1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education finance; authorizing funding for the expansion of the rites 
1.3 	of passage program as a way to narrow the racial achievement gap; requiring a 
1.4 	program evaluation; appropriating money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. NARROWING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP; RITES OF PASSAGE 
1.7 	PROGRAM.
 1.8 		Subdivision 1.Public purpose; goals. The legislature finds that the racial 
1.9 	achievement gap is a widely documented and chronic problem in Minnesota. The 
1.10 	legislature recognizes that unique cultural programs that address key factors leading to 
1.11 	the achievement gap, including parental involvement, truancy, and disciplinary actions, 
1.12 	have the potential to substantially narrow the achievement gap. Therefore, to ensure 
1.13 	an equal educational opportunity to each student in Minnesota, it is the purpose of this 
1.14 	section to provide grants for programs specially designed to meet the unique educational 
1.15 	and culturally related academic needs of these students.
1.16 		Subd. 2.Grants authorized. The Department of Education may make grants to 
1.17 	programs designed to narrow the racial achievement gap.
1.18 		Subd. 3.Program evaluation. A program evaluation must be conducted on the 
1.19 	effectiveness of the programs instituted under this section. The evaluation must measure 
1.20 	changes in targeted behavior, including truancy, dropping out, expulsion, suspension, and 
1.21 	other disciplinary matters. The evaluation must also measure the change in participating 
1.22 	students' academic performance. The results of the program evaluation must be submitted 
1.23 	to the education committees of the legislature by January 15, 2010.

1.24 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2007.

2.1 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.2 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
2.3 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
2.4 	designated.
2.5 		Subd. 2.Rites of passage program. (a) For a grant to the We-Win Institute for 
2.6 	intensive intervention activities and program evaluation:

2.7		$
	580,000
	.....
	2008
	
2.8 	(b) Of the appropriation in paragraph (a), $530,000 is to extend the rites of passage 
2.9 	program to five additional sites, including two sites in Minneapolis, and one school site 
2.10 	each in a western suburban school district, an eastern suburban school district, and St. 
2.11 	Paul, and $50,000 is for costs associated with a program evaluation.
2.12 	(c) This appropriation is available until June 30, 2009.