SF 310

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 01/24/2017 08:37am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing the Rural Career and Technical Education
Consortium; appropriating money; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. RURAL CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CONSORTIUM.

Subdivision 1.

Definition.

"Rural Career and Technical Education (CTE) Consortium"
means a voluntary collaboration of the Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative
(SWWC), Southwest Minnesota State University, Minnesota West Community and Technical
College, Ridgewater College, and other regional public and private partners that work
together to provide career and technical education opportunities.

Subd. 2.

Establishment.

(a) The SWWC shall develop a Rural CTE Consortium to
provide greater access to career and technical education courses for the schools in the SWWC
Service Cooperative 18-county service area. The Rural CTE Consortium shall:

(1) focus on the development of courses and programs that encourage collaboration
between two or more school districts;

(2) develop new career and technical programs that focus on the industry sectors that
fuel the rural regional economy;

(3) facilitate the development of highly trained and knowledgeable students who are
equipped with technical and workplace skills needed by regional employers;

(4) improve access to career and technical education programs for students who attend
sparsely populated rural school districts by developing public and private partnerships with
business and industry leaders and by increasing coordination of high school and
postsecondary program options;

(5) increase family and student awareness of the availability and benefit of career and
technical education courses and training opportunities; and

(6) provide capital start-up costs for items including, but not limited to, a mobile welding
lab, medical equipment and lab, and industrial kitchen equipment.

(b) In addition to the requirements in paragraph (a), the Rural CTE Consortium may:

(1) address the teacher shortage crisis in career and technical education through incentive
funding and training programs; and

(2) provide transportation reimbursement grants to provide equitable opportunities
throughout the region for students to participate in career and technical education.

Subd. 3.

Rural Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee.

The SWWC
shall establish a Rural Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee to advise the
SWWC on the administration of the Rural CTE Consortium.

Subd. 4.

Private funding.

The Rural CTE Consortium may receive other sources of
funds to supplement state funding. All funds received shall be administered by the SWWC.

Subd. 5.

Reporting requirements.

The Rural CTE Consortium must submit to the
legislature and commissioner of education an annual report by January 15 on the progress
of its activities. The annual report must contain a financial report for the preceding fiscal
year. The first report is due no later than January 15, 2019.

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.

Subdivision 1.

Department of Education.

The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year
designated.

Subd. 2.

Rural Career and Technical Education Consortium.

For a grant to the
Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative (SWWC) to administer a Rural CTE
Consortium:

$

5,000,000

.....

2018

This is a onetime appropriation. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2022. The
base for fiscal year 2023 and later is $0.