1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education finance; modifying grants for teacher-governed schools; 
1.3 	appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 123B.045, 
1.4 	subdivision 2a.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 123B.045, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 2a.Teacher-governed schools; grants. (a) Consistent with subdivision 1 
1.8 	authorizing a school board to agree to assign certain autonomies and responsibilities to a 
1.9 	school site, and subject to a memorandum of understanding between the school board and 
1.10 	the exclusive representative of the teachers, a grant program is established to encourage 
1.11 	licensed teachers employed at a school site to explore and develop organizational models 
1.12 	for teaching and learning; provide curriculum and corresponding formative, interim, and 
1.13 	summative assessments; measure and evaluate teacher performance; assign teaching positions 
1.14 	and restructure instructional work; provide professional development to support teachers 
1.15 	restructuring their work; allocate revenue; assert autonomy and leadership; and pursue other 
1.16 	such policies, strategies, and activities for creating teacher-governed schools.
1.17 	(b) The commissioner, after receiving documentation of the approved agreement between 
1.18 	the parties under subdivision 1, paragraph (d), shall award grants on a first-come, first-served 
1.19 	basis until appropriated funds are expended according to this paragraph:
1.20 	(1) a planning grant of up to $50,000 to be granted during the first year of the parties' 
1.21 	agreement, after receiving documentation of an approved agreement between the school 
1.22 	board and the exclusive representative of the teachers indicating interest in exploring school 
1.23 	and teacher team autonomy; and
2.1 	(2) an implementation grant of up to $100,000 to be granted during each of the next
2.2 	following two years of the parties' agreement.Year one implementation grant applications 
2.3 	shall require submission of an approved agreement with the school district, identifying 
2.4 	teacher team decision making in some or all of the areas in paragraph (a), involving at 
2.5 	minimum all licensed teachers within the school, participating program, or participating 
2.6 	department. Continuing into year two of the grant shall require submission of an approved 
2.7 	site-governed schools agreement under subdivision 1, paragraph (d), likewise identifying 
2.8 	teacher team decision making in accordance with paragraph (a).
2.9 	(c) In years where funds are available, the deadline for planning grant applications shall 
2.10 	be November 30, and the deadline for implementation grant applications shall be January 
2.11 	31. If the grant applications received by a deadline date exceed funds available, the 
2.12 	commissioner shall prioritize geographic diversity and districts who have not previously 
2.13 	been awarded a grant under this subdivision. Funds not awarded after the deadline dates 
2.14 	shall be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as applications are received.
2.15 	(d) A grant recipient that terminates an agreement before the end of a school year must 
2.16 	return a pro rata portion of the grant to the commissioner, the amount of which the 
2.17 	commissioner must determine based upon the number of school days remaining in the school 
2.18 	year after the agreement is terminated. Grant recipients are encouraged to seek matching 
2.19 	funds or in-kind contributions from nonstate sources to supplement the grant awards.
2.20 	(d) (e) A school district receiving a grant must transmit to the commissioner in an 
2.21 	electronic format and post on its Web site by the end of the school year readily accessible 
2.22 	information about recommended best practices based on its experience and progress under 
2.23 	this section. The commissioner must make information about these recommended best 
2.24 	practices readily available to interested districts and schools throughout Minnesota.

2.25 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; TEACHER-GOVERNED SCHOOLS.
 2.26 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
2.27 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
2.28 	designated.
2.29 		Subd. 2.Teacher-governed school planning grants. For planning grants to 
2.30 	teacher-governed schools under Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.045, subdivision 2a:

2.31		$
	.......
	.....
	2018
	
2.32		$
	.......
	.....
	2019
	
3.1 		Subd. 3.Teacher-governed school implementation grants. For implementation grants 
3.2 	to teacher-governed schools under Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.045, subdivision 2a:

3.3		$
	.......
	.....
	2018
	
3.4		$
	.......
	.....
	2019