SF 3729

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/27/2020 03:52pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; expanding the Minnesota Goes to College program;
requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin MINNESOTA GOES TO COLLEGE EXPANSION.
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new text begin (a) The Office of Higher Education and the Minnesota Department of Education shall
explore an overall design to provide a comprehensive and uniform program promoting
Minnesota students' efforts to go to college and building on the existing Minnesota Goes
to College program to help the state in:
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new text begin (1) obtaining the state higher education attainment goal under Minnesota Statutes, section
135A.012, to increase the number of Minnesota residents ages 25 to 44 years who hold
postsecondary degrees or certificates by at least 70 percent by 2025; and
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new text begin (2) incentivizing Minnesota students to attend Minnesota institutions of higher learning.
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new text begin (b) The Office of Higher Education and Department of Education shall explore the
feasibility of developing a program that includes but is not limited to:
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new text begin (1) developing a college application month to provide:
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new text begin (i) training to high school counselors on financial aid, general college admissions, and
site coordination. Training must be available, in person or electronically, to all high schools
around the state;
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new text begin (ii) no-cost applications;
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new text begin (iii) promotional materials; and
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new text begin (iv) access to volunteers in high schools;
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new text begin (2) increasing Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion with
incentives that may include scholarship awards;
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new text begin (3) training for counselors and information for students on next steps after FAFSA
completion;
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new text begin (4) increasing Minnesota Dream Act applications;
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new text begin (5) sending direct admission letters in early fall to all Minnesota high school seniors that
admit students to the state's public higher education institutions based on criteria established
by the higher education institutions and the Office of Higher Education and provides financial
aid information including state grant amount and state merit scholarship amount, if available;
and
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new text begin (6) strategies to increase high school participation in the Minnesota Goes to College
program to 100 percent.
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new text begin (c) The Office of Higher Education and Department of Education shall also investigate
possible sources of funding for activities, incentives, and scholarships.
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new text begin (d) The Office of Higher Education and Department of Education shall provide a report
to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction
over higher education policy and finance by ....... recommending options for a comprehensive,
uniform Minnesota Goes to College plan that fulfills the goals in paragraph (a). The report
shall include plan options, draft legislation, fiscal analysis of the cost of implementing each
plan option, and other potential funding streams.
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