1998 Minnesota Statutes

     124D.52 Adult basic education. 

    Subdivision 1.    Program requirements.  An adult basic 
 education program is a day or evening program offered by a 
 district that is for people over 16 years of age who do not 
 attend an elementary or secondary school.  The program offers 
 academic instruction necessary to earn a high school diploma or 
 equivalency certificate.  Tuition and fees may not be charged to 
 a learner for instruction paid under this section, except for a 
 security deposit to assure return of materials, supplies, and 
 equipment. 

    Subd. 2.    Program approval.  (a) To receive aid under 
 this section, a district, a consortium of districts, or a 
 private nonprofit organization must submit an application by 
 June 1 describing the program, on a form provided by the 
 department.  The program must be approved by the commissioner 
 according to the following criteria:  

    (1) how the needs of different levels of learning will be 
 met; 

    (2) for continuing programs, an evaluation of results; 

    (3) anticipated number and education level of participants; 

    (4) coordination with other resources and services; 

    (5) participation in a consortium, if any, and money 
 available from other participants; 

    (6) management and program design; 

    (7) volunteer training and use of volunteers; 

    (8) staff development services; 

    (9) program sites and schedules; and 

    (10) program expenditures that qualify for aid.  

    (b) The commissioner may grant adult basic education funds 
 to a private, nonprofit organization to provide services that 
 are not offered by a district or that are supplemental to a 
 district's program.  The program provided under this provision 
 must be approved and funded according to the same criteria used 
 for district programs. 

    (c) Adult basic education programs may be approved under 
 this subdivision for up to five years.  Five-year program 
 approval must be granted to an applicant who has demonstrated 
 the capacity to: 

    (1) offer comprehensive learning opportunities and support 
 service choices appropriate for and accessible to adults at all 
 basic skill need levels; 

    (2) provide a participatory and experiential learning 
 approach based on the strengths, interests, and needs of each 
 adult, that enables adults with basic skill needs to: 

    (i) identify, plan for, and evaluate their own progress 
 toward achieving their defined educational and occupational 
 goals; 

    (ii) master the basic academic reading, writing, and 
 computational skills, as well as the problem-solving, decision 
 making, interpersonal effectiveness, and other life and learning 
 skills they need to function effectively in a changing society; 

    (iii) locate and be able to use the health, governmental, 
 and social services and resources they need to improve their own 
 and their families' lives; and 

    (iv) continue their education, if they desire, to at least 
 the level of secondary school completion, with the ability to 
 secure and benefit from continuing education that will enable 
 them to become more employable, productive, and responsible 
 citizens; 

    (3) plan, coordinate, and develop cooperative agreements 
 with community resources to address the needs that the adults 
 have for support services, such as transportation, flexible 
 course scheduling, convenient class locations, and child care; 

    (4) collaborate with business, industry, labor unions, and 
 employment-training agencies, as well as with family and 
 occupational education providers, to arrange for resources and 
 services through which adults can attain economic 
 self-sufficiency; 

    (5) provide sensitive and well trained adult education 
 personnel who participate in local, regional, and statewide 
 adult basic education staff development events to master 
 effective adult learning and teaching techniques; 

    (6) participate in regional adult basic education peer 
 program reviews and evaluations; and 

    (7) submit accurate and timely performance and fiscal 
 reports.  

    Subd. 3.    Accounts; revenue; aid.  Each district, 
 group of districts, or private nonprofit organization providing 
 adult basic education programs must establish and maintain 
 accounts separate from all other district accounts for the 
 receipt and disbursement of all funds related to these 
 programs.  All revenue received pursuant to this section must be 
 utilized solely for the purposes of adult basic education 
 programs.  Federal and state aid plus levy must not equal more 
 than 100 percent of the actual cost of providing these programs. 

    HIST: Ex1959 c 71 art 5 s 26; 1969 c 864 s 1; 1971 c 827 s 1; 
 1975 c 432 s 42; 1976 c 271 s 50; 1977 c 447 art 4 s 2,3; 1981 c 
 358 art 4 s 1-4; 1982 c 548 art 6 s 14,15; 1983 c 314 art 4 s 1; 
 1Sp1985 c 12 art 4 s 3; 1987 c 398 art 4 s 8-10; 1988 c 718 art 
 7 s 31; 1989 c 329 art 4 s 7-9; 1Sp1989 c 1 art 2 s 11; 1990 c 
 562 art 10 s 2; 1991 c 265 art 4 s 8,9; 1993 c 224 art 4 s 19; 
 art 12 s 19; 1994 c 647 art 4 s 16-18; 1997 c 162 art 2 s 16; 
 1Sp1997 c 4 art 6 s 11; 1998 c 397 art 3 s 69,70,103