SF 2916

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/25/2016 09:30am

A bill for an act
relating to education; creating a pilot grant program to encourage and support
girls of color in exploring and pursuing STEM careers; appropriating money;
requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin PILOT GRANT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE GIRLS OF COLOR
TO EXPLORE AND PURSUE STEM CAREERS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the terms defined in
this subdivision have the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Best practices" means an innovative mentorship, internship, apprenticeship, or
other applied or experiential learning opportunity available for girls of color in STEM
occupations or fields.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of education.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Eligible organization" means community-based STEM-affiliated organizations
experienced in serving girls of color, Minnesota public elementary and secondary
schools providing STEM instruction and curricula, and other Minnesota STEM-affiliated
organizations experienced in serving girls of color, consistent with the purposes of this
section.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Girls of color" means females through age 17 who self-identify as American
Indian, Asian, Black, or Hispanic.
new text end

new text begin (f) "STEM" means the subject areas of science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants; use of grant funds. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall award one grant
to an eligible organization serving girls of color in Ramsey County and one grant to an
eligible organization serving girls of color in one or more counties in greater Minnesota.
The eligible organizations receiving a grant must use grant funds to encourage and support
girls of color in exploring and pursuing STEM careers consistent with paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin (b) Grant recipients must use grant funds for one of two purposes: (1) for
opportunities for best practices to increase the awareness and interest of girls of color
in STEM occupations and fields, to develop the knowledge and confidence of girls of
color in STEM, and to increase the access of girls of color to secondary, dual credit, and
postsecondary programs leading to STEM occupations; or (2) for financial assistance for
services to help girls of color explore and pursue STEM careers while balancing their
responsibilities for work, job skills training and education, and family caregiving, which
may include financial assistance for child care, transportation, or safe and stable housing.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Outcomes. new text end

new text begin The Ramsey County grant recipient must develop a model
program to encourage and support girls of color in exploring and pursuing STEM careers
that other Twin Cities metropolitan area counties may replicate and use. The greater
Minnesota grant recipient must develop a model program to encourage and support girls
of color in exploring and pursuing STEM careers that other greater Minnesota counties
may replicate and use.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The commissioner, by January 15, 2019, must submit a written
report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees having
jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education containing information about
the pilot grant program design, activities, expenditures, and outcomes disaggregated
by categories of race, cultural group, family income, age, grade level, school district,
geographical location, migrant, foreign immigrant, home language, English learner status
under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.59, disability, homelessness, and foster care, to
the extent the information is available and no individual can be personally identified
from that information.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2016.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin PILOT GRANT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT
GIRLS OF COLOR IN EXPLORING AND PURSUING STEM CAREERS;
APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of education for a pilot grant program to encourage and support girls of color in exploring
and pursuing STEM careers under section 1. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until expended.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for fiscal year 2017.
new text end