HF 2205

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/17/2021 01:45pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; establishing a direct admissions pilot project;
appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin DIRECT ADMISSIONS PILOT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Authorization. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education
shall develop a pilot program in consultation with stakeholders including Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities, the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota
Association of Secondary School Principals, and the Minnesota School Board Association,
to automatically offer conditional admission to Minnesota public high school seniors based
on a student's high school grade point average, high school and college transcript information,
standardized tests, statewide assessments, and other measures as determined by stakeholders.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Pilot design and goals. new text end

new text begin The pilot program shall establish and, to the extent
feasible, implement a process for leveraging existing kindergarten through grade 12 and
higher education student information systems to automate the admissions process for students.
The pilot program will specifically evaluate the impact this process has on outcomes for
students with lower levels of college knowledge, low-income students, and students from
populations underserved in higher education. Initial pilot program participants must include
high schools with a significant number of students of color, low-income students, or both.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Evaluation and report. new text end

new text begin By February 1, 2022, the Office of Higher Education
shall report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade
12 education finance and policy and higher education on activities occurring under this
section. The report must include but is not limited to information about the pilot program
design, implementation challenges and recommendations, and the feasibility of scaling the
program to all public high schools.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $925,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $75,000 in fiscal year 2023
are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education
for the purpose of this section. The base in fiscal year 2024 and later is $75,000.
new text end