to
3.34provide food and drink for students who are being mentored after the regular school day.
3.35The pilot site must agree to a financial and academic reporting mechanism determined by
3.36the commissioner for the purposes of preparing the report in subdivision 6.
4.1 Subd. 6. Report. By January 15, 2018, the commissioner shall report to the
4.2legislative committees in the legislature with responsibility for education finance on the
4.3effectiveness of the early learning mentorship pilot project. At a minimum, the report shall
4.4evaluate the extent to which mentorship improved achievement and attendance, reduced
4.5the achievement gap, and improved students' interest in learning. The report shall also
4.6examine mentorship techniques that proved successful.
4.7 Sec. 5. APPROPRIATION.
4.8 Subdivision 1. Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are
4.9appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years
4.10designated.
4.11 Subd. 2. Elementary learning mentorship pilot project. For elementary learning
4.12mentorship pilot project grants and administration:
| 4.13 |
$ |
1,500,000 |
.... |
2015 |
4.15administration of the pilot project.
4.16The base for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 is $1,500,000 each year. The base for
4.17fiscal year 2018 and later is $0.
4.18 Sec. 6. APPROPRIATION.
4.19 Subdivision 1. Board of the Arts. The sums indicated in this section are
4.20appropriated from the general fund to the Board of the Arts for the fiscal years designated.
4.21 Subd. 2. Arts education. For arts education in partnership with the President's
4.22Turnaround Arts Initiative:
| 4.23 |
$ |
600,000 |
.... |
2015 |
4.25is $0.
