HF1554

This bill modifies the allowed uses of student support personnel aid for school districts and charter schools in Minnesota, particularly those experiencing declining enrollment.

Key Provisions:

1. Expanded Use of Funds:

   • School districts, charter schools, and cooperative units can use student support personnel aid to:
     
     • Hire new student support personnel.
       
     • Increase service hours for part-time student support personnel.
       
     • Make permanent previously temporary positions funded by federal COVID-19 relief programs.
       
     • Maintain positions that would otherwise be eliminated.
       

2. Cooperative Units:

   • Funding allocated to cooperative units (such as intermediate school districts) must be used for similar purposes—hiring or expanding student support personnel positions that were initially funded by federal relief aid.

3. Alternative Use When Hiring Fails:

   • If a school district, charter school, or cooperative unit does not receive at least two applications for a student support position and is unable to hire for a full-time role, the aid may instead be used for contracted services from licensed professionals (e.g., school counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses, or chemical dependency counselors).

4. Special Provision for Declining Enrollment Districts:

   • School districts or charter schools with declining enrollment (i.e., those with lower student counts compared to the previous year) can use the aid to maintain existing student support personnel or contracted services established before the 2023-2024 school year.
     
   • Once a district qualifies as a declining enrollment district, it remains eligible for this flexibility for the next four fiscal years.

Impact:

• Provides declining enrollment schools with more flexibility to retain essential student support services.
• Ensures continued availability of student wellness services even if hiring full-time personnel proves difficult.
• Helps stabilize positions funded by temporary federal pandemic aid.

This bill aims to strengthen student support services while considering the budget challenges faced by schools with shrinking enrollments.