1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to education; integrating service-learning into Minnesota's education
1.3 system; establishing an evidence-based service-learning technical assistance and
1.4 grant program; requiring reports; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
1.5 Statutes 2022, section 124D.50, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for
1.6 new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 124D.50, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.9to read:
1.10 Subd. 2a.Service-learning specialist; service-learning work.(a) The commissioner
1.11must create a service-learning specialist position in the department to expand evidence-based
1.12service-learning; coordinate service-learning grants under section 124D.501; and provide
1.13technical assistance to eligible schools and their community-based partners, including
1.14nonprofit organizations, community education programs, state or federal agencies, and
1.15political subdivisions.
1.16 (b) The commissioner may provide or may contract for specialized expertise in school-
1.17and community-based service-learning best practices, professional development or training,
1.18service-learning research or evaluation, or development of service-learning communities.
1.19 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2023.
1.20 Sec. 2. [124D.501] INNOVATIVE INCUBATOR SERVICE-LEARNING GRANTS.
1.21 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
1.22the meanings given.
1Sec. 2.
REVISOR CM/AD 23-0135901/04/23
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 160
NINETY-THIRD SESSION
Authored by Freiberg01/09/2023
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Education Policy 2.1 (b) "Eligible school" means a school district or school site operated by a school district,
2.2charter school, or Tribal contract or grant school eligible for state aid under section 124D.83,
2.3or cooperative unit under section 123A.24, subdivision 2.
2.4 (c) "Eligible service-learning partnership" means a partnership that includes an eligible
2.5school and at least one community-based organization, community education program, state
2.6or federal agency, or political subdivision. An eligible service-learning partnership may
2.7include other individuals or entities, such as a postsecondary faculty member or institution,
2.8parent, other community member, local business or business organization, or local media
2.9representative. A school district member in an eligible service-learning partnership may
2.10participate in the partnership through a community education program established under
2.11section 124D.19.
2.12 Subd. 2.Establishment; eligibility criteria; application requirements.(a) A five-year
2.13technical assistance and grant program is established to initiate or expand and strengthen
2.14innovative service-learning opportunities for students in kindergarten through grade 12;
2.15increase student engagement and academic achievement; help close the academic
2.16achievement gap and the community, college, and career opportunity gaps; and create a
2.17positive school climate and safer schools and communities.
2.18 (b) At least one teacher, administrator, or program staff member and at least one
2.19service-learning specialist, service-learning coordinator, curriculum specialist, or other
2.20qualified employee employed by an eligible school and designated to develop and share
2.21expertise in implementing service-learning best practices must work with students to form
2.22a student-adult partnership. Before developing and submitting a grant application to the
2.23department, a participating student must work with at least one adult who is part of the
2.24initial partnership to identify a need or opportunity to pursue through a service-learning
2.25partnership and invite at least one partner to collaborate in developing and submitting a
2.26grant application. The fiscal agent for the grant to an eligible service-learning partnership
2.27is an eligible school that is a member of the partnership or has a program that is a member
2.28of the partnership.
2.29 (c) An eligible service-learning partnership receiving an innovation service-learning
2.30grant must:
2.31 (1) include at least two or more enrolled students; two or more school employees of an
2.32eligible school in accordance with paragraph (b); and an eligible community-based
2.33organization, community education program, state or federal agency, or political subdivision;
2.34and
2Sec. 2.
REVISOR CM/AD 23-0135901/04/23 3.1 (2) assist students to:
3.2 (i) actively participate in service-learning experiences that meet identified student and
3.3community needs or opportunities;
3.4 (ii) operate collaboratively with service-learning partnership members;
3.5 (iii) align service-learning experiences with at least one state or local academic standard,
3.6which may include a local career and technical education standard;
3.7 (iv) apply students' knowledge and skills in their community and help solve community
3.8problems or address community opportunities;
3.9 (v) foster students' civic engagement; and
3.10 (vi) explore or pursue career pathways and support career and college readiness.
3.11 (d) An eligible service-learning partnership interested in receiving a grant must apply
3.12to the commissioner of education in the form and manner determined by the commissioner.
3.13The partnership must work with an eligible school. Consistent with this subdivision, the
3.14application must describe the eligible service-learning partnership plan to:
3.15 (1) incorporate student-designed and student-led service-learning into the school
3.16curriculum or specific courses or across subject areas;
3.17 (2) provide students with instruction and experiences using service-learning best practices
3.18during the regular school day with an option to supplement their service-learning experiences
3.19outside of the school day;
3.20 (3) align service-learning experiences with at least one state or local academic standard,
3.21which may include a local career or technical education standard, and at least one goal of
3.22the world's best workforce in accordance with section 120B.11 or the state plan submitted
3.23and approved under the most recent reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary
3.24Education Act;
3.25 (4) make implementing service-learning best practices an educational priority;
3.26 (5) provide student-designed, student-led service-learning experiences that help meet
3.27community needs or develop or advance community opportunities; and
3.28 (6) identify at least one eligible school teacher, administrator, or program staff member
3.29and at least one service-learning specialist, service-learning coordinator, curriculum specialist,
3.30or other qualified eligible school employee designated to develop and share expertise in
3.31implementing service-learning best practices to work with students to form a student-adult
3Sec. 2.
REVISOR CM/AD 23-0135901/04/23 4.1partnership that includes at least one community-based organization, community education
4.2program, state or federal agency, or political subdivision.
4.3 Subd. 3.Innovation grants.The commissioner of education must annually award up
4.4to 32 grants of up to $50,000 each to allow eligible partnerships to provide student-designed,
4.5student-led service-learning opportunities consistent with this section. Grant awards must
4.6be equitably distributed throughout Minnesota by congressional district. The commissioner
4.7may designate start-up or leader grant categories with differentiated maximum grant dollar
4.8amounts up to $50,000. A grantee designated as leader grantee may be required to meet
4.9additional leader grant requirements as established by the commissioner in the grant
4.10application criteria developed by the commissioner. The commissioner may renew a grant
4.11annually as appropriated funds are available and consistent with the grant criteria established
4.12in this section and other criteria the commissioner may establish for grant eligibility or for
4.13renewing a grant. In order to receive a grant, a partnership must provide a 50 percent match
4.14in funds or in-kind contributions unless the commissioner waives the match requirement
4.15for an applicant serving a high number of students whose families meet federal poverty
4.16guidelines. A partnership grantee must allocate the grant amount according to its grant
4.17application. The partnership must convey 50 percent of the actual grant amount to at least
4.18one community-based organization, community education program, state or federal agency,
4.19or political subdivision to help implement or defray the direct costs of carrying out the
4.20service-learning strategies and activities described in the partnership's grant application.
4.21 Subd. 4.Evaluation.The commissioner of education must evaluate innovative, incubator,
4.22service-learning awarded grants based on the educational and developmental outcomes of
4.23participating students and the eligible school's progress toward meeting at least one goal of
4.24the world's best workforce goals in accordance with section 120B.11 or the state plan
4.25submitted and approved under the most recent reauthorization of the Elementary and
4.26Secondary Education Act. The commissioner must evaluate the success of service-learning
4.27grants based on the community outcomes achieved through student service-learning
4.28experiences and the corresponding student service activities. The commissioner must submit
4.29a report on participating student and community outcomes under this section to the legislative
4.30committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education by February 15,
4.312030.
4.32 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2023.
4Sec. 2.
REVISOR CM/AD 23-0135901/04/23 5.1 Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION.
5.2 Subdivision 1.Department of Education.The sums indicated in this section are
5.3appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal years
5.4designated.
5.5 Subd. 2.Service-learning specialist; service-learning work.(a) For the service-learning
5.6specialist position at the Department of Education under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.50,
5.7subdivision 2a, and for related service-learning work under Minnesota Statutes, section
5.8124D.501:
2024.....300,0005.9 $
2025.....300,0005.10 $
5.11 (b) Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
5.12 (c) The base for fiscal year 2026 and later is $300,000.
5.13 Subd. 3.Innovative service-learning grants.(a) For innovative service-learning grants
5.14under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.501:
2024.....1,000,0005.15 $
2025.....1,000,0005.16 $
5.17 (b) Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
5.18 (c) The base for fiscal year 2026 and later is $1,000,000.
5Sec. 3.
REVISOR CM/AD 23-0135901/04/23