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SF 1585

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/02/2017 09:41am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to higher education; providing financial aid for teacher candidates of color;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 136A.1275;
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.1265] TEACHER CANDIDATES OF COLOR SCHOLARSHIPS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin A scholarship program for teacher candidates of color
is established to provide scholarships to qualified candidates with financial needs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin A person may apply for a scholarship if the person:
new text end

new text begin (1) has been admitted to a teacher preparation program approved by the Board of
Teaching;
new text end

new text begin (2) self-identifies to the teacher preparation program as a member of populations
underrepresented among the licensed teachers in the state relative to the diversity of students
as measured under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), clause (2);
new text end

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

new text begin (4) is a resident student as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision 8; and
new text end

new text begin (5) has a gross family income of $125,000 or less.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Amount. new text end

new text begin (a) The maximum scholarship amount is $10,000 per year for full-time
study distributed up to $5,000 per academic term. The commissioner of higher education
must establish a sliding scale of scholarship amounts based on the amount of available
funding and the gross family incomes of applicants. Established amounts are not rulemaking
for purposes of chapter 14 or section 14.386. The minimum scholarship under this section
for full-time study must be no less than $1,000 per year.
new text end

new text begin (b) The amount determined under paragraph (a) must be reduced and prorated per credit
for part-time study.
new text end

new text begin (c) The maximum total amount of scholarships from this scholarship per candidate is
$25,000.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Distribution. new text end

new text begin Scholarships must be paid to the teacher preparation institution
on behalf of the candidate after the institution has informed the Office of Higher Education
of candidates' names, self-identified racial and ethnic identities, gender, licensure area
sought, and full-time or part-time status.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 136A.1275, is amended to read:


136A.1275 GRANTS TO STUDENT TEACHERS IN SHORTAGE AREAS.

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education
must establish a grant program for student teaching stipends for deleted text begin low-incomedeleted text end students new text begin with
adjusted gross family income of $125,000 or less
new text end enrolled in a Board of Teaching-approved
teacher preparation program new text begin and new text end whonew text begin :
new text end

new text begin (1)new text end are interested in teaching in a high needs subject area or region after graduating and
receiving their teaching licensenew text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (2) identify as belonging to an underrepresented racial or ethnic groupnew text end .

new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a)new text end For purposes of this section, "high needs subject area or region"
means a shortage of teachers teaching in particular subject areas or a shortage of teachers
teaching in particular regions of the state identified in the commissioner of education's
biennial survey of districts under section 127A.05, subdivision 6, or in another Department
of Education survey on teacher shortages.

new text begin (b) For purposes of this section, "underrepresented racial or ethnic group" means a racial
or ethnic group in which the percentage of Minnesota teachers of that racial or ethnic group
as measured under section 127A.05, subdivision 6, is lower than the percentage of Minnesota
students of that racial or ethnic group as measured under section 120B.35, subdivision 3.
new text end

Subd. 2.

Eligibility.

To be eligible for a grant under this section, a teacher candidate
must:

(1) be enrolled in a Board of Teaching-approved teacher preparation program that requires
at least 12 weeks of student teaching deleted text begin and results in the teacher candidate receivingdeleted text end new text begin in order
to be recommended for
new text end a full professional teaching license deleted text begin enabling the licensee to teach
in a high needs subject area or region
deleted text end ; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

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

new text begin (3) at least one of the following:
new text end

new text begin (i) be pursuing licensure in a high needs subject area;
new text end

new text begin (ii) identify as being interested in teaching in a high needs region after graduation; or
new text end

new text begin (iii) identify as belonging to an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.
new text end

Subd. 3.

Administration; repayment.

(a) The commissioner must establish an
application process and other guidelines for implementing this programnew text begin , including repayment
responsibilities for candidates who do not complete student teaching and program completers
who leave Minnesota to teach in another state during the first year after student teaching
new text end .

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

new text begin (c) The percentage of the total award reserved for student teachers who identify as
belonging to an underrepresented racial or ethnic group must be equal to or greater than the
total percentage of students of underrepresented racial or ethnic groups as measured under
section 120B.35, subdivision 3. If this percentage cannot be met because of a lack of
qualifying candidates, the remaining amount may be awarded to student teachers in high
needs subject areas or regions.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin ONGOING APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin The appropriation under Laws 2016, chapter 189, article 25, section 62, subdivision 11,
may only be used for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 136A.1275.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Teachers of color scholarships. new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2018 and $.......
in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of higher
education for teachers of color scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1265.
new text end

new text begin (b) Up to five percent of the appropriation may be used for administration of the program.
new text end

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

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants to student teachers. new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2018 and $....... in fiscal
year 2019 are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of higher education
for grants to student teachers under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1275. This
appropriation is in addition to the money available under Laws 2016, chapter 189, article
25, section 62, subdivision 11.
new text end

new text begin (b) Up to five percent of the appropriation may be used for administration of the program.
new text end

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