MN HF376

Creates choice scholarships for Minnesota high school dropouts aged 16+ with household income at or below 150% of federal free/reduced-price lunch threshold who were enrolled in a public school within the last two years.

Eligible nonpublic high schools must be accredited, require tuition, voluntarily enroll scholarship recipients, administer statewide testing, and submit data to the department.

Scholarship amounts equal the lesser of actual tuition or 90% of state tuition support (for lowest-income students) or 50% of state tuition support (for those at 150% of lunch program threshold).

Limits scholarships to 1,500 for 2017-2018 school year and 3,000 for 2018-2019 school year, with department establishing allocation standards among eligible individuals.

Restricts state and local regulation of participating nonpublic schools' curriculum, religious instruction, hiring, and educational programs while requiring annual principal certification of compliance and random department visits to at least 5% of eligible schools.