1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; establishing a service-learning grant program; requiring a 
1.3 	report; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; SERVICE-LEARNING GRANT PROGRAM.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Appropriation. (a) $599,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from 
1.7 	the general fund to the commissioner of education for a grant to the National Youth 
1.8 	Leadership Council for a service-learning grant program.
1.9 	(b) Of the amount in paragraph (a):
1.10 	(1) $500,000 is for start-up grants under subdivision 4;
1.11 	(2) $61,000 is for the National Youth Leadership Council for regional meetings, start-up 
1.12 	grant administration, and technical assistance to each of the grantees;
1.13 	(3) $35,000 is for the evaluation under subdivision 5; and
1.14 	(4) $3,000 is for Department of Education grant administration expenses.
1.15 	(c) The appropriation is available until June 30, 2021. This is a onetime appropriation.
1.16 		Subd. 2.Purpose. (a) The purpose of the service-learning grant program is to increase 
1.17 	safety in schools and communities, reduce academic disparities, improve the environment, 
1.18 	increase youth engagement with the community, and expand positive intergenerational and 
1.19 	multicultural relationships. The grant program supports this purpose by more effectively 
1.20 	using the skills, insights, and creativity of Minnesota youth, and by combining classroom 
2.1 	work with service to the community based on needs identified by adults and young people 
2.2 	in local communities.
2.3 	(b) The grant program will create a statewide, informal network of schools, organizations, 
2.4 	and students who demonstrate excellence in service, leadership, and civic engagement and 
2.5 	address issues confronting their communities. Teachers and other adult collaborators will 
2.6 	support the program activities by engaging students in evidence-based best practices in 
2.7 	service-learning, monitoring results, working toward measurable outcomes, and evaluating 
2.8 	and documenting the success of program activities.
2.9 		Subd. 3.Definition. For purposes of this section, "service-learning" means an experience 
2.10 	in which students:
2.11 	(1) work to reduce or eliminate real community problems that students have identified 
2.12 	and selected;
2.13 	(2) determine strategies students will use to help solve one or more problems;
2.14 	(3) work on projects linked to a state standards-based school or community agency 
2.15 	curriculum that helps students develop stronger academic skills;
2.16 	(4) work on projects involving collaboration between at least two organizations;
2.17 	(5) evaluate and refine their strategies based on measurable results;
2.18 	(6) work and learn with people different from themselves;
2.19 	(7) regularly receive feedback on progress toward learning and problem-solving goals; 
2.20 	and
2.21 	(8) work on projects for a period long enough to achieve clear, measurable progress 
2.22 	toward addressing community needs and meeting project goals and outcomes.
2.23 		Subd. 4.Regional meetings. The National Youth Leadership Council must convene 
2.24 	four regional meetings around Minnesota to share information on best practices in 
2.25 	service-learning and youth engagement.
2.26 		Subd. 5.Start-up grant eligibility; application; awards. (a) A school district, charter 
2.27 	school, or nonprofit youth-serving organization is eligible to apply for a start-up grant under 
2.28 	this section. An eligible applicant may apply individually or jointly with one or more eligible 
2.29 	applicants. The application must be submitted to the National Youth Leadership Council 
2.30 	in the form and manner determined by the council.
2.31 	(b) The council must give priority to applications that demonstrate the components of 
2.32 	service-learning under subdivision 2 and that demonstrate a plan to sustain the 
3.1 	service-learning program activities beyond the grant period. Start-up grant funds must not 
3.2 	be used for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative or administrative action, or 
3.3 	the official action of a metropolitan governmental unit, by communicating or urging others 
3.4 	to communicate with public or local officials.
3.5 	(c) The council may award up to 25 grants. Each grant must not exceed $20,000. The 
3.6 	council must award at least three grants in each congressional district.
3.7 		Subd. 6.Evaluation. The National Youth Leadership Council must contract with a third 
3.8 	party to perform an evaluation of the activities funded under the grant program. By February 
3.9 	15, 2023, the evaluation report must be submitted to the commissioner of education and to 
3.10 	the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction 
3.11 	over prekindergarten through grade 12 education. The evaluation report must be filed with 
3.12 	the Legislative Reference Library according to Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195.