1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to education; establishing a skills path program for employment-based
1.3 training; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. [124D.351] SKILLS PATH PROGRAM.
1.6 Subdivision 1.Purpose.The purpose of the skills path program is to provide students
1.7with clear pathways from high school to careers in skilled work and the trades and create
1.8opportunities for students to enter postsecondary programs and employment-based training
1.9in high school.
1.10 Subd. 2.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
1.11meanings given.
1.12 (b) "Career and technical education dual credit program" means a postsecondary career
1.13or technical education course under section 124D.09, subdivision 5a; a secondary course
1.14that has a current articulation agreement for postsecondary credit hours with a participating
1.15institution; or a youth skills training program that awards postsecondary credit to students.
1.16 (c) "Employment-based training" means a registered apprenticeship or apprenticeship
1.17readiness program, a dual-training program, a workforce training program at an opportunities
1.18industrialization center, or other work-based learning programs in which the student has
1.19paid employment.
1.20 Subd. 3.Eligible institutions.(a) A secondary public school, an American
1.21Indian-controlled Tribal contract or grant school eligible for aid under section 124D.83,
1Section 1.
REVISOR CR/MI 25-0081512/03/24
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 271
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Myers and Bakeberg01/23/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Education Policy 2.1vocational center school, or a nonpublic school, or any combination of schools, is eligible
2.2to apply for a skills path program designation.
2.3 (b) A Minnesota state college or university, an institution licensed or registered as a
2.4postsecondary institution by the Office of Higher Education, or an institution exempt from
2.5the provisions of sections 136A.61 to 136A.71, or 136A.822 to 136A.834, as approved by
2.6the Office of Higher Education may partner with an institution in paragraph (a) to provide
2.7a postsecondary options enrollment career and technical education course for eligible students
2.8in a skills path program.
2.9 (c) An eligible institution may work in partnership with one or more postsecondary
2.10programs designated in paragraph (b) to create a two-year program that incorporates
2.11secondary and postsecondary credit along with employment-based training to award an
2.12associate degree in skilled occupations.
2.13 Subd. 4.Skills path programs.The commissioner of education must develop an
2.14application for programs that provide students with clear pathways from high school to
2.15careers in skilled work and the trades to be designated as skills path programs. Skills path
2.16programs must include career connected learning options, career and technical education
2.17dual credit program options, and employment-based training opportunities to be eligible
2.18for this designation. Applicants must demonstrate how skills path programs will be marketed
2.19to students and what other local partners and employers are involved in developing career
2.20pathway opportunities. Skills path programs may be identified in skilled occupations and
2.21the trades, including manufacturing, construction, health care services, information
2.22technology, agriculture, transportation, child care, law enforcement, energy, and other related
2.23industries.
2.24 Subd. 5.Interaction with education finance.For the purpose of computing state aids
2.25for the school district, students participating in the skills path programs under this section
2.26shall be counted in the average daily membership of the school district.
2.27 Subd. 6.Academic credit.A school district may grant academic credit for skills path
2.28programs under this section in accordance with local requirements.
2.29 Sec. 2. [124D.352] SKILLS PATH GRANT PROGRAM.
2.30 (a) The commissioner of education shall award grants up to $50,000 per grant to up to
2.31ten secondary schools annually for skills path programs that align career and technical
2.32education dual credit program options with employment-based training opportunities.
2.33Applications must demonstrate how grant funding will provide students with clear pathways
2Sec. 2.
REVISOR CR/MI 25-0081512/03/24 3.1from high school to postsecondary training that lead to careers in skilled work and the trades.
3.2The commissioner of education may work with the commissioner of higher education and
3.3the commissioner of labor and industry to develop the grant application and administer the
3.4grants.
3.5 (b) A secondary school awarded a grant under this section must use the grant award for
3.6any of the following implementation and coordination activities:
3.7 (1) marketing efforts to students about skills path program opportunities;
3.8 (2) coordinating academic, vocational, and occupational learning, school-based and
3.9work-based learning, and secondary and postsecondary education for participants in the
3.10program;
3.11 (3) reimbursement of tuition, books, required tools, and other expenses necessary for
3.12participation in the program; and
3.13 (4) any other implementation or coordination activity that the commissioner may direct
3.14or permit the eligible institution to perform.
3.15 (c) Grant awards may not be used to pay the wages of a student directly or indirectly.
3.16 (d) The following information must be included in the grant application:
3.17 (1) the identity of each secondary school that is a participant in the skills path program;
3.18 (2) the identity of each registered apprenticeship program or apprenticeship readiness
3.19program, dual-training program, workforce training program at an opportunities
3.20industrialization center, or other work-based learning program in which the student has the
3.21opportunity for paid employment that is a participant in the skills path program;
3.22 (3) the identity of each postsecondary institution, intermediate school district, public
3.23agency, nonprofit organization, union, career and technical education consortium, or
3.24workforce development authority that is a participant in the skills path program;
3.25 (4) the identity of any employers participating in the skills path program;
3.26 (5) a description of any career connected learning components;
3.27 (6) a description of the career and technical education dual-credit program options;
3.28 (7) a description of any postsecondary education components in the skills path program;
3.29 (8) a description of employment-based training opportunities; and
3.30 (9) applicable career planning information.
3Sec. 2.
REVISOR CR/MI 25-0081512/03/24 4.1 Sec. 3. SKILLS PATH PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.
4.2 Subdivision 1.Commissioner of education.The sums indicated in this section are
4.3appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of education in the fiscal years
4.4designated.
4.5 Subd. 2.Skills path program.(a) To administer skills path grants under Minnesota
4.6Statutes, section 124D.352:
2026.....500,0004.7 $
2027.....500,0004.8 $
4.9 (b) The base for this program for fiscal year 2028 and later is $500,000.
4Sec. 3.
REVISOR CR/MI 25-0081512/03/24