MN HF1347

Establishes a competitive grant program for alternative teacher preparation programs approved under Minnesota Statutes section 122A.245, administered by the Commissioner of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Eligible programs must meet three criteria: maintain a highly selective process accepting less than 25 percent of applicants, demonstrate a history of increasing diversity in Minnesota's teaching workforce, and show a track record of improving student achievement through peer-reviewed research.

Grants may be used for recruitment, selection, and training of teachers; ongoing professional development; regional management and operational support including finance and technology services; and leveraging nonstate funding.

Commissioner may request biennial reports from grantees to verify compliance with eligibility criteria.

Appropriates $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 from the general fund for the program.