MN SF1873

Creates a service-learning specialist position in the Department of Education to coordinate grants, provide technical assistance, and advance evidence-based service learning in schools and communities.

Establishes a five-year innovative incubator service-learning grant program providing up to 32 grants of $50,000 each to school-community partnerships serving students in early childhood through grade 12, equitably distributed by congressional district.

Requires eligible partnerships to include at least one school employee and one service-learning specialist, plus at least one community-based organization or government unit, with students designing and leading service-learning projects aligned to academic standards.

Mandates grantees allocate 50 percent of grant funds to community partners and provide one-to-one matching funds unless waived for high-poverty schools.

Appropriates $300,000 annually for fiscal years 2018-2019 for the specialist position and $800,000 annually for the same period for innovative grants, with interim progress reports due February 15, 2021 and final report due February 15, 2023.