SF 1259

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

A bill for an act
relating to education; authorizing general education access grants for students;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 126C.05, by adding a subdivision;
126C.13, subdivision 4; 126C.20; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapters 124D; 126C.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [124D.097] GENERAL EDUCATION ACCESS GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Enrollment. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, a student may enroll
in a Minnesota elementary or secondary school accredited by an accrediting agency
recognized according to section 123B.445, or recognized by the commissioner, and is
eligible to receive an access grant for the cost of attendance if:
new text end

new text begin (1) the household income of the student's parent or guardian is less than or equal
to 250 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, adjusted for family size, at the time of
initial application;
new text end

new text begin (2) the student resides within and is enrolled in either Special School District No.
1, Minneapolis, or Independent School District No. 625, St. Paul, at the time of initial
application; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the student's application for an access grant is approved by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (b) Subject to the requirements of paragraphs (c) and (d), applications that are
properly submitted in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner shall be
pooled and acted on by March 1 for the following school year and subsequent applications
must be acted on in the order they are received. The commissioner shall notify an
applicant in writing of the status of the application.
new text end

new text begin (c) In fiscal year 2008, the total number of approved student access grant applications
for residents of each school district shall not exceed ten percent of the previous year's
enrollment for each school district. If the number of initial applications exceeds the limit
established by this paragraph as of the date established by the commissioner, the approved
access grants shall be selected by lot.
new text end

new text begin (d) In fiscal years 2009 through 2013, the limit on the total number of approved
student access grant applications for residents of each school district shall annually
increase by five percent. Eligible applications submitted by current student access grant
recipients for initial action by March 1 shall be approved and not be subject to random
selection. If other initial student access grant applications combine to exceed the limit
established by this paragraph, the approved access grants shall be selected by lot. In fiscal
year 2014 and thereafter, no limit shall apply to the total number of approved applications
for residents of each school district.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Funding. new text end

new text begin (a) On a regular basis, as determined by the commissioner but
at least quarterly, access grant payments shall be made to the parent or guardian of an
approved student applicant in the form of a check that must be restrictively endorsed by
the parent or guardian for the school providing the instruction. Access grant payments are
considered financial assistance solely to the parent or guardian who is primarily responsible
for ensuring that the child acquires knowledge and skills under section 120A.22.
new text end

new text begin (b) The total amount of the access grant for any school year shall not exceed the
tuition and fees charged at the school where the student is enrolled and attending, or
the formula allowance under section 126C.10, subdivision 2, whichever is less. The
commissioner shall only recognize tuition and fees that are equal to what comparable
students are charged who do not receive access grants.
new text end

new text begin (c) Prior to distribution of payments, the commissioner must require of the parent
or guardian, and must receive in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner,
information necessary to validate the cost of attendance and enrollment status of the
student. The commissioner shall prorate the access grant if the student is enrolled for
only part of the school year.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner must withhold access grant payments while it is reasonably
believed that false information concerning the cost of attendance and enrollment status
of the student has been intentionally submitted by an involved party. The commissioner
shall audit and verify submitted information according to program integrity guidelines
adopted by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Assessment. new text end

new text begin A student receiving an access grant under this section
shall participate in the statewide testing and reporting system under section 120B.30.
The commissioner shall arrange for the time and location of any required assessments.
Individual student results shall be reported to the parent or guardian of the student and to
the school providing instruction. Aggregate results shall be reported to the public.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Conference. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall offer an informal conference to
applicants and recipients adversely affected by an agency action to attempt to resolve
the dispute.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 126C.05, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 21. new text end

new text begin Access grant pupil units. new text end

new text begin Access grant pupil units equal the sum of:
new text end

new text begin (1) the number of resident students who are in their second consecutive year of
receiving a general education access grant; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the number of resident students who are in their third consecutive year of
receiving a general education access grant.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 126C.13, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

General education aid.

(a) For fiscal year 2006, a district's general
education aid is the sum of the following amounts:

(1) general education revenue, excluding equity revenue, total operating capital, and
transition revenue;

(2) operating capital aid according to section 126C.10, subdivision 13b;

(3) equity aid according to section 126C.10, subdivision 30;

(4) transition aid according to section 126C.10, subdivision 33;

(5) shared time aid according to section 126C.01, subdivision 7;

(6) referendum aid according to section 126C.17; and

(7) online learning aid according to section 124D.096.

(b) For fiscal year 2007 and later, a district's general education aid is the sum of
the following amounts:

(1) general education revenue, excluding equity revenue, total operating capital
revenue, alternative teacher compensation revenue, and transition revenue;

(2) operating capital aid under section 126C.10, subdivision 13b;

(3) equity aid under section 126C.10, subdivision 30;

(4) alternative teacher compensation aid under section 126C.10, subdivision 36;

(5) transition aid under section 126C.10, subdivision 33;

(6) shared time aid under section 126C.01, subdivision 7;

(7) referendum aid under section 126C.17; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(8) online learning aid according to section 124D.096 deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (9) access grant adjustment aid according to section 126C.37.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 126C.20, is amended to read:

126C.20 ANNUAL GENERAL EDUCATION AID APPROPRIATION.

There is annually appropriated from the general fund to the department the amount
necessary for general education aid new text begin and general education access grants new text end . This amount
must be reduced by the amount of any money specifically appropriated for the same
purpose in any year from any state fund.

Sec. 5.

new text begin [126C.37] ACCESS GRANT ADJUSTMENT AID.
new text end

new text begin (a) A district is eligible for access grant adjustment aid if any resident students from
the district are eligible to participate in the general education access grant program under
section 124D.097, subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin (b) For fiscal year 2009 and later, an eligible district's access grant adjustment
allowance equals $3,000.
new text end

new text begin (c) An eligible district's access grant adjustment aid equals the product of its access
grant pupil units multiplied times the district's access grant adjustment allowance.
new text end