This bill modifies the allowable uses of student support personnel aid for school districts and charter schools with declining enrollment. Specifically, it amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 124D.901, subdivision 4, to expand how this aid can be utilized.

Key provisions:

1. Use of Aid for Student Support Personnel – Schools must use this aid to:

   • Hire new student support services personnel.
   • Increase the hours of part-time student support personnel.
   • Make permanent positions that were previously funded with one-time federal COVID-19 relief funds.
   • Maintain positions that would otherwise be eliminated.

2. Cooperative Units – If the district is part of an intermediate district or cooperative unit, the aid must be transferred to that entity and used similarly (e.g., hiring, expanding, or maintaining positions).

3. Alternative Use for Contracted Services – If a district, charter school, or cooperative unit does not receive at least two applications and cannot hire a full-time position with the aid, the funds may be used to contract licensed professionals, such as school counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses, or chemical dependency counselors.

4. Flexibility for Declining Enrollment Districts – A school district or charter school experiencing declining enrollment (defined as having fewer students on October 1 of the previous fiscal year compared to the year before) may use the aid to maintain existing student support services personnel or contracted services, even if these positions were established before the 2023-2024 school year. Districts qualifying under this definition retain this flexibility for four fiscal years.

Purpose:

This bill aims to provide more flexibility in how student support aid is used, ensuring that schools—particularly those with declining enrollment—can continue to support student well-being even as their enrollment decreases.