HF 2529

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/13/2023 04:49pm

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; establishing an extracurricular activities grant
program; requiring a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grant program purpose. new text end

new text begin The Department of Education must administer
a grant program to provide high school students with opportunities to participate in
after-school activities in order to improve student mental health, increase student engagement,
and reduce alcohol and substance misuse.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grant recipients. new text end

new text begin (a) The department must award grants to school districts or
charter schools to fund extracurricular activities at:
new text end

new text begin (1) two high schools in the seven-county metropolitan area with an average enrollment
of 250 to 300 students per grade level;
new text end

new text begin (2) two high schools outside the seven-county metropolitan area with an average
enrollment of 250 to 300 students per grade level;
new text end

new text begin (3) two high schools in the seven-county metropolitan area with an average enrollment
of 50 to 100 students per grade level; and
new text end

new text begin (4) two high schools outside the seven-county metropolitan area with an average
enrollment of 50 to 100 students per grade level.
new text end

new text begin (b) The department must prioritize funding for schools with a demonstrated culture of
student leadership. Administrators of a school that receives a grant must involve students
in developing and implementing a plan to use the grant funds to improve student mental
health and well-being.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grant awards. new text end

new text begin (a) The department must award grant amounts in proportion
to the number of students enrolled in a recipient high school. The department must award
grant amounts over a period of five years to each recipient school, with equal amounts
disbursed each year.
new text end

new text begin (b) Grant funds must be used according to a plan developed by school administrators
and student leaders. Grant funds may be used to pay the costs of students participating in
extracurricular activities, including meals and transportation, student participation in plan
development and implementation, and research necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of
the plan in improving student mental health.
new text end

new text begin (c) A grant recipient must administer the Minnesota Student Survey in 2025 and 2028.
Survey responses must be used to evaluate the impact of the grant funds.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The Department of Education must report to the legislative committees
with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education on the schools that receive
grant funds and a summary of trends in student survey responses among grant recipients.
The department must submit one report by January 1, 2026, and a second report by January
1, 2029.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal years
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin After-school activities grants. new text end

new text begin (a) For grants to eight school districts or charter
schools in accordance with section 1:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 19,440,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2024 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 0 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2025 new text end

new text begin (b) Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
new text end

new text begin (c) The base for fiscal year 2026 is $19,440,000 and for fiscal year 2027 is $9,720,000.
new text end