Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to establish an "education empowerment account" program in Minnesota. This initiative is designed to provide parents with financial resources to spend on their children's educational needs, giving them greater control over their education expenses.

Main Provisions

• Education Empowerment Accounts: These accounts will be created for students who qualify. Parents can use these accounts for various educational expenses, including tuition, fees, textbooks, educational therapies, and student transportation. The bill includes post-secondary costs for recent high school graduates.

• Eligibility: Any student who lives in Minnesota and can enroll in a public school from pre-kindergarten to grade 12 is eligible. Students must not be enrolled in a Minnesota public or charter school to maintain their account.

• Funding: The accounts are funded by a combination of state funds and available federal funds. Each account will hold an amount based on statewide average education revenue adjusted for the student's grade level. Funding once deposited remains in the account until used.

• Responsibility and Oversight: Parents must document appropriate expenditures, while the state provides oversight and ensures accountability.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The legislation introduces a new framework within Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 124D, representing a shift in how educational funding can be directly utilized by families instead of being fully managed by public school districts. This could lead to more tailored educational experiences for students by allowing parents to decide on spending for educational resources.

Relevant Terms

• Education empowerment accounts
• Eligible education expenses
• Tuition and fees
• Individualized educational therapies
• Minnesota public school eligibility
• Postsecondary institution funding
• Grade-level weighting