HF 4478

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/16/2020 10:05am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; creating a grant program for student teachers in rural
areas; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 136A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [136A.1274] GRANTS TO STUDENT TEACHERS IN RURAL AREAS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education
must establish a grant program providing student teaching stipends to low-income students
enrolled in a Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board-approved teacher
preparation program who intend to teach in a rural area after graduating and receiving a
teaching license.
new text end

new text begin (b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given:
new text end

new text begin (1) "economic development region" means an area so designated in the governor's
executive order number 83-15, dated March 15, 1983; and
new text end

new text begin (2) "rural area" means an economic development region other than region 11.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin To be eligible for a grant under this section, an applicant must:
new text end

new text begin (1) be enrolled as an undergraduate student in a baccalaureate-level Professional Educator
Licensing and Standards Board-approved teacher preparation program that requires at least
12 weeks of student teaching in order to be recommended for any Tier 3 teaching license;
new text end

new text begin (2) demonstrate financial need based on criteria established by the commissioner under
subdivision 3;
new text end

new text begin (3) meet satisfactory academic progress as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision 10;
new text end

new text begin (4) not have received a grant award under section 136A.1275;
new text end

new text begin (5) be enrolled in a teacher preparation program located in a rural area; and
new text end

new text begin (6) certify in a written statement that the applicant intends to teach in a rural area after
graduating and receiving a teaching license.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Administration. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must establish an application process
and other guidelines for implementing the grant program.
new text end

new text begin (b) Each academic year the commissioner must determine the stipend amount up to
$7,500 based on the amount of available funding, the number of eligible applicants, and the
financial need of the applicants.
new text end

new text begin (c) If the commissioner determines that the amount appropriated for the program is
insufficient to award full stipends to eligible applicants, the commissioner may prioritize
applicants based on financial need or intent to teach in a teacher shortage area as defined
in section 136A.1791, subdivision 1, paragraph (e), clause (1).
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner shall allocate money appropriated for the program to eligible
postsecondary institutions according to the full-time equivalent enrollment of the teacher
preparation programs at all eligible postsecondary institutions that apply to participate in
the program, and the amount, if any, of the allocation that an institution spent during the
previous academic year. Each institution wishing to participate in the program must submit
an estimate of the amount of funds needed by the institution's teacher preparation program
in accordance with policies and procedures established by the commissioner. Any funds
allocated to an institution that exceed the actual need of the institution shall be reallocated
by the commissioner to other institutions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section expires June 30, 2023.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
the Office of Higher Education for grants to student teachers in rural areas under section
136A.1274. This is a onetime appropriation. This appropriation is available until June 30,
2023.
new text end