MN SF597

Establishes a service-learning specialist position in the Department of Education effective July 1, 2015, to advance evidence-based service learning and coordinate a grants program.

Creates a five-year innovative incubator service-learning grant program for school-community partnerships serving early childhood through grade 12 students to increase academic achievement and close opportunity gaps.

Awards up to 32 grants of $50,000 each, equitably distributed by congressional district, with grantees required to provide one-to-one matching funds or in-kind contributions and allocate 50 percent of grant funds to community partners.

Requires partnerships to include at least one school staff member, one service-learning specialist, enrolled students, and a community-based organization or government unit working collaboratively on student-designed service projects.

Appropriates $600,000 for the specialist position and $1.6 million for grant programs in fiscal years 2016-2017, with commissioners required to report on student and community outcomes by February 15, 2019 and February 15, 2021.