1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to higher education; establishing an alternative teacher preparation grant 
1.3 	program; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. ALTERNATIVE TEACHER PREPARATION GRANT PROGRAM.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the definitions have 
1.7 	the meanings given.
1.8 	(b) "Alternative teacher preparation program" means a teacher preparation program 
1.9 	approved under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.245.
1.10 	(c) "Diversity" means the inclusion of different types of people including race, 
1.11 	ethnicity, gender, background, or origin of individuals.
1.12 	(d) "Highly selective" means accepting less than 25 percent of applicants.
1.13 		Subd. 2.Establishment and eligibility. A competitive grant program is established 
1.14 	for alternative teacher preparation programs. The commissioner of the Minnesota Office 
1.15 	of Higher Education shall develop the form and method for applying for the grants. 
1.16 	The commissioner shall develop criteria for determining the allocation of the grants to 
1.17 	alternative teacher preparation programs that meet the following criteria:
1.18 	(1) have a highly selective process for program participants;
1.19 	(2) have a history of selecting participants that increase the diversity of Minnesota's 
1.20 	teaching workforce; and
1.21 	(3) are established teacher preparation models with a track record of improving 
1.22 	student achievement. Track record of success must be demonstrated by peer-reviewed 
2.1 	local or national research on the program's model demonstrating a positive impact on 
2.2 	student learning.
2.3 		Subd. 3.Use of grant. The appropriation must be used for:
2.4 	(1) expenses related to the recruitment, selection, and training of teachers;
2.5 	(2) ongoing professional development of teachers;
2.6 	(3) regional management and operational support, development, and central services, 
2.7 	including finance, technology, and human services; and
2.8 	(4) leveraging nonstate money to accomplish clauses (1) to (3).
2.9 		Subd. 4.Evaluation. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education may request a 
2.10 	report from the alternative teacher preparation program at the end of the biennium for the 
2.11 	grantee to share compliance with the above criteria.

2.12 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.13 	$1,000,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated 
2.14 	from the general fund to the commissioner of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education 
2.15 	for the alternative teacher preparation grant program established under section 1.