HF 64

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 02/13/2025 04:23pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing an Office of Achievement and Innovation in
the Department of Education; modifying the equity, diversity, and inclusion
appropriation; amending Laws 2023, chapter 55, article 12, section 17, subdivision
2, as amended; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 127A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [127A.22] OFFICE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND INNOVATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The Office of Achievement and Innovation is established
in the Department of Education to assist school districts and charter schools in researching
and implementing innovative practices focused on promoting academic achievement in
literacy and reading comprehension, mathematics and numeracy, science, and career
readiness.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Research. new text end

new text begin (a) The Office of Achievement and Innovation must research
innovative practices and maintain a clearinghouse for ideas, information, and resources on
supporting academic achievement.
new text end

new text begin (b) The office must assist districts seeking to implement innovative practices to support
academic achievement. All opinions and guidance issued by the office are advisory, and
are not binding on a district or charter school.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Nonprofits. new text end

new text begin (a) The office must establish a central point of contact for districts
and charter schools for approved nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated effectiveness
in implementing innovative practices to support student academic achievement. To be
considered for approval, a nonprofit organization must submit the following to the office:
new text end

new text begin (1) the organization's most recent Form 990 or Form 990-EZ filed with the Internal
Revenue Service;
new text end

new text begin (2) a summary of the organization's history of supporting student academic achievement;
new text end

new text begin (3) evidence of the organization's good standing with the secretary of state under chapter
317A, or other applicable law; and
new text end

new text begin (4) certification by the organization that none of its current principals have been convicted
of a felony financial crime in the last ten years.
new text end

new text begin (b) The office may revoke approval of a nonprofit organization at any time.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Laws 2023, chapter 55, article 12, section 17, subdivision 2, as amended by Laws
2024, chapter 115, article 10, section 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Department.

(a) For the Department of Education:

	$	47,005,000	.....	2024
	$	40,052,000	.....	2025

Of these amounts:

(1) $405,000 each year is for the Board of School Administrators;

(2) $1,000,000 each year is for regional centers of excellence under Minnesota Statutes,
section 120B.115;

(3) $720,000 each year is for implementing Minnesota's Learning for English Academic
Proficiency and Success Act (LEAPS) under Laws 2014, chapter 272, article 1, as amended;

(4) $480,000 each year is for the Department of Education's mainframe update;

(5) $7,500,000 in fiscal year 2024 only is for legal fees and costs associated with
litigation;

(6) $595,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $2,609,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for modernizing
district data submissions. The base for fiscal year 2026 and later is $2,359,000;

(7) $573,000 each year is for engagement and rulemaking related to Specific Learning
Disability;

(8) $150,000 each year is for an ethnic studies specialist in the academic standards
division to provide support to the ethnic studies working group and to school districts seeking
to establish or strengthen ethnic studies courses;

(9) $150,000 each year is for the comprehensive school mental health services lead under
Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.215;

(10) $150,000 each year is for a school health services specialist under Minnesota
Statutes, section 121A.20;

(11) $2,000,000 each year is for the Office of the Inspector General established under
Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.21;

(12) $800,000 each year is for audit and internal control resources;

(13) $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 only is for information technology infrastructure
and portfolio resources;

(14) $2,000,000 each year is for staffing the deleted text begin Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Center deleted text end new text begin
Office of Achievement and Innovation new text end at the Department of Education;

(15) $275,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $175,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for administrative
expenses for unemployment aid; and

(16) $130,000 in fiscal year 2025 only is for the state school librarian under Minnesota
Statutes, section 127A.151.

(b) None of the amounts appropriated under this subdivision may be used for Minnesota's
Washington, D.C., office.

(c) The expenditures of federal grants and aids as shown in the biennial budget document
and its supplements are approved and appropriated and must be spent as indicated.

(d) The base for fiscal year 2026 and later is $39,667,000.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end