S.F. No. 768 Summary

• Adds new revenue formula for state-approved alternative programs operated by intermediate school districts, education districts, service cooperatives, or joint powers entities based on pupil units times average referendum and local optional revenue per pupil unit, effective fiscal year 2018 and later.

• Establishes that intermediate school districts or other cooperative units receiving grants must use funding only for school-linked mental health services under Minnesota Statutes section 245.4889.

• Provides staff development aid of $1,000 times full-time equivalent licensed instructional staff and nonlicensed classroom aides for intermediate school districts serving students in federal instructional settings level 4 or higher, for activities including behavior management, safety training, de-escalation, and curriculum adaptation.

• Requires a longitudinal program accountability study of intermediate district and cooperative unit supports and services for students with severe mental and behavioral health needs, with onetime appropriation for fiscal year 2019.

• Adjusts special education aid calculations for students attending nonresident districts, including 90 percent reduction of unreimbursed costs for resident districts and 100 percent reduction for intermediate districts with 70 percent or more special education enrollment.