1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; creating grants for pilot programs to reduce achievement 
1.3 	and opportunity gaps; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. ACHIEVEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY GAP REDUCTION PILOT 
1.6 	PROGRAM.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Eligibility. Any school district or charter school may apply to the 
1.8 	Department of Education for schools to participate in a three-year achievement and 
1.9 	opportunity gap reduction pilot program as a pilot site. The Department of Education shall 
1.10 	develop criteria to evaluate school districts and charter schools that are most able to act 
1.11 	as pilot sites to reduce the opportunity gap. The criteria must include, at a minimum, 
1.12 	the proposal's likelihood of narrowing the difference in academic achievement and 
1.13 	opportunities among students that crosses lines of race, ethnicity, and income.
1.14 		Subd. 2.Grants. The Department of Education shall award grants to schools 
1.15 	selected as opportunity gap reduction pilot sites. The Department of Education shall 
1.16 	award opportunity reduction pilot sites to ensure geographic representation throughout the 
1.17 	state. The Department of Education shall distribute the appropriation for this program 
1.18 	equally in fiscal years 2009, 2010, and 2011.
1.19 		Subd. 3.Evaluations. The Department of Education must report to the education 
1.20 	committees of the Minnesota house of representatives and senate by January 15, 2012, 
1.21 	on the effects of the pilot program on the opportunity gap.

1.22 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.1 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sum indicated in this section is 
2.2 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year 
2.3 	designated.
2.4 		Subd. 2.Opportunity gap reduction pilot program. For creating a grant program 
2.5 	under section 1 to provide for programs designed to reduce the opportunity gap in schools.

2.6 | | $ | ....... | ..... | 2009
2.7 	The appropriation shall be available until expended.