2007 Minnesota Statutes

136A.861 INTERVENTION FOR COLLEGE ATTENDANCE PROGRAM GRANTS.
    Subdivision 1. Grants. The director of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education shall
award grants to foster postsecondary attendance and retention by providing outreach services
to historically underserved students in grades six through 12 and historically underrepresented
college students. Grants must be awarded to programs that provide precollege services, including,
but not limited to:
    (1) academic counseling;
    (2) mentoring;
    (3) fostering and improving parental involvement in planning for and facilitating a college
education;
    (4) services for students with English as a second language;
    (5) academic enrichment activities;
    (6) tutoring;
    (7) career awareness and exploration;
    (8) orientation to college life;
    (9) assistance with high school course selection and information about college admission
requirements; and
    (10) financial aid counseling.
    Grants shall be awarded to postsecondary institutions, professional organizations,
community-based organizations, or others deemed appropriate by the director.
    Grants shall be awarded for one year and may be renewed for a second year with
documentation to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education of successful program outcomes.
    Subd. 2. Eligible students. Eligible students include students in grades six through 12 who
meet one or more of the following criteria:
    (1) are counted under section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (Title I);
    (2) are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch under the National School Lunch Act;
    (3) receive assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Law (Title I of the
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996); or
    (4) are a member of a group traditionally underrepresented in higher education.
    Eligible undergraduate students include those who met the student eligibility criteria as
6th through 12th graders.
    Subd. 3. Application process. The director of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education
shall develop a grant application process. The director shall attempt to support projects in a
manner that ensures that eligible students throughout the state have access to program services.
    The grant application must include, at a minimum, the following information:
    (1) a description of the characteristics of the students to be served reflective of the need
for services listed in subdivision 1;
    (2) a description of the services to be provided and a timeline for implementation of the
activities;
    (3) a description of how the services provided will foster postsecondary attendance and
support postsecondary retention;
    (4) a description of how the services will be evaluated to determine whether the program
goals were met; and
    (5) other information as identified by the director.
Grant recipients must specify both program and student outcome goals, and performance
measures for each goal.
    Subd. 4. Match required. Applicants are required to match the grant amount
dollar-for-dollar. The match may be in cash or an in-kind contribution.
    Subd. 5. Review committee. The director must establish and convene a grant selection
committee to review applications and award grants. The members of the committee may include
representatives of postsecondary institutions, school districts, organizations providing precollege
outreach services, and others deemed appropriate by the director.
    Subd. 6. Program evaluation. Each grant recipient must annually submit a report to the
Minnesota Office of Higher Education delineating its program and student outcome goals, and
activities implemented to achieve the stated outcomes. The goals must be clearly stated and
measurable. Grant recipients are required to collect, analyze, and report on participation and
outcome data that enable the office to verify that the program goals were met. The office shall
maintain:
    (1) information about successful precollege program and undergraduate student retention
program activities for dissemination to individuals throughout the state interested in adopting or
replicating successful program practices; and
    (2) data on the success of the funded projects in increasing the high school graduation,
college participation, and college graduation rates of students served by the grant recipients. The
office may convene meetings of the grant recipients, as needed, to discuss issues pertaining to the
implementation of precollege services and undergraduate retention programs.
    Subd. 7. Report. By January 15 of each odd-numbered year, the office shall submit a report
to the committees in the legislature with jurisdiction over higher education finance regarding
the grant recipients and their activities. The report shall include information about the students
served, the organizations providing services, program activities, program goals and outcomes, and
program revenue sources and funding levels.
History: 2005 c 107 art 2 s 29,60; 2007 c 144 art 2 s 32-35