SF3128

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to enhance the "Increase Teachers of Color Act" by making permanent a pilot scholarship program for aspiring teachers of color. It also establishes a special revenue fund account to manage the scholarships and introduces several amendments to existing statutes to broaden the support and opportunities for teachers of color in Minnesota.

Main Provisions

• Permanent Scholarship Program: The bill transitions a pilot scholarship program into a permanent initiative aimed at supporting undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups who are preparing to become teachers and demonstrate financial need.

• Grant Administration: The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board will manage the grant program, with flexibility to partner with the Office of Higher Education. They will distribute grants across Minnesota's economic development regions and ensure no predetermined caps on the number of funded institutions.

• Financial Aid Details: The bill establishes a financial aid range based on previous grant data, capping direct financial assistance at $5,000 per candidate annually. Institutions receiving grants can support candidates throughout their education journey, potentially overlapping with funds from multiple fiscal years.

• Eligibility and Awards:

  • Eligible applicants must be enrolled in approved teacher preparation programs or specific two-year programs, affirm their ethnicity, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and demonstrate financial need.
  • They can receive up to $30,000 over time, with a maximum award of $10,000 annually for full-time bachelor's or post-baccalaureate programs, and $6,000 for associate degrees.
  • Awards consider the applicant's cost of attendance, expected family contributions, and other aid received.

• Scholarship Account: An account within a special revenue fund will manage funds for the scholarship program, ensuring continuous availability and use exclusively for scholarships.

• Expectations and Reporting: Recipients are expected to work as full-time teachers in Minnesota post-graduation. The program will provide annual reports detailing application statistics, recipient demographics, and financial summaries to legislative committees and the public.

• Appropriations: Significant funds are allocated to support these initiatives, including $10 million yearly transfers into the special revenue fund for scholarships.

Significant Changes

• Converts the scholarship pilot program into a permanent structure, increasing available funding and formalizing processes.
• Raises the total scholarship cap for individuals from $25,000 to $30,000.
• Provides clear guidelines for eligibility, award amounts, and the management of scholarship distribution.

Relevant Terms

aspiring teachers of color, scholarship account, grant administration, financial assistance, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, Office of Higher Education, teacher preparation program, full-time study, cost of attendance, Higher Education, racial or ethnic groups, Minnesota teachers, education opportunity gaps, financial need