MN HF734

Establishes the Education Partnerships Coalition Fund under Minnesota Statutes chapter 124D to support coordinated education partnerships providing evidence-based services to children and families in communities experiencing poverty.

Creates three grant tiers: Tier 1 sustaining grants for ongoing operations, Tier 2 implementation grants for expanding activities, and Tier 3 community planning grants for initial development of partnership locations.

Requires grant recipients to provide integrated supportive services addressing kindergarten readiness, grade 3 reading proficiency, high school graduation, postsecondary attainment, physical and mental health, career skills, parental engagement, community alignment, and remedial education reduction.

Appropriates $4,975,000 total for fiscal years 2018-2019: $4.1 million annually for Tier 1 grants ($2.05M each to Northside Achievement Zone and St. Paul Promise Neighborhood), $675,000 annually for Tier 2 grants, $200,000-$400,000 for Tier 3 grants, and $134,000 annually for administrative costs.

Requires the commissioner of education to submit biennial reports by December 15 of odd-numbered years starting in 2019, including grantee activities, performance measures, outcomes analysis, and legislative recommendations.