1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; providing for grants for rural 
  1.3             charter schools of excellence; appropriating money; 
  1.4             proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.5             chapter 124D. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [124D.105] [RURAL CHARTER SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE 
  1.8   GRANTS.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] A rural charter schools of 
  1.10  excellence grant program is established under the administration 
  1.11  of the commissioner of children, families, and learning.  The 
  1.12  purpose of the program is to provide incentives and aid to rural 
  1.13  charter schools that demonstrate outstanding achievement in 
  1.14  their operations. 
  1.15     Subd. 2.  [ELIGIBILITY.] The commissioner shall award 
  1.16  grants to results-oriented charter schools located within 
  1.17  economic development regions one, two, three, four, five, six, 
  1.18  seven, eight, nine, and ten according to subdivision 3.  Charter 
  1.19  schools receiving start-up cost aid are ineligible.  Grants 
  1.20  awarded in each fiscal year shall not exceed the greater of: 
  1.21     (1) $35,000 per charter school; or 
  1.22     (2) $400 times the charter school's pupil units served for 
  1.23  that year. 
  1.24     Subd. 3.  [CRITERIA.] The commissioner shall develop 
  1.25  performance indicators for applicants of grants under this 
  2.1   section that include: 
  2.2      (1) successive enrollment increases using the first year of 
  2.3   operations as the baseline provided that the charter school is 
  2.4   not currently operating at capacity; 
  2.5      (2) demonstration of a safe school environment as reflected 
  2.6   by school disciplinary records; and 
  2.7      (3) exceptional or increased student academic achievement 
  2.8   as measured by assessments under section 120B.02 or nationally 
  2.9   norm-referenced standardized achievement examinations; 
  2.10     (4) strong parental and community involvement with school 
  2.11  activities; 
  2.12     (5) sound fiscal recordkeeping and management of resources; 
  2.13  and 
  2.14     (6) the recommendation of the charter school sponsor. 
  2.15     The commissioner shall establish the application procedure 
  2.16  for awarding grants under this section.  The commissioner shall 
  2.17  begin awarding grants by September 1, 2001.  
  2.18     <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective the day 
  2.19  following final enactment. 
  2.20     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.21     $350,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2002 from the 
  2.22  general fund to the commissioner of children, families, and 
  2.23  learning for the rural charter schools of excellence grant 
  2.24  program under section 1.