MN SF1397

Establishes a pilot project providing incentives for school districts and county governments to develop partnership agreements ensuring foster care students can remain enrolled in their school of origin when placed outside the district's boundaries.

Requires school districts and local child welfare agencies to submit written interagency agreements describing transportation arrangements and funding plans, with parties seeking title IV-E federal reimbursement for eligible students and transportation costs.

Commissioner of Education must reimburse qualifying partnerships at the end of each school year based on allowable expenditures, with available funds prorated statewide if insufficient to fully fund all participating districts.

Commissioner must report to legislative education committees by February 1, 2018, including the number of agreements and participating entities, baseline and outcome data on foster care students remaining in their school of origin, transportation expenditures, federal reimbursements, and projected statewide implementation costs.

Appropriates fiscal year 2018 general fund money to the Department of Education for the pilot project, with up to five percent of funds available for state and local administrative costs including reporting, technical support, and establishing a title IV-E reimbursement claiming process.