Purpose of the Bill

The bill is designed to support education finance in Minnesota by appropriating state funds for teacher compensation related to the Read Act training. The Read Act aims to improve reading instruction and literacy outcomes in schools across the state.

Main Provisions

• The bill appropriates money from the general fund to the Department of Education specifically for the purpose of compensating teachers involved in Read Act training.
• The funding is meant to cover state aid payments to school districts, charter schools, and cooperative units that provide direct instructional services.
• The state aid provided to each educational entity will be the greater of either $2,000 or $40 multiplied by the number of students enrolled in fall 2024.
• Payments must be distributed by the Department of Education by October 15, 2025, and will cover 100% of the fiscal year 2026.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill formalizes the distribution of funds specifically for the Read Act training requirements, ensuring that eligible teachers receive compensation for their time spent in training sessions.
• It stipulates that compensation should be administered in alignment with Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 3, section 7, or through a memorandum of understanding with the teachers' representatives about payment processes.

Relevant Terms

• Education finance
• Read Act training
• Teacher compensation
• State aid
• Department of Education
• School districts
• Charter schools
• Cooperative units