MN HF1676

Commissioner of education shall establish the Educational Partnership Fund program to support coordinated educational partnerships providing evidence-based support services designed to close opportunity gaps in geographic areas experiencing poverty.

Grant recipients must provide or coordinate integrated supportive services addressing kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading proficiency, high school graduation, postsecondary attainment, physical and mental health, career skills development, parental engagement, community engagement, and remedial education reduction.

Program allocates grants into three tiers: Tier 1 (community planning), Tier 2 (capacity building), and Tier 3 (sustaining), with each grant requiring a match from nonstate sources including in-kind contributions.

Appropriations of $4,650,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $5,400,000 in fiscal year 2017 are allocated across the three grant tiers, with base appropriation of $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2018 and thereafter.

Commissioner shall submit biennial reports by December 15 of odd-numbered years summarizing grantee activities, program performance measures, Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment scores, and legislative recommendations.