1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; providing for a mathematics and 
  1.3             science state scholarship grant program; appropriating 
  1.4             money. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [MINNESOTA ACADEMY OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE 
  1.7   STATE SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] A state scholarship grant 
  1.9   program for fiscal years 2000 and 2001 is established to 
  1.10  increase the participation and achievement of Minnesota 
  1.11  secondary students in science and math education and to improve 
  1.12  science and math teaching and learning.  A school designed and 
  1.13  established for advanced instruction in science, math, and 
  1.14  technology under subdivision 2 that enrolls scholarship 
  1.15  recipients must: 
  1.16     (1) advance educational policies and practices that promote 
  1.17  science and math literacy for Minnesota students; 
  1.18     (2) strengthen the preparation of new science and math 
  1.19  teachers and expand the knowledge and skills of practicing 
  1.20  science and math teachers; 
  1.21     (3) increase public knowledge of and support for high 
  1.22  standards and the importance of quality science and math 
  1.23  education for Minnesota students; and 
  1.24     (4) facilitate communication between various providers of 
  1.25  focused science and math instruction. 
  2.1      Subd. 2.  [ELIGIBILITY.] Funds for state scholarships may 
  2.2   be made available to enable an eligible student to enroll in a 
  2.3   school designed and established for advanced instruction in 
  2.4   mathematics, science, and technology, if it meets the following 
  2.5   conditions: 
  2.6      (1) is operated by a nonprofit, nonsectarian corporation 
  2.7   formed under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 317A; 
  2.8      (2) the operating corporation offers a residential program; 
  2.9      (3) each year, to the extent applications allow, 
  2.10  residential students from the state are selected equally from 
  2.11  each congressional district; 
  2.12     (4) the school is financially responsible for all 
  2.13  educational programs required of students; 
  2.14     (5) required educational programs not directly provided by 
  2.15  the school are provided through contract with other educational 
  2.16  agencies without additional charge to students; and 
  2.17     (6) any additional fees for residential or other purposes 
  2.18  charged to scholarship recipients do not exceed the amount 
  2.19  charged under Minnesota Statutes, section 129C.10, subdivision 
  2.20  3, paragraphs (n) and (o).  
  2.21     Subd. 3.  [APPLICATION PROCESS.] Secondary school students 
  2.22  interested in applying for a scholarship to attend a school 
  2.23  designed and established for advanced instruction in science, 
  2.24  math, and technology under subdivision 2, and schools and school 
  2.25  districts with interested students must request application 
  2.26  forms from the commissioner of the department of children, 
  2.27  families, and learning.  Schools and school districts must 
  2.28  assist interested students in completing the forms according to 
  2.29  the commissioner's time line.  Students' applications must at 
  2.30  least indicate the students' qualifications and interest in 
  2.31  science, math, and technology.  The commissioner must widely and 
  2.32  efficiently disseminate information about this program. 
  2.33     Subd. 4.  [SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS; AMOUNTS.] (a) The 
  2.34  commissioner may award up to 16 scholarships in fiscal year 
  2.35  2000, and an additional 16 scholarships in fiscal year 2001, 
  2.36  with scholarships each fiscal year distributed to two resident 
  3.1   students, one boy and one girl, in each of the state's eight 
  3.2   congressional districts. 
  3.3      (b) Scholarships for students attending the school are 
  3.4   available up to an amount equal to the sum of the costs of 
  3.5   instruction and residential programs per pupil attending the 
  3.6   program under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 129C, less the revenue 
  3.7   received for the student under subdivision 5.  The amount of the 
  3.8   scholarship may differ based on the residential status of the 
  3.9   student.  The amount determined under Minnesota Statutes, 
  3.10  chapter 129C, shall be computed by the board established under 
  3.11  Minnesota Statutes, chapter 129C.  
  3.12     Subd. 5.  [GENERAL EDUCATION.] The school enrolling 
  3.13  scholarship recipients shall receive revenue for all students 
  3.14  enrolled at the school in the same way as revenue is paid under 
  3.15  Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.11, subdivisions 1 and 3.  The 
  3.16  payment schedule shall be the same as under Minnesota Statutes, 
  3.17  section 124D.11, subdivision 6, paragraph (a). 
  3.18     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  3.19     $720,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  3.20  commissioner of the department of children, families, and 
  3.21  learning for the purpose of section 1.  Of this amount, $480,000 
  3.22  is available in fiscal year 2000 and $480,000 is available in 
  3.23  fiscal year 2001.