MN SF149

Amends the collaborative urban and greater Minnesota educators of color grant program to expand eligibility from "public or private higher education institutions" to "teacher preparation program providers" approved by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board.

Authorizes school boards to offer hiring bonuses to new employees, including teachers licensed or working in shortage areas, with school boards required to establish repayment criteria if employees do not complete two years of teaching in the district.

Increases appropriations for collaborative urban and greater Minnesota educators of color grants from $1,099,000 (2020) and $1,000,000 (2021) to a base of $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2023 and later.

Increases appropriations for expanded concurrent enrollment grants from $375,000 annually to $750,000 base for fiscal year 2022 and later, and for paraprofessional pathway grants from $1,500,000 annually to $3,000,000 base for fiscal year 2022 and later.

Appropriates $500,000 in fiscal year 2021 to the African American Registry to develop a readability level system integrated into the Teachers' Forum to improve reading literacy comprehension, with a report due by January 15, 2022.