HF2528

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to allocate state funds specifically for neighborhood partnership grants. These grants are intended to support educational initiatives that partner with local communities to enhance learning and development opportunities for students, focusing particularly on underserved demographics.

Main Provisions

• Appropriation of Funds: The bill appropriates a total of $2.6 million each fiscal year from the general fund to the Minnesota Department of Education for neighborhood partnership grants.
• Targeted Allocations:
  • $1.3 million annually is allocated to the Northside Achievement Zone.
  • $1.3 million annually is allocated to the St. Paul Promise Neighborhood.
• Regional Grants: An additional $1.4 million each fiscal year is designated for regional neighborhood partnership grants. Specific recipients include various community initiatives in Northfield, Red Wing, St. Cloud, Austin, Rochester, St. Louis Park, and Twin Cities.
• Onetime Grants: A separate allotment of $900,000 for onetime grants, distributed equally among the aforementioned community programs.
• Emerging Partnerships: Funding for new partnership programs focused on planning and development to establish educational support in underserved communities across Minnesota, with emphasis on geographic and demographic diversity.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill reinforces and expands financial support for community and educational partnerships specifically aimed at addressing the needs of historically underserved students. It also introduces one-time grants and emerging partnership grants to encourage the development of new educational partnership locations and strategies.

Relevant Terms

• Education finance
• Neighborhood partnership grants
• Northside Achievement Zone
• St. Paul Promise Neighborhood
• Underserved students
• Minnesota Department of Education
• Regional partnership grants
• Onetime grants
• Emerging neighborhood partnerships