SF 618

1st Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/17/2017 08:23am

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; establishing an agricultural educator grant program;
appropriating money.

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

Section 1. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATOR GRANTS.

Subdivision 1.

Grant program established.

A grant program is established to support
school districts in paying agricultural education teachers for work over the summer with
high school students in extended programs.

Subd. 2.

Application.

The commissioner of education shall develop the form and method
for applying for the grants. The commissioner shall develop criteria for determining the
allocation of the grants, including appropriate goals for the use of the grants.

Subd. 3.

Grant awards.

Grant funding under this section must be matched by funding
from the school district for the agricultural education teacher's summer employment. Grant
funding for each teacher is limited to the one-half share of 40 working days.

Subd. 4.

Reports.

School districts that receive grant funds shall report to the
commissioner of education no later than December 31 of each year regarding the number
of teachers funded by the grant program and the outcomes compared to the goals established
in the grant application. The Department of Education shall develop the criteria necessary
for the reports.

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 years
designated.

Subd. 2.

Agricultural educator grants.

For agricultural educator grants under section
1:

	$	500,000	.....	2018
	$	500,000	.....	2019

Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.