1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; creating a grant for graduation 
  1.3             standards implementation in alternative programs and 
  1.4             area learning centers; appropriating money. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [GRANT FOR IMPLEMENTING GRADUATION STANDARDS IN 
  1.7   ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS AND AREA LEARNING CENTERS.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] A grant program is 
  1.9   established for alternative programs and area learning centers 
  1.10  to implement the graduation standards adopted by the state board 
  1.11  of education. 
  1.12     Subd. 2.  [SYSTEM OF IMPLEMENTATION.] The Minnesota 
  1.13  association of alternative programs must develop a system to 
  1.14  implement the graduation standards for learners in alternative 
  1.15  programs, including area learning centers, contract 
  1.16  alternatives, correctional institutions, and homeless shelters. 
  1.17     The system must include: 
  1.18     (1) preassessment and documentation of student performance; 
  1.19     (2) adaptation, modification, and validation of graduation 
  1.20  standards performance packages; 
  1.21     (3) implementation of a process to promote continuous 
  1.22  improvement in a standards-driven system; and 
  1.23     (4) integration of school-to-work activities into the 
  1.24  graduation standards. 
  1.25     Subd. 3.  [GRANT AWARDS.] The commissioner shall award up 
  2.1   to 20 grants in an amount not to exceed $20,000 each.  Grant 
  2.2   recipients must be alternative programs, including area learning 
  2.3   centers, contract alternatives, correctional institutions, and 
  2.4   homeless shelters.  Grant recipients must implement, disseminate 
  2.5   information, and provide regional training for the system 
  2.6   established under subdivision 2.  Grant recipients must report 
  2.7   their progress to the Minnesota association of alternative 
  2.8   programs at the association's request. 
  2.9      Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.10     Subdivision 1.  [COMMISSIONER OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
  2.11  LEARNING.] The sum indicated in this section is appropriated 
  2.12  from the general fund to the commissioner of children, families, 
  2.13  and learning for the fiscal year indicated. 
  2.14     Subd. 2.  [GRADUATION STANDARDS IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS.] For 
  2.15  grants to implement the graduation standards in alternative 
  2.16  programs and alternative learning centers: 
  2.17       $500,000    .....    1999 
  2.18     Of this amount, $200,000 is for the Minnesota association 
  2.19  of alternative programs to develop a system of implementation of 
  2.20  the graduation standards for learners in alternative programs.