MN HF1894

Establishes a pilot program providing intensive advising for girls of color at one high school in Minneapolis Special School District No. 1 to improve academic performance, graduation rates, and college/career readiness.

Program objectives include increasing academic performance and postsecondary enrollment for students facing social, demographic, racial, and economic barriers; expanding knowledge of college options and financing; increasing mentoring, internships, and STEM career development; and providing family mentoring and leadership training, particularly for families with incarceration experience.

Commissioner of Education must submit an evaluation by September 1, 2017 reporting program outcomes against required objectives and recommending statewide replication strategies.

Appropriates $437,500 from the general fund for fiscal year 2016 and $437,500 for fiscal year 2017, with any unused first-year balance carrying forward to the second year.