1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; requiring the commissioner of education to distribute a 
1.3 	portion of Elementary and Secondary School Relief Fund in response to COVID-19 
1.4 	to nonprofit organizations working with communities of color and indigenous 
1.5 	communities with the greatest educational disparities; establishing a grant program; 
1.6 	requiring a report.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY RELIEF 
1.9 	FUND; NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES 
1.10 	WITH EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES.
 1.11 	The commissioner of education must designate $5,000,000 of the funds received from 
1.12 	the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund authorized under the federal 
1.13 	Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to partner with nonprofit organizations 
1.14 	working specifically with communities of color and indigenous communities. The nonprofit 
1.15 	organizations must assist with distance learning and educational and developmental growth 
1.16 	by working alongside parents and students to create better educational outcomes for students 
1.17 	of color and indigenous students experiencing educational disparities.

1.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

1.19 	Sec. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WORKING 
1.20 	WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
 1.21 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. A grant program is established for nonprofit organizations 
1.22 	working specifically with communities of color and indigenous communities to partner with 
1.23 	the Department of Education. The nonprofit organizations must work alongside parents and 
2.1 	students to create better educational and developmental growth outcomes for students of 
2.2 	color and indigenous students experiencing educational disparities. The nonprofit 
2.3 	organizations must assist parents and students with access and outcomes for distance learning 
2.4 	or other education programs implemented by school districts in response to an outbreak of 
2.5 	COVID-19.
2.6 		Subd. 2.Application and selection of grant recipients. The commissioner must develop 
2.7 	administrative procedures governing the application and selection process for nonprofit 
2.8 	organization partners to receive grant funds. The commissioner must establish a maximum 
2.9 	amount for grants awarded under this section based on the number of selected nonprofit 
2.10 	organization partners.
2.11 		Subd. 3.Grant fund expenditures. A grant awarded under this section may be used 
2.12 	for selected nonprofit organization partners to help students and families of color or 
2.13 	indigenous students and families by providing school supplies, food security, tutor services, 
2.14 	advocacy services, and interpreting services; loaning or subsidizing costs for education 
2.15 	technology such as tablets, laptops, or internet service; providing or improving physical 
2.16 	spaces for students to do school work that comply with Department of Health safety 
2.17 	regulations; or providing social and emotional support and culturally appropriate mental 
2.18 	health services. Grant funds awarded under this section may also be used for other similar 
2.19 	purposes based on the unique needs of students and families of color or indigenous students 
2.20 	and families to create better educational outcomes for students.
2.21 		Subd. 4.Eligible applicants. A nonprofit organization that works specifically with 
2.22 	communities of color or indigenous communities and that has a current relationship with 
2.23 	the Department of Education or school administrators across the state may apply for a grant 
2.24 	award under this section.
2.25 		Subd. 5.Administration. Grant funds must be dispersed to nonprofit organizations 
2.26 	immediately upon selection, with a grant reporting period in January 2021. Up to three 
2.27 	percent may be used for administrative fees by the Department of Education for administering 
2.28 	the grant program.
2.29 		Subd. 6.Report. By January 15, 2022, the commissioner of education must report to 
2.30 	the standing committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over education on the selected 
2.31 	nonprofit organizations and the use of grant funds.

2.32 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.