Signed by Governor Tim Walz

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with senate amendments and pass a bill that expands aid for COVID-19 related school closures.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Education to prioritize distribution and expenditure of funds that enable a school to comply with Executive Order 20-19 and any future executive order on kindergarten through grade 12 education that relates to the infectious disease known as COVID-19, as well as the corresponding Department of Education guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including employee compensation (Sec. 3).

• Appropriates $77,247,000 for 2020 and $81,233,000 for 2021 for achievement and integration aid (Sec. 4).

• Appropriates $3,608,000 for 2020 and $3,608,000 for 2021 for developmental screening aid (Sec. 5).

• Appropriates $29,196,000 for 2020 and $24,911,000 for 2021 for the Department of Education and the following for specific programs (Sec. 3):

• $319,000 each year is for the Board of School Administrators;

• $1,000,000 each year is for regional centers of excellence under Minnesota Statutes,

• $250,000 each year is for the School Finance Division to enhance financial data analysis;

• $720,000 each year is for implementing Minnesota's Learning for English Academic Proficiency and Success Act

• $123,000 each year is for a dyslexia specialist;

• $4,700,000 in fiscal year 2020 only is for legal fees and costs associated with litigation;

• $400,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $480,000 in fiscal year 2021 and later are for the Department of Education's mainframe update.

• Requires that expenditures for special education, in the absence of school closures or learning plan modifications due to COVID-19, must be included as eligible expenditures for the calculation of state special education aid and special education tuition billing (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to issue a one-year conditional Tier 3 license to an applicant that is otherwise qualified but was unable to complete a required licensure exam because of a COVID-19-related disruption (Sec. 1.b).

Full Bill Text