SF551

Senate Bill SF No 551, introduced by a group of Minnesota senators, aims to allocate funding from the state's general fund to the commissioner of education. This funding will support the Building Assets Reducing Risks (BARR) Center. The BARR Center will provide grants to at least 40 schools, ensuring a geographic balance between urban, suburban, and rural locations, specifically targeting schools with high numbers of students in poverty or from underrepresented groups, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities.

The BARR program is research-based and focuses on improving student social and emotional skills, enhancing academic achievement particularly for students of color and those experiencing poverty, boosting teacher satisfaction and effectiveness, and increasing high school graduation rates. The program involves school coaching, professional development, and educational resources over a three-year period.

For fiscal years 2026 and 2027, $10 million each year has been designated for these initiatives. The funds designated for each year will remain available for use until the end of June of the second year following their allocation (i.e., June 2028 for 2026 funds and June 2029 for 2027 funds). Additionally, up to three percent of these funds can be used for administering the grants.