1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; providing for grants to teacher-powered schools; 
1.3 	appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 123B.045, by 
1.4 	adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 123B.045, is amended by adding a 
1.7 	subdivision to read:
1.8 		Subd. 7.Teacher-powered schools; grants. (a) For the purposes of this 
1.9 	subdivision, the following terms have the meanings given to them:
1.10 	(1) "launch school" means a school newly created under this section;
1.11 	(2) "conversion school" means a school that is becoming a teacher-powered school 
1.12 	by a teacher vote under this section; and
1.13 	(3) "teacher-powered school" means a school site in which the teachers comprise the 
1.14 	governance structure of the school, hold autonomies as specified in subdivision 2, and 
1.15 	assume responsibility for the school's success.
1.16 	(b) The commissioner shall, upon documented approval by the school board and 
1.17 	the exclusive representative of the teachers in that school of a launch or conversion 
1.18 	teacher-powered school, award a grant according to this paragraph:
1.19 	(1) a planning grant, awarded for one year in advance of the opening of a launch or 
1.20 	conversion school and not to exceed $150,000; and  
1.21 	(2) a start-up grant, awarded for the initial two years of operation and not to exceed 
1.22 	$100,000 per year for a conversion school or $225,000 per year for a launch school.
2.1 	(c) After 50 percent of the grant funds have been awarded, the commissioner shall 
2.2 	give preference in awarding grants to applicant school districts located in congressional 
2.3 	districts in which no grants have been made.
2.4 	(d) A school district receiving a grant award under this subdivision must submit an 
2.5 	annual budget to the commissioner along with the documentation of the approval of the 
2.6 	school by the school board and the exclusive representative of the teachers.
2.7 	(e) A school district receiving a grant award must, annually by September 1 of each 
2.8 	year beginning September 1, 2016, submit a report to the commissioner to be shared with 
2.9 	the legislative committees having jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 finance 
2.10 	and policy regarding the success of teacher-powered schools. Success measures include, 
2.11 	but are not limited to, the state multiple measure, surveys of parental satisfaction, and 
2.12 	other measures as might be relevant to the school's special mission.

2.13 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.14 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
2.15 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal years 
2.16 	designated.
2.17 		Subd. 2.Teacher-powered school grants. For grants to teacher-powered schools 
2.18 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.045, subdivision 7:

2.19		$
	5,000,000
	.....
	2016
	
2.20		$
	5,000,000
	.....
	2017
	
2.21 	The base appropriation in fiscal year 2018 is $5,000,000. Any balance in the first year 
2.22 	does not cancel but is available in the second year.