HF 2025

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a pilot program to provide educational support
to families with adolescents; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WITH
ADOLESCENTS; PILOT PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.

Establishment; eligibility.

(a) A pilot program for fiscal years 2008
and 2009 is established to explore program structures similar to early childhood family
education programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.13, for providing educational
support to families with adolescents. A program developed under this section must help
families with children ages ten to 14 to at least address issues related to:

(1) adolescents becoming independent;

(2) adolescent health and well-being;

(3) adolescent emotions;

(4) adolescents and finance;

(5) family changes and adolescents;

(6) adolescents and their siblings;

(7) adolescents and education;

(8) adolescent development;

(9) adolescent behavior;

(10) alcohol and drugs; and

(11) adolescent relationships and social life.

(b) School districts, charter schools, intermediate school districts, or other interested
community-based education organizations may apply singly or jointly to the commissioner
of education, in the form and manner the commissioner determines, to participate in
this program. The application must: (1) describe how the applicant proposes to involve
and serve families with children ages ten to 14, consistent with paragraph (a); (2)
demonstrate a commitment to building community partnerships; and (3) evidence an intent
to collaborate with educators, families, and adolescents in implementing the program.
The commissioner may require an applicant to provide additional information related to
developing and implementing this pilot program.

Subd. 2.

Application review and grant award.

(a) When reviewing applications,
the commissioner must determine whether an applicant has satisfied the requirements in
subdivision 1, and also may consider the following criteria when reviewing applications:

(1) the location of the proposed pilot program;

(2) the number and demographic characteristics of families with adolescents likely
to participate;

(3) the days and times the program would be available; and

(4) the ability and willingness of the applicant to provide information about its
program to other education entities.

(b) The commissioner may select up to four qualified applicants to participate in
this pilot program. The commissioner must base the amount of the grant on the number
of families with adolescents expected to participate in the program but the grant amount
must not exceed $150,000 per grant recipient. Grant recipients must use the grant to
implement this pilot program.

Subd. 3.

Evaluation.

The commissioner must provide for an evaluation of the
participating pilot programs and must recommend to the education policy and finance
committees of the legislature by February 15, 2010, whether or not a program to provide
educational support to families with adolescents should be made available statewide. To
facilitate the evaluation, the commissioner must establish for the grant recipients a protocol
for collecting, organizing, and maintaining program data, consistent with applicable law.
If the commissioner recommends that the program be made available statewide, the
commissioner also must recommend a process for implementing the program.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment
and applies to the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 school years.

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.

$625,000 in fiscal year 2008 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of education for implementing a pilot program that provides educational
support to families with adolescents under section 1. $25,000 of the appropriation is for an
evaluation. This appropriation is available through June 30, 2009.