Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to create an "Education Empowerment Account Program" in Minnesota. This program is designed to give parents control over educational funds by setting up individual accounts for eligible students, allowing for personalized education spending.

Main Provisions

• Establishment of Accounts: An individual education empowerment account will be created for each eligible student in Minnesota.

• Funding and Usage:

  • The accounts will be funded with state general education revenues, adjusted for grade-level.
  • Funds can be used for various educational expenses, including tuition, textbooks, educational tests, therapies, transport, and necessary computer equipment.

• Eligibility:

  • All Minnesota students eligible to enroll in public pre-kindergarten through grade 12 schools are eligible.
  • Participating students’ remaining funds after high school can be used for postsecondary tuition and fees.

• Program Administration:

  • The Minnesota Commissioner of Education is responsible for managing these accounts and ensuring compliance with the program's rules.

• Return of Funds:

  • If a student re-enrolls in a public school, their account is closed, and remaining funds are returned to the state.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creation of a new type of funding mechanism within the education finance system in Minnesota.
• Introduction of personalized control over education-related spending by parents, differing from the traditional public school funding model.

Impact on Schools

• This bill explicitly states that it will not grant additional control or supervision to the Department of Education or public school districts over nonpublic schools.

Relevant Terms

education empowerment account, eligible education expenses, federal funds, nonpublic schools, individual education accounts, Minnesota education finance, personal education funding.