1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education finance; creating a collaboration grant; appropriating money.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4 	Section 1. SCHOOL DISTRICT COLLABORATION GRANTS.
 1.5 		Subdivision 1.School districts. The Minnesota Department of Education may make 
1.6 	up to three grants of up to $100,000 to groups of school districts while working with a 
1.7 	private business or industry to plan and implement sharing opportunities to:
1.8 	(1) improve career and college readiness for all students;
1.9 	(2) improve and expand programs and services for all students;
1.10 	(3) enhance student learning opportunities to improve student achievement;
1.11 	(4) provide for more efficient and effective use of available services; and
1.12 	(5) maintain school district independence and control.
1.13 		Subd. 2.Grants to implement program. A consortium of at least three rural school 
1.14 	districts or other governmental agencies must develop a plan to share administrative 
1.15 	functions and instructional and learning services. The plan must include collaboration with 
1.16 	a higher education institution or other educational service providers. Grant applications 
1.17 	must be in the form and manner specified by the commissioner, but must give preference to 
1.18 	applications that meet the conditions under subdivision 1. Grant recipients must complete 
1.19 	a report consistent with the categories in subdivision 1 to the Minnesota Department of 
1.20 	Education with the goal of replicating collaborative models for school districts.

1.21 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS.
 2.1 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section 
2.2 	are appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal 
2.3 	year designated. 
2.4 		Subd. 2.Grants for school district design and innovation reforms. For grants to 
2.5 	assist school districts in the development of a plan to share school district administrative 
2.6 	functions and instructional and learning services under section 1:

2.7		$
	.......
	.....
	2012
	
2.8		$
	.......
	.....
	2013
	
2.9 	The 2012 appropriation is for planning grants.
2.10 	The 2013 appropriation is for implementation grants.