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S.F. No. 1796 - Early Childhood Education Scholarship Cap Elimination; Elementary Learning Mentorship Pilot Program Creation and Appropriation
 
Author: Senator Richard Cohen
 
Prepared By: Bjorn E. Arneson, Senate Analyst (651/296-3812)
 
Date: March 19, 2014



 

Section 1. Administration. Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to establish a target for the average early learning scholarship based on data from the biennial child care market rate survey.

Section 2. Program funding. Provides that, beginning in fiscal year 2016, the base appropriation for scholarships equals the lesser of:  (1) twice the prior year appropriation; or (2) the actual amount necessary to fund all eligible scholarship requests.

Section 3. Early childhood education scholarships. Increases the 2015 appropriation for early learning scholarships.

Section 4. Elementary learning mentorship pilot program.

Subdivision 1. Establishment. Directs the commissioner to establish an elementary learning mentorship pilot program for fiscal years 2015-2017.

Subdivision 2. Pilot site selection. Directs the commissioner to select five school districts as pilot sites:  three metro districts, one nonmetro district, and one district in which a majority of the students served are American Indian children. Requires that two of the metro districts have their administrative offices in a city of the first class.

Subdivision 3. Student selection. Provides that pilot sites are solely responsible for the method by which students are paired with mentors.

Subdivision 4. Mentorship criteria. Provides that pilot sites are solely responsible for selecting and overseeing volunteer mentors.  Requires that mentors must work with students at least three hours per week.  Provides additional guidance to districts relating to mentor coordination with school calendars and curriculum.

Subdivision 5. Funding. Directs the commissioner to allocate an equal amount of money to each site to be used for various purposes relating to the mentorship program.  Requires the pilot site to submit a financial and academic report.

Subdivision 6. Report. Directs the commissioner to report to the legislature on the effectiveness of the early learning mentorship pilot project.

Section 5. Appropriation.

Subdivisions 1 and 2. Department of Education; Elementary learning mentorship pilot project. Appropriates money to the department for the pilot project implementation and administration.

Section 6. Appropriation. Board of the Arts; Arts education. Appropriates money for arts education in partnership with the President’s Turnaround Arts Initiative.

 Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final enactment.

Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 are effective July 1, 2014.

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