HF 160

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/16/2023 03:43pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; integrating service-learning into Minnesota's education
system; establishing an evidence-based service-learning technical assistance and
grant program; requiring reports; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2022, section 124D.50, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 124D.50, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Service-learning specialist; service-learning work. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner
must create a service-learning specialist position in the department to expand evidence-based
service-learning; coordinate service-learning grants under section 124D.501; and provide
technical assistance to eligible schools and their community-based partners, including
nonprofit organizations, community education programs, state or federal agencies, and
political subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may provide or may contract for specialized expertise in school-
and community-based service-learning best practices, professional development or training,
service-learning research or evaluation, or development of service-learning communities.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2023.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [124D.501] INNOVATIVE INCUBATOR SERVICE-LEARNING GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Eligible school" means a school district or school site operated by a school district,
charter school, or Tribal contract or grant school eligible for state aid under section 124D.83,
or cooperative unit under section 123A.24, subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Eligible service-learning partnership" means a partnership that includes an eligible
school and at least one community-based organization, community education program, state
or federal agency, or political subdivision. An eligible service-learning partnership may
include other individuals or entities, such as a postsecondary faculty member or institution,
parent, other community member, local business or business organization, or local media
representative. A school district member in an eligible service-learning partnership may
participate in the partnership through a community education program established under
section 124D.19.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment; eligibility criteria; application requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) A five-year
technical assistance and grant program is established to initiate or expand and strengthen
innovative service-learning opportunities for students in kindergarten through grade 12;
increase student engagement and academic achievement; help close the academic
achievement gap and the community, college, and career opportunity gaps; and create a
positive school climate and safer schools and communities.
new text end

new text begin (b) At least one teacher, administrator, or program staff member and at least one
service-learning specialist, service-learning coordinator, curriculum specialist, or other
qualified employee employed by an eligible school and designated to develop and share
expertise in implementing service-learning best practices must work with students to form
a student-adult partnership. Before developing and submitting a grant application to the
department, a participating student must work with at least one adult who is part of the
initial partnership to identify a need or opportunity to pursue through a service-learning
partnership and invite at least one partner to collaborate in developing and submitting a
grant application. The fiscal agent for the grant to an eligible service-learning partnership
is an eligible school that is a member of the partnership or has a program that is a member
of the partnership.
new text end

new text begin (c) An eligible service-learning partnership receiving an innovation service-learning
grant must:
new text end

new text begin (1) include at least two or more enrolled students; two or more school employees of an
eligible school in accordance with paragraph (b); and an eligible community-based
organization, community education program, state or federal agency, or political subdivision;
and
new text end

new text begin (2) assist students to:
new text end

new text begin (i) actively participate in service-learning experiences that meet identified student and
community needs or opportunities;
new text end

new text begin (ii) operate collaboratively with service-learning partnership members;
new text end

new text begin (iii) align service-learning experiences with at least one state or local academic standard,
which may include a local career and technical education standard;
new text end

new text begin (iv) apply students' knowledge and skills in their community and help solve community
problems or address community opportunities;
new text end

new text begin (v) foster students' civic engagement; and
new text end

new text begin (vi) explore or pursue career pathways and support career and college readiness.
new text end

new text begin (d) An eligible service-learning partnership interested in receiving a grant must apply
to the commissioner of education in the form and manner determined by the commissioner.
The partnership must work with an eligible school. Consistent with this subdivision, the
application must describe the eligible service-learning partnership plan to:
new text end

new text begin (1) incorporate student-designed and student-led service-learning into the school
curriculum or specific courses or across subject areas;
new text end

new text begin (2) provide students with instruction and experiences using service-learning best practices
during the regular school day with an option to supplement their service-learning experiences
outside of the school day;
new text end

new text begin (3) align service-learning experiences with at least one state or local academic standard,
which may include a local career or technical education standard, and at least one goal of
the world's best workforce in accordance with section 120B.11 or the state plan submitted
and approved under the most recent reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act;
new text end

new text begin (4) make implementing service-learning best practices an educational priority;
new text end

new text begin (5) provide student-designed, student-led service-learning experiences that help meet
community needs or develop or advance community opportunities; and
new text end

new text begin (6) identify at least one eligible school teacher, administrator, or program staff member
and at least one service-learning specialist, service-learning coordinator, curriculum specialist,
or other qualified eligible school employee designated to develop and share expertise in
implementing service-learning best practices to work with students to form a student-adult
partnership that includes at least one community-based organization, community education
program, state or federal agency, or political subdivision.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Innovation grants. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education must annually award up
to 32 grants of up to $50,000 each to allow eligible partnerships to provide student-designed,
student-led service-learning opportunities consistent with this section. Grant awards must
be equitably distributed throughout Minnesota by congressional district. The commissioner
may designate start-up or leader grant categories with differentiated maximum grant dollar
amounts up to $50,000. A grantee designated as leader grantee may be required to meet
additional leader grant requirements as established by the commissioner in the grant
application criteria developed by the commissioner. The commissioner may renew a grant
annually as appropriated funds are available and consistent with the grant criteria established
in this section and other criteria the commissioner may establish for grant eligibility or for
renewing a grant. In order to receive a grant, a partnership must provide a 50 percent match
in funds or in-kind contributions unless the commissioner waives the match requirement
for an applicant serving a high number of students whose families meet federal poverty
guidelines. A partnership grantee must allocate the grant amount according to its grant
application. The partnership must convey 50 percent of the actual grant amount to at least
one community-based organization, community education program, state or federal agency,
or political subdivision to help implement or defray the direct costs of carrying out the
service-learning strategies and activities described in the partnership's grant application.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Evaluation. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education must evaluate innovative, incubator,
service-learning awarded grants based on the educational and developmental outcomes of
participating students and the eligible school's progress toward meeting at least one goal of
the world's best workforce goals in accordance with section 120B.11 or the state plan
submitted and approved under the most recent reauthorization of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act. The commissioner must evaluate the success of service-learning
grants based on the community outcomes achieved through student service-learning
experiences and the corresponding student service activities. The commissioner must submit
a report on participating student and community outcomes under this section to the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education by February 15,
2030.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2023.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal years
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Service-learning specialist; service-learning work. new text end

new text begin (a) For the service-learning
specialist position at the Department of Education under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.50,
subdivision 2a, and for related service-learning work under Minnesota Statutes, section
124D.501:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 300,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2024 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 300,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2025 new text end

new text begin (b) Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
new text end

new text begin (c) The base for fiscal year 2026 and later is $300,000.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Innovative service-learning grants. new text end

new text begin (a) For innovative service-learning grants
under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.501:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 1,000,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2024 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 1,000,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2025 new text end

new text begin (b) Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
new text end

new text begin (c) The base for fiscal year 2026 and later is $1,000,000.
new text end