as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:24am
A bill for an act
relating to education finance; creating the early graduation achievement
scholarship program; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes
2008, sections 120B.07; 126C.126; 126C.20; proposing coding for new law
in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 120B.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 120B.07, is amended to read:
(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any secondary school student who has
completed all required courses or standards may, with the approval of the student, the
student's parent or guardian, and local school officials, graduate before the completion
of the school year.
(b) General education revenue attributable to the student must be paid as though the
student was in attendance for the entire year unless the student participates in the early
graduation achievement scholarship program under section 120B.08.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
A student who qualifies for early graduation under
section 120B.07 is eligible to participate in the early graduation achievement scholarship
program.
A student who participates in the early graduation
achievement scholarship program is eligible for a scholarship of $2,500 if the student
qualifies for graduation one semester early, $5,000 if the student qualifies for graduation
two semesters early, or $7,500 if the student qualifies for graduation three or more
semesters early.
An early graduation achievement scholarship may be
used at any accredited institution of higher education.
A qualifying student may apply to the commissioner of
education for an early graduation achievement scholarship. The application must be in
the form and manner specified by the commissioner. Upon verification of the qualifying
student's course completion necessary for graduation, the department must issue the
student a certificate showing the student's scholarship amount.
A student who qualifies under this section
and enrolls in an accredited higher education institution must submit a form to the
commissioner verifying the student's enrollment in the higher education institution and the
tuition charges for that semester. Within 15 days of receipt of a student's enrollment and
tuition verification form, the commissioner must issue a scholarship check to the student in
the lesser of the tuition amount for that semester or the maximum amount of the student's
early graduation achievement scholarship. A student may continue to submit enrollment
verification forms to the commissioner until the student has used the full amount of the
student's graduation achievement scholarship.
The commissioner must transfer
the amounts necessary to fund the early graduation achievement scholarships from the
general education aid appropriation for that year.
This section is effective for fiscal years 2010 and later.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 126C.126, is amended to read:
(a) In order to provide additional revenue for an optional all-day kindergarten
program, a district may reallocate general education revenue attributable to 12th grade
students who have graduated early under section 120B.07 and who do not participate in
the early graduation achievement scholarship program under section 120B.08.
(b) A school district may spend general education revenue on extended time
kindergarten and prekindergarten programs.
This section is effective for fiscal years 2010 and later.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 126C.20, is amended to read:
There is annually appropriated from the general fund to the department the amount
necessary for general education aid under section 126C.13 and the early graduation
achievement scholarship program under section 120B.08. This amount must be reduced
by the amount of any money specifically appropriated for the same purpose in any year
from any state fund.
This section is effective for fiscal years 2010 and later.