MN HF4272

Amends Minnesota Statutes section 125A.76 to add definitions for special education equity aid, including metro regions (districts in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington County, plus districts with 7,500+ students) and rural regions (districts outside those counties with fewer than 7,500 students).

Creates new section 125A.81 establishing special education equity aid equal to the greater of zero or the lesser of: 30 percent of the difference between a district's initial special education cross subsidy per student and the regional average, or $120 times the district's adjusted average daily membership.

Requires the Department of Education to assign school districts to special education equity regions and calculate regional average initial special education cross subsidies based on the second preceding fiscal year.

Appropriates $20,000,000 from the general fund to the Department of Education for special education equity aid in fiscal year 2019, with authority to prorate if insufficient.

Effective dates: Section 2 (equity aid calculation) effective July 1, 2018; Section 3 (appropriation) effective July 1, 2018.