SF1965

Purpose

To provide funding from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to create and improve cultural and ethnic studies materials for communities that currently lack adequate resources. The goal is to ensure schools have access to high-quality, culturally relevant materials that reflect diverse groups.

Main Provisions

• In fiscal years 2026 and 2027, money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund is appropriated to the commissioner of administration.
• The funds are for competitive grants aimed at developing high-quality academic cultural and ethnic studies materials.
• Target groups include communities that do not have adequate cultural and ethnic studies materials or are underrepresented in those materials. Specific examples given are Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Oromo cultures, as well as cultures without a formal writing system that are largely oral-based.
• Recipients of grants must work with school districts that plan to use the materials to ensure alignment and implementation.

Changes to Existing Law / Impact

• Establishes a new grant program funded by a legacy appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to develop culturally and ethnically focused studies materials.
• Expands support to include underrepresented cultures and oral-based communities that may lack written materials.
• Introduces a collaboration requirement, mandating that grant recipients partner with school districts intended to use the materials.

Relevant terms arts and cultural heritage fund competitive grants high-quality academic cultural and ethnic studies materials underrepresented communities Hmong Karen Somali Oromo cultures without a formal writing system oral-based cultures commissioner of administration school districts fiscal years 2026 and 2027 legacy appropriation cultural studies materials ethnic studies materials