SF 1747

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/07/2017 09:07am

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; modifying grants for teacher-governed schools;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 123B.045,
subdivision 2a.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 123B.045, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:

Subd. 2a.

Teacher-governed schools; grants.

(a) Consistent with subdivision 1
authorizing a school board to agree to assign certain autonomies and responsibilities to a
school site, and subject to a memorandum of understanding between the school board and
the exclusive representative of the teachers, a grant program is established to encourage
licensed teachers employed at a school site to explore and develop organizational models
for teaching and learning; provide curriculum and corresponding formative, interim, and
summative assessments; measure and evaluate teacher performance; assign teaching positions
and restructure instructional work; provide professional development to support teachers
restructuring their work; allocate revenue; assert autonomy and leadership; and pursue other
such policies, strategies, and activities for creating teacher-governed schools.

(b) The commissioner deleted text begin , after receiving documentation of the approved agreement between
the parties under subdivision 1, paragraph (d), deleted text end shall award grants deleted text begin on a first-come, first-served
basis until appropriated funds are expended deleted text end according to this paragraph:

(1) a planning grant of up to $50,000 new text begin to be granted new text end during the first year of the parties'
agreement new text begin , after receiving documentation of an approved agreement between the school
board and the exclusive representative of the teachers indicating interest in exploring school
and teacher team autonomy new text end ; and

(2) an implementation grant of up to $100,000 new text begin to be granted new text end during each of the deleted text begin next deleted text end new text begin
following new text end two years deleted text begin of the parties' agreement deleted text end . new text begin Year one implementation grant applications
shall require submission of an approved agreement with the school district, identifying
teacher team decision making in some or all of the areas in paragraph (a), involving at
minimum all licensed teachers within the school, participating program, or participating
department. Continuing into year two of the grant shall require submission of an approved
site-governed schools agreement under subdivision 1, paragraph (d), likewise identifying
teacher team decision making in accordance with paragraph (a).
new text end

(c) new text begin In years where funds are available, the deadline for planning grant applications shall
be November 30, and the deadline for implementation grant applications shall be January
31. If the grant applications received by a deadline date exceed funds available, the
commissioner shall prioritize geographic diversity and districts who have not previously
been awarded a grant under this subdivision. Funds not awarded after the deadline dates
shall be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as applications are received.
new text end

new text begin (d) new text end A grant recipient that terminates an agreement before the end of a school year must
return a pro rata portion of the grant to the commissioner, the amount of which the
commissioner must determine based upon the number of school days remaining in the school
year after the agreement is terminated. Grant recipients are encouraged to seek matching
funds or in-kind contributions from nonstate sources to supplement the grant awards.

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end A school district receiving a grant must transmit to the commissioner in an
electronic format and post on its Web site by the end of the school year readily accessible
information about recommended best practices based on its experience and progress under
this section. The commissioner must make information about these recommended best
practices readily available to interested districts and schools throughout Minnesota.

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; TEACHER-GOVERNED SCHOOLS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Teacher-governed school planning grants. new text end

new text begin For planning grants to
teacher-governed schools under Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.045, subdivision 2a:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2018 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2019 new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Teacher-governed school implementation grants. new text end

new text begin For implementation grants
to teacher-governed schools under Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.045, subdivision 2a:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2018 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2019 new text end