SF 4675
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/24/2026 10:36 a.m.
1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 5.30 5.31 5.32 5.33 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8
6.9 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20
A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a community schoolyards grant program;
requiring a report; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 124D.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
new text begin
[124D.332] COMMUNITY SCHOOLYARDS GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Establishment; purpose. new text end
new text begin
(a) The Minnesota community schoolyards
grant program is established to create park-like outdoor spaces located at elementary or
secondary schools that strengthen local ecological systems, provide a wide range of hands-on
learning resources, enhance physical and mental health and well-being for students and
community members, and foster nature play, recreation, and social opportunities for students
and community members.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The purpose of the community schoolyards grant program is to:
new text end
new text begin
(1) make community schoolyards accessible to the broader community outside of school
hours;
new text end
new text begin
(2) improve physical activity and mental health opportunities for students and community
members; and
new text end
new text begin
(3) incorporate natural landscapes, natural playgrounds, and recreational spaces that
promote adaptation, sustainability, resilience, and hands-on learning across subject matters,
including science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
new text begin
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Capital construction and improvement grant program" or "construction program"
means the capital construction and improvement grant program that is part of the community
schoolyards grant program.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Community schoolyard" means a park-like outdoor environment located at an
elementary or secondary school that strengthens local ecological systems, provides a wide
range of hands-on learning resources, enhances physical and mental health and well-being
for students and community members, and fosters nature play, recreation, and social
opportunities for students and community members.
new text end
new text begin
(d) "Community schoolyards grant program" or "grant program" means the community
schoolyards grant program, which consists of two grant program components:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the planning and design grant program established under this section; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) the capital construction and improvement grant program.
new text end
new text begin
(e) "Community-use partner" means a partner that enters into a community-use agreement
with an eligible applicant. A community-use partner is either a local government or a school
district.
new text end
new text begin
(f) "Eligible applicant" means a local government or a school district and includes an
American Indian school as defined in section 124D.73, subdivision 4.
new text end
new text begin
(g) "Local government" means a municipality, county, township, Tribal Nation, or a
special district.
new text end
new text begin
(h) "Planning and design grant program" or "planning program" means the planning and
design grant program that is part of the community schoolyards grant program.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Grant program. new text end
new text begin
The community schoolyards grant program consists of two
grant program components:
new text end
new text begin
(1) a planning and design grant program, which awards up to $150,000 to each grant
recipient selected by the commissioner for the planning and design of a community
schoolyard under subdivision 5; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) a capital construction and improvement grant program, which awards up to $850,000
to each grant recipient selected by the commissioner for the capital construction of a
community schoolyard under subdivision 8.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Community-use partnership; grant application. new text end
new text begin
(a) A local government that
is an eligible applicant must enter into a community-use agreement with a community-use
partner that includes a school or an entire school district. A school district that is an eligible
applicant must enter into a community-use agreement with a community-use partner that
is a local government.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The commissioner must review grant applications from eligible applicants. A grant
application must contain:
new text end
new text begin
(1) documentation of a community-use agreement between the eligible applicant and a
community-use partner that enables the community schoolyard to serve as a community
facility outside of school hours. The community-use agreement must include, at a minimum,
the following:
new text end
new text begin
(i) a definition of the roles and responsibilities of the eligible applicant and the
community-use partner in the operation, use, safety, and maintenance of the community
schoolyard;
new text end
new text begin
(ii) a definition of the hours of operation for community use of the community schoolyard;
and
new text end
new text begin
(iii) documentation of the community use of the community schoolyard;
new text end
new text begin
(2) documentation of a partnership between the eligible applicant and a community
partner organization, such as a nonprofit organization, Tribal Nation, or entity with expertise
in outdoor learning spaces or outdoor education spaces, that has experience working with
local education providers;
new text end
new text begin
(3) documentation of the amount of matching funds or in-kind contributions that the
eligible applicant intends to provide to augment construction program grant money received
and the anticipated amount and source of any matching funds or in-kind contributions. The
matching fund amounts must be consistent with the requirements in subdivision 7; and
new text end
new text begin
(4) demonstration of the need for a community schoolyard that may use Trust for Public
Land's nationally recognized interactive map to help identify the top locations to build a
community schoolyard.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Planning and design grant program recipients. new text end
new text begin
A planning and design grant
program recipient must develop a professional plan, design, and construction documents
through a community-centered participatory design process in collaboration with students,
educators, and community members. The planning and design documents for the community
schoolyard must include:
new text end
new text begin
(1) education and health goals, including physical, mental, and social health;
new text end
new text begin
(2) ecological, environmental, and biodiversity goals;
new text end
new text begin
(3) recreation goals;
new text end
new text begin
(4) accessibility, safety, and licensing standards;
new text end
new text begin
(5) the number of students enrolled at each school served by the grant;
new text end
new text begin
(6) the total acreage size of the school property;
new text end
new text begin
(7) the acreage size of the proposed community schoolyard;
new text end
new text begin
(8) a concept plan drawing of the proposed community schoolyard design, which must
incorporate design features that create healthy and environmentally sound spaces. Design
features may include:
new text end
new text begin
(i) noninvasive trees, plants, and vegetation;
new text end
new text begin
(ii) natural playgrounds, including natural and nature-based elements, including rock
gardens, sand boxes, stump logs, streams, living plants, and other features that are integrated
with the outdoor landscape and vegetation;
new text end
new text begin
(iii) outdoor classrooms with sitting areas for teachers to lead outdoor lessons;
new text end
new text begin
(iv) traditional and innovative playgrounds designed to encourage gross motor play,
collaboration, creative exploration, and joy;
new text end
new text begin
(v) athletic or multipurpose fields;
new text end
new text begin
(vi) stormwater management features;
new text end
new text begin
(vii) walking trails;
new text end
new text begin
(viii) heat mitigation features to protect students from the impact of extreme heat that
may include shade structures, increase in tree canopy, spray features, and water fountains;
new text end
new text begin
(ix) pollinator and food gardens;
new text end
new text begin
(x) cultural and interpretative features, such as signs, murals, or sculptures; or
new text end
new text begin
(xi) calm spaces for children;
new text end
new text begin
(9) identification of community partners, including nonprofit organizations and Tribal
Nations or entities that have expertise in outdoor learning spaces or outdoor education
spaces; and
new text end
new text begin
(10) a plan for the long-term maintenance of the community schoolyard.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 6. new text end
new text begin Community partner responsibilities. new text end
new text begin
A community partner organization
described in subdivision 4, paragraph (b), clause (2), is encouraged to provide technical
assistance to the grant recipient to help facilitate the community-centered participatory
design process to plan and design park-like spaces, outdoor learning spaces, or outdoor
education spaces with students, educators, and community members according to subdivision
5.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 7. new text end
new text begin Construction project matching funds. new text end
new text begin
A proposed community schoolyard
construction project that exceeds $500,000 requires, at a minimum, ten percent of the total
construction budget available as matching funds at the time of the grant award. A proposed
community schoolyard construction project that exceeds $1,000,000 requires, at a minimum,
25 percent of the total construction budget available as matching funds at the time of the
grant award. The matching funds may come from state or nonstate resources available to
the school or local government for a community schoolyard construction project.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 8. new text end
new text begin Capital construction and improvement grant program. new text end
new text begin
An eligible applicant
who does not apply for the planning and design grant program may apply to the commissioner
for the capital construction and improvement grant program. To be awarded a capital
construction and improvement grant, an applicant must include in the application the
professional plan, design, and construction documents described in subdivision 5 during
the capital construction and improvement grant application period. An eligible applicant
must provide evidence that the professional plan, design, and construction documents were
created through a community-centered participatory design process in collaboration with
students, educators, and community members. An eligible applicant must provide
documentation of a community-use agreement with a community-use partner according to
subdivision 4, paragraph (b), clause (1).
new text end
new text begin Subd. 9. new text end
new text begin Commissioner responsibilities. new text end
new text begin
By January 1, 2027, the commissioner must
implement a timeline for the community schoolyards grant program that includes:
new text end
new text begin
(1) announcing the planning and design grant and the capital construction and
improvement grant;
new text end
new text begin
(2) establishing program requirements, including the application process and timeline
for each grant, criteria for application evaluation, and a grant awards process;
new text end
new text begin
(3) accepting and selecting applications from eligible applicants and timely review of
applications;
new text end
new text begin
(4) distributing grant money to the grant recipients; and
new text end
new text begin
(5) establishing reporting timelines and requirements for grant recipients.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 10. new text end
new text begin Reporting. new text end
new text begin
(a) A grant recipient must report to the commissioner, at a
minimum, any grant money received for planning and design, any grant money received
for capital construction and improvement, the number of students affected by a grant award,
a description of how the grant money was spent, and after the community schoolyard is
completed, the plan for community access and use of the community schoolyard outside of
school hours contained in the community-use agreement.
new text end
new text begin
(b) By January 15, 2030, the commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade
12 education finance and policy summarizing the grant recipient reports under paragraph
(a).
new text end
Sec. 2. new text begin COMMUNITY SCHOOLYARDS GRANT PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.
new text end
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Department of Education. new text end
new text begin
The sum indicated in this section is
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year
designated.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Community schoolyards grant program. new text end
new text begin
(a) For the community schoolyards
grant program:
new text end
|
new text begin
$ new text end |
new text begin
....... new text end |
new text begin
..... new text end |
new text begin
2027 new text end |
new text begin
(b) Of this amount, $....... is for the planning and design grant program and $....... is for
the capital construction and improvement grant program.
new text end
new text begin
(c) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98, subdivision 14, up to $....... of
the appropriation is available for grant administration.
new text end
new text begin
(d) The base is $....... for fiscal year 2028 and fiscal year 2029.
new text end