1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/07/2015 12:29pm
A bill for an act
relating to education; youth development; establishing an educational partnership
fund; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 124D.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
new text begin
The commissioner shall establish a
program supporting coordinated, aligned educational partnerships as specified in this
section, for a comprehensive network of evidence-based support services designed to
close opportunity gaps by improving educational and developmental outcomes of children
and their families within defined geographic areas experiencing poverty and impediments
to economic viability.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Subject to the requirements in this section,
the commissioner shall establish and make publicly available: program requirements, an
application process and timeline for each tier of grants specified in subdivision 4, criteria
for evaluation of applications, and a grant awards process. Requirements and processes
must minimize administrative costs, minimize burdens for applicants and grant recipients,
and provide a framework that permits flexibility in program design and implementation
among grant recipients.
new text end
new text begin
(b) In establishing and designing the program, the commissioner shall take into
consideration alignment with programs implemented or proposed by organizations in
Minnesota that:
new text end
new text begin
(1) identify and increase the capacity of organizations that are focused on achieving
results for children and youth throughout an entire neighborhood or geographic area
through programs including the Strive Together framework;
new text end
new text begin
(2) build a continuum of educational family and community supports with great
schools at the center;
new text end
new text begin
(3) integrate programming and break down administrative silos to maximize
efficiency across agencies;
new text end
new text begin
(4) develop local infrastructure needed to sustain and scale up proven and effective
solutions beyond the initial neighborhood or geographic area; and
new text end
new text begin
(5) utilize appropriate outcome measures based on unique community needs and
interests and apply rigourous evaluation on a periodic basis to be used to both monitor
outcomes and allow for continuous improvements to systems.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The commissioner shall consult with grant recipients to collaboratively
develop and revise: core indicators of progress toward outcomes and impacts for each
tier identified under subdivision 4, grant recipient reporting, program goals, and data
sources and measures for evaluation of program outcomes and effectiveness based on the
core indicators for each tier. Rigorous program performance evaluation must be based
primarily on unique criteria established by each partnership.
new text end
new text begin
(d) The commissioner may enter into agreements for programmatic or fiscal
administration through a third-party entity.
new text end
new text begin
(a) A program under planning, development, or
implementation by a grant recipient under this section must include:
new text end
new text begin
(1) providing or coordinating integrated supportive services programming, as
specified in paragraph (b), within a specific neighborhood or geographic area for all ages
of children and youth, and their families, within that zone, provided that services may be
phased in to all ages over time; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) implementing a system for evaluating goals and outcomes as provided under
subdivision 2, paragraph (c).
new text end
new text begin
(b) Supportive services programming provided or coordinated by a grant recipient
must, at a minimum, address the following areas:
new text end
new text begin
(1) kindergarten readiness and youth development;
new text end
new text begin
(2) third-grade reading proficiency;
new text end
new text begin
(3) high school graduation;
new text end
new text begin
(4) postsecondary educational attainment;
new text end
new text begin
(5) physical and mental health;
new text end
new text begin
(6) development of career skills and readiness;
new text end
new text begin
(7) parental engagement and development;
new text end
new text begin
(8) community engagement and programmatic alignment; and
new text end
new text begin
(9) reduction of remedial education.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Subject to availability of funds for the program, the
commissioner shall allocate grant awards into three tiers as follows:
new text end
new text begin
(1) tier 1 - community planning, for initial planning and development of educational
partnership program locations, including but not limited to organizational and planning
functions to identify partners, community supports, and services;
new text end
new text begin
(2) tier 2 - capacity building, for commencing implementation in educational
partnership program locations; and
new text end
new text begin
(3) tier 3 - sustaining, for ongoing operation, stability, and expansion of existing
educational partnership program locations.
new text end
new text begin
(b) A grant awarded under this section must include a ....... match from nonstate
sources of funds including in-kind contributions.
new text end
new text begin
By December 15 of each odd-numbered year, the
commissioner shall submit a report on the educational partnership program to the chairs
and ranking minority members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction over
education, early childhood, economic development, human services, and youth. At a
minimum, the report must summarize grantee activities, identify grant recipients and
awards, analyze program performance measures and outcomes including but not limited
to Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment scores, and make any recommendations for
legislative changes.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective July 1, 2015, and subdivision 5
applies to reports due starting in 2017.
new text end
new text begin
(a) $4,650,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $5,400,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of education for the educational partnership
activities fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.99. The appropriation is available
for grants or ongoing appropriations and must be allocated as follows:
new text end
new text begin
(1) $400,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $400,000 in fiscal year 2017 are for tier 1 -
community planning grants;
new text end
new text begin
(2) $1,250,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 are for tier 2
- capacity building grants; and
new text end
new text begin
(3) $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 are for tier 3
- sustaining grants.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Funds are available until expended and grants are renewable.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The base appropriation for this program for fiscal year 2018 and later is
$6,000,000.
new text end