1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; establishing a special education teacher pipeline program; 
1.3 	requiring a report; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes, chapter 122A.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [122A.731] SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER PIPELINE PROGRAM.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Grant program established. (a) The commissioner of education must 
1.8 	administer a grant program to develop a pipeline of trained, licensed special education 
1.9 	teachers. A school district, charter school, or cooperative unit under section 123A.24, 
1.10 	subdivision 2, may apply for a grant under this section. An applicant must partner with a 
1.11 	board-approved teacher preparation program.
1.12 	(b) The commissioner must award half of the grant funding available to school districts 
1.13 	in the seven-county metropolitan area, and half to applicants outside the seven-county 
1.14 	metropolitan area. In awarding grants, the commissioner must consider the existing supply 
1.15 	of Tier 3 and 4 special education teachers in the district, charter school, or cooperative unit 
1.16 	relative to the number of students receiving special education instruction and services.
1.17 		Subd. 2.Grant uses. (a) A grant recipient must use grant funds to support participants 
1.18 	who are employed by the grant recipient as either a paraprofessional or other unlicensed 
1.19 	staff, or a teacher with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 license, and demonstrate a willingness to be a 
1.20 	special education teacher after completing the program.
1.21 	(b) A grant recipient may use grant funds for:
1.22 	(1) tuition assistance or stipends for participants;
2.1 	(2) supports for participants, including mentoring, licensure test preparation, and 
2.2 	technology support; or
2.3 	(3) participant recruitment.
2.4 		Subd. 3.Report. Within one year of receiving grant funds, and for each year that a 
2.5 	recipient receives grant funds, a grant recipient must report to the commissioner in the form 
2.6 	and manner determined by the commissioner, the number of participants in the program, 
2.7 	and how grant funds were used. The commissioner must publish an annual report that 
2.8 	identifies the grant recipients and summarizes how grant funds are used.

2.9 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2023.

2.10 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS; SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER PIPELINE.
 2.11 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
2.12 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
2.13 	designated.
2.14 		Subd. 2.Special education teacher pipeline. (a) For grants to develop special education 
2.15 	teacher pipelines across Minnesota under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.731:

2.16		$
	.......
	.....
	2024
	
2.17		$
	.......
	.....
	2025
	
2.18 	(b) The department may retain up to ... percent of the appropriation to administer the 
2.19 	grant program.
2.20 	(c) Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the following fiscal 
2.21 	year.
2.22 	(d) The base for fiscal years 2026 and later is $........