1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to higher education; establishing an applied learning initiative in the 
1.3 	Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for technical education; appropriating 
1.4 	money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136F.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [136F.34] APPLIED LEARNING INSTITUTES FOR TECHNICAL 
1.7 	EDUCATION.
1.8 	(a) Beginning in fiscal year 2012, with appropriations for this section, the board 
1.9 	shall designate up to ten colleges as applied learning institutes eligible to participate in 
1.10 	the development and expansion of the technical education pilot project offered by the 
1.11 	Northeast Higher Education District. An applied learning institute must be established in 
1.12 	each region of the state that is not currently served. The board must select participating 
1.13 	institutions based on the development of partnerships with area high schools and an 
1.14 	established network of regional business and industry participants. The board must award 
1.15 	at least $1,000,000 to each selected institute to enhance opportunities for state-of-the-art 
1.16 	technical education for high school students. Up to one-half of the first year's allocation of 
1.17 	funding under this section to an institute may be used to purchase equipment necessary 
1.18 	to establish a technical education curriculum in area high schools in which students are 
1.19 	provided with the technical skills necessary for the workforce.
1.20 	(b) Within each region, the participating college must develop partnerships with 
1.21 	regional high schools, and their eleventh and twelfth grade students may participate in 
1.22 	the institute. Students from participating high schools may also access the facilities and 
1.23 	faculty of the partner college. The partner colleges and high schools may enter into 
1.24 	agreements for concurrent enrollment programs in the high schools or students may use 
2.1 	postsecondary enrollment options. Students who successfully complete applied learning 
2.2 	college courses through an institute must be awarded college credit and the credits must 
2.3 	transfer to an affiliated college for continuation of postsecondary technical education.
2.4 	(c) Each institute and its partner high schools must develop relationships with 
2.5 	regional business and industry to identify job prospects and requirements for institute 
2.6 	participants and to generate support for the institutes. The Northeast Higher Education 
2.7 	District must assist in the development of each of the new applied learning institutes. 

2.8 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; APPLIED LEARNING INSTITUTES.
 2.9 	$....... each year beginning in fiscal year 2012, is appropriated from the general fund 
2.10 	to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for development 
2.11 	and implementation of applied learning institutes for technical education under Minnesota 
2.12 	Statutes, section 136F.34.