MN HF4060

AGlobal Education shall develop a STEM lab center by remodeling the Orchid Inn in Sleepy Eye, targeting grades 6-12 students in greater Minnesota with emphasis on agriculture-focused STEM education.

The center will focus on developing STEM labs and agriculture programs that encourage collaboration between businesses, postsecondary institutions, and school districts, and create career pathways in agriculture with cultural and global competence.

AGlobal Education must establish a STEM education advisory committee to advise on programming and must submit annual reports to the legislature and commissioner of agriculture by January 15, starting no later than January 15, 2020.

The center will provide educator professional development, facilitate international exchange, support project-based learning with industry partnerships, and increase family and student awareness of STEM and agriculture career opportunities.

$35,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Agriculture in fiscal year 2018 as a one-time grant, available until June 30, 2020, with no ongoing funding after fiscal year 2021.