HF 2007

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; proposing a grant program that
allows K-3 teachers to decide on classroom
expenditures for improving instruction and learning;
allocating to classroom teachers in participating
elementary schools that did not demonstrate adequate
yearly progress an amount equal to one percent of a
district's formula allowance times the average daily
K-3 membership at the school site; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin GRANT PROGRAM ALLOWING K-3 TEACHERS TO DECIDE
ON CLASSROOM EXPENDITURES FOR IMPROVING INSTRUCTION AND
LEARNING.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin K-3 teachers to decide on classroom
expenditures. new text end

new text begin A grant program for the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007
school years is established to examine the educational benefits
of allowing K-3 teachers in elementary schools that did not
demonstrate adequate yearly progress to make spending decisions
about goods and services related to improving instruction and
learning in the classroom.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility; application process. new text end

new text begin An applicant
for a grant must be a public elementary school or elementary
charter school that:
new text end

new text begin (1) enrolls students in kindergarten through grade 3;
new text end

new text begin (2) did not demonstrate adequate yearly progress under
Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.35, in the 2003-2004 school
year and was sanctioned in the 2004-2005 school year as a
consequence; and
new text end

new text begin (3) has full-time K-3 classroom teachers interested in
participating in this grant program.
new text end

new text begin To obtain a grant, an applicant must apply to the
commissioner of education in the form and manner the
commissioner determines. The application must describe how the
applicant will involve K-3 classroom teachers, students where
appropriate, and parents in deciding how the grant amount will
be expended to improve classroom instruction and learning and
how the applicant will work with the commissioner to determine
the educational impact of the grant program. The commissioner
must review each application to determine whether all
requirements in this subdivision are met and may require
additional information from an applicant.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grant awards; proceeds. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may
award grants to eligible applicants on a first-come,
first-served basis to the extent funds are available under
section 2. To the extent practicable, grant recipients must be
located throughout the state. The grant amount for a grant
recipient equals one percent of the formula allowance for the
applicable district under Minnesota Statutes 2004, section
126C.10, subdivision 2, for that year times the average daily
membership in kindergarten through grade 3 at that school or
charter school site for the same fiscal year. A grant recipient
must use the grant award to allow its full-time kindergarten
through grade 3 classroom teachers to make spending decisions
about goods and services related to improving classroom
instruction and learning.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Evaluation. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must work with the
grant recipients to determine the educational impact of the
grant program and must recommend to the education policy and
finance committees of the legislature by February 1, 2007,
whether or not a program that allows kindergarten through grade
3 classroom teachers to make spending decisions about goods and
services related to improving classroom instruction and learning
improves children's education achievement and should be
expanded. If the commissioner recommends that the program be
expanded, then the commissioner also shall recommend a process
for implementing an expanded program.
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

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of education in fiscal year 2006 for purposes of
section 1. Any available funds not expended in fiscal year 2006
do not cancel but carry forward to fiscal year 2007.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2005.
new text end