1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; higher education; establishing the P-TECH program to 
1.3 	improve pathways from high school to career and college opportunities; requiring 
1.4 	a report; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 
1.5 	124D.091, subdivision 3; Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 124D.09, 
1.6 	subdivision 5b; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 124D.09, subdivision 5b, is 
1.9 	amended to read:
1.10 		Subd. 5b.Authorization; 9th or 10th grade pupil. Notwithstanding any other law to 
1.11 	the contrary, a 9th or 10th grade pupil enrolled in a district or an American Indian-controlled 
1.12 	tribal contract or grant school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, except a foreign 
1.13 	exchange pupil enrolled in a district under a cultural exchange program, may apply to enroll 
1.14 	in nonsectarian courses offered under subdivision 10, if:
1.15 	(1) the school district and the eligible postsecondary institution providing the course 
1.16 	agree to the student's enrollment; or
1.17 	(2) the course is a world language course currently available to 11th and 12th grade 
1.18 	students, and consistent with section 120B.022 governing world language standards, 
1.19 	certificates, and seals.; or
1.20 	(3) the course is offered as part of a commissioner-approved P-TECH program under 
1.21 	section 124D.093.

1.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2018-2019 school year and later.

2.1 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 124D.091, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.2 		Subd. 3.Aid. An eligible district shall receive $150 $....... per pupil enrolled in a 
2.3 	concurrent enrollment course, including a P-TECH program under section 124D.093. The 
2.4 	money must be used to defray the cost of delivering the course at the high school. The 
2.5 	commissioner shall establish application procedures and deadlines for receipt of aid payments.

2.6 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2019 and later.

2.7 	Sec. 3. [124D.093] P-TECH PROGRAM.
2.8 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) The terms in this subdivision have the meanings given.
2.9 	(b) "P-TECH program" means a concurrent enrollment program under section 124D.09, 
2.10 	subdivision 10, jointly developed by a local education partner, a higher education partner, 
2.11 	and a business partner, that prepares students for future learning in the workforce in identified 
2.12 	growth industries and provides a clear pathway for workforce education experiences, training, 
2.13 	and employment. The program allows students to graduate with a high school diploma and 
2.14 	earn preapprenticeship certificates, other industry-recognized certificates, or an associate's 
2.15 	degree connected to a growth industry.
2.16 	(c) "Local education partner" means a school district, intermediate school district, or 
2.17 	charter school.
2.18 	(d) "Higher education partner" means an eligible institution under section 124D.09, 
2.19 	subdivision 3, paragraph (a).
2.20 	(e) "Business partner" means an employer that enters into a formal agreement with a 
2.21 	local education partner and higher education partner to create and provide workforce 
2.22 	education experiences and training, including but not limited to job shadowing, mentoring, 
2.23 	internships, and apprenticeships.
2.24 		Subd. 2.Eligible students. In order to enroll in a P-TECH program under this section, 
2.25 	an otherwise eligible student must  have received a passing score on the 8th grade Minnesota 
2.26 	Comprehensive Assessment in reading. A student who did not take the 8th grade Minnesota 
2.27 	Comprehensive Assessment in reading may substitute another reading assessment accepted 
2.28 	by the enrolling postsecondary institution.
2.29 		Subd. 3.Agreement. (a) A local education partner, higher education partner, and business 
2.30 	partner must jointly agree to the establishment of a P-TECH program. The agreement under 
2.31 	this section must supplement the agreement required under section 124D.09, subdivision 
2.32 	10. The agreement under this section must describe:
3.1 	(1) the responsibilities of the local education partner to provide instruction, counseling, 
3.2 	and student support services for students in grades 9 through 12;
3.3 	(2) the higher education partner's guarantee to:
3.4 	(i) enroll and continue instruction for a P-TECH program student that has graduated 
3.5 	from high school; and
3.6 	(ii) develop and establish a scholarship program for P-TECH program students;
3.7 	(3) the responsibilities of the business partner to provide workplace education and 
3.8 	experiences, to provide P-TECH program students priority in interviewing for any available 
3.9 	jobs for which the student is qualified, and to consult with the local education partner and 
3.10 	higher education partner on course design, as requested, and any funding or in-kind services 
3.11 	that the business partner may provide for the P-TECH program;
3.12 	(4) the plan for communication and shared decision making by the local education 
3.13 	partner, the higher education partner, and the business partner regarding program operations;
3.14 	(5) the allocation of resources, including funding, internships, mentorships, employment 
3.15 	opportunities, and other related resources, between the local education partner, the higher 
3.16 	education partner, and the business partner; and
3.17 	(6) other provisions as jointly agreed.
3.18 	(b) The agreement must be submitted as part of the application under subdivision 4.
3.19 	(c) The term of the agreement must not exceed six school years.
3.20 		Subd. 4.Application process. (a) A local education partner, higher education partner, 
3.21 	and business partner must jointly apply to the commissioner of education in the form and 
3.22 	manner determined by the commissioner to establish a P-TECH program under this section.
3.23 	(b) The application must contain at least the following information:
3.24 	(1) the written agreement under section 124D.09, subdivision 10;
3.25 	(2) the written agreement under subdivision 3;
3.26 	(3) a proposed program design consistent with subdivision 1, paragraph (a);
3.27 	(4) a description of how the P-TECH program supports the needs of the economic 
3.28 	development region in which the P-TECH program is to be located;
3.29 	(5) a description of the facilities to be used by the P-TECH program;
4.1 	(6) a description of proposed budgets, curriculum, transportation plans, and other 
4.2 	operating procedures for the P-TECH program;
4.3 	(7) the process by which students will be enrolled in the P-TECH program;
4.4 	(8) the qualifications required for individuals employed in the P-TECH program; and
4.5 	(9) any additional information that the commissioner requires.
4.6 		Subd. 5.Approval process. (a) The commissioner of education shall appoint an advisory 
4.7 	committee to review the applications and to recommend approval for those applications 
4.8 	that meet the requirements of this section. The commissioner of education shall have final 
4.9 	authority over application approvals.
4.10 	(b) For the 2018-2019 school year and later, the commissioner may approve up to five 
4.11 	P-TECH programs.
4.12 		Subd. 6.Operation of P-TECH program schools. (a) A P-TECH program must meet 
4.13 	the required days and hours of instruction under section 120A.41 for P-TECH program 
4.14 	students in grades 9 through 12.
4.15 	(b) A P-TECH program may use state, federal, and local funds allocated to the local 
4.16 	education partner or the higher education partner, as well as funds provided by the business 
4.17 	partner.
4.18 	(c) Except as provided in this section and under the terms of the agreement, the 
4.19 	commissioner of education or the governing board of the higher education partner may 
4.20 	exempt a P-TECH program from laws and rules applicable to a school district, charter 
4.21 	school, or state college or university, or their governing boards.
4.22 		Subd. 7.Evaluation of P-TECH program schools. The commissioner of education 
4.23 	must evaluate the education and employment outcomes of students enrolled in P-TECH 
4.24 	programs approved under this section. Outcome measures must include high school retention 
4.25 	rates, high school completion rates, high school dropout rates, certification and associate's 
4.26 	degree completion, admission to four-year institutions, postgraduation employment in career 
4.27 	or study-related fields, and employer satisfaction of employees who participated in and 
4.28 	graduated from P-TECH programs. The commissioner must submit an evaluation report to 
4.29 	the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction 
4.30 	over education annually by February 1. The commissioner may submit this report 
4.31 	concurrently with the report required under section 120B.13.
4.32 		Subd. 8.Start-up grants. The commissioner of education shall award a start-up grant 
4.33 	to a local education partner for an approved P-TECH program, as long as funds are available. 
5.1 	Start-up grants shall be provided for each approved P-TECH program for a period not to 
5.2 	exceed five fiscal years, beginning in the first fiscal year following the approval of a P-TECH 
5.3 	program.
5.4 		Subd. 9.Higher education partner scholarship program. A higher education partner 
5.5 	shall develop and establish a scholarship program for P-TECH program students who have 
5.6 	graduated from high school. The higher education partner shall establish an application 
5.7 	process and other guidelines for implementing the scholarship program. The scholarships 
5.8 	shall be awarded at the beginning of an academic term to cover all tuition costs for the 
5.9 	duration of the term. Preference must be given to students in financial need. Scholarships 
5.10 	may be renewed upon reapplication.

5.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2018.

5.12 	Sec. 4. APPROPRIATION; P-TECH PROGRAM START-UP GRANTS.
 5.13 	$....... in fiscal year 2019 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
5.14 	education for P-TECH program start-up grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.093, 
5.15 	subdivision 8.

5.16 	Sec. 5. APPROPRIATION; CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT AID.
 5.17 	$....... in fiscal year 2019 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
5.18 	education for additional concurrent enrollment aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 
5.19 	124D.091. This appropriation is in addition to any other funds appropriated for the same 
5.20 	purpose and is added to the base amount for fiscal year 2020.

5.21 	Sec. 6. APPROPRIATION; HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNER SCHOLARSHIPS 
5.22 	FOR P-TECH PROGRAM STUDENTS.
 5.23 	$....... in fiscal year 2019 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
5.24 	the Office of Higher Education to disburse to higher education partners for P-TECH program 
5.25 	scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.093, subdivision 9.