1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; modifying area learning centers 
  1.3             to include programs for children who speak a language 
  1.4             other than English; establishing a grant program; 
  1.5             appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, 
  1.6             sections 123A.05, subdivision 3; and 123A.06, 
  1.7             subdivisions 1 and 2. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 123A.05, 
  1.10  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 3.  [ACCESS TO SERVICES.] A center shall have access 
  1.12  to the district's regular education programs, special education 
  1.13  programs, technology facilities, and staff.  It may contract 
  1.14  with individuals or post-secondary institutions.  It shall seek 
  1.15  the involvement of community education programs, post-secondary 
  1.16  institutions, interagency collaboratives, culturally based 
  1.17  organizations, mutual assistance associations, and other 
  1.18  community resources, businesses, and other federal, state, and 
  1.19  local public agencies. 
  1.20     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 123A.06, 
  1.21  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.22     Subdivision 1.  [PROGRAM FOCUS.] (a) The programs and 
  1.23  services of a center must focus on academic and learning skills, 
  1.24  applied learning opportunities, trade and vocational skills, 
  1.25  work-based learning opportunities, work experience, youth 
  1.26  service to the community, ~~and~~ transition services, and language 
  2.1   and literacy programs for children whose primary language is a 
  2.2   language other than English.  Applied learning, work-based 
  2.3   learning, and service learning may best be developed in 
  2.4   collaboration with a local education and transitions 
  2.5   partnership, culturally based organizations, mutual assistance 
  2.6   associations, or other community resources.  In addition to 
  2.7   offering programs, the center shall coordinate the use of other 
  2.8   available educational services, special education services, 
  2.9   social services, health services, and post-secondary 
  2.10  institutions in the community and services area.  
  2.11     (b) Consistent with the requirements of sections 121A.40 to 
  2.12  121A.56, a school district may provide an alternative education 
  2.13  program for a student who is within the compulsory attendance 
  2.14  age under section 120A.20, and who is involved in severe or 
  2.15  repeated disciplinary action. 
  2.16     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 123A.06, 
  2.17  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  2.18     Subd. 2.  [PEOPLE TO BE SERVED.] A center shall provide 
  2.19  programs for secondary pupils and adults.  A center may also 
  2.20  provide programs and services for elementary and secondary 
  2.21  pupils who are not attending the center to assist them in being 
  2.22  successful in school.  A center, with the cooperation of a 
  2.23  culturally based community organization, may offer bilingual 
  2.24  education programs to elementary pupils and their parents whose 
  2.25  primary language is a language other than English.  An 
  2.26  individual education plan team may identify a center as an 
  2.27  appropriate placement to the extent a center can provide the 
  2.28  student with the appropriate special education services 
  2.29  described in the student's plan.  Pupils eligible to be served 
  2.30  are those age five to adults 22 and older who qualify under the 
  2.31  graduation incentives program in section 124D.68, subdivision 2, 
  2.32  or those pupils who are eligible to receive special education 
  2.33  services under sections 125A.03 to 125A.24, and 125A.65. 
  2.34     Sec. 4.  [AFTER SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AND 
  2.35  PARENTS WHO SPEAK ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.] 
  2.36     Subdivision 1.  [GRANT PROGRAM.] The commissioner of 
  3.1   children, families, and learning shall establish a grant program 
  3.2   for grants to culturally based, nonprofit community 
  3.3   organizations to operate after school education and community 
  3.4   connection programs for students and parents who speak English 
  3.5   as a second language.  The commissioner shall award grants to 
  3.6   culturally based community organizations who will work in 
  3.7   partnership with school sites to improve the education outcomes 
  3.8   of students who speak English as a second language and who are 
  3.9   in grades 1 through 8.  Programs eligible for grants must: 
  3.10     (1) offer enrichment activities during nonschool hours; 
  3.11     (2) strengthen student achievement through bilingual 
  3.12  language and literacy programs in core instructional areas; 
  3.13     (3) increase parental involvement with schools through 
  3.14  community-based organizations; 
  3.15     (4) address truancy problems; 
  3.16     (5) utilize curriculum and materials that will reflect the 
  3.17  unique cultural needs of the students; and 
  3.18     (6) collaborate with existing limited English proficiency 
  3.19  and English as a second language programs offered by school 
  3.20  districts. 
  3.21     Subd. 2.  [GRANT PROCEDURE.] Programs may apply for a grant 
  3.22  by submitting an application to the commissioner describing how 
  3.23  they will meet the criteria described in subdivision 1.  Grant 
  3.24  awards shall not exceed $....... per program. 
  3.25     Sec. 5.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  3.26     $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  3.27  department of children, families, and learning in fiscal year 
  3.28  2000 for after school education and community connection 
  3.29  programs for students and parents who speak English as a second 
  3.30  language. 
  3.31     This appropriation is available until June 30, 2001.