Minneslate Logo

SF1007 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Education Savings Accounts for Minnesota Students Act (ESA-4-MSA) establishment provision

AI Generated Summary

This bill introduced in the Minnesota Senate, known as the Education Savings Accounts for Minnesota Students Act (ESA4MSA), aims to establish education savings accounts (ESAs) for eligible students within the state. The key features of the bill include:

  1. Establishment of ESAs funded by the state, which parents can use to cover various educational expenses for their children, including tuition, tutoring, curriculum materials, transportation, online courses, and other educational services or supplies.

  2. Eligibility for the ESAs is based on residency in Minnesota and household income not exceeding four times the income limit for reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Act.

  3. The program starts with a cap of 5% of the previous year's public school attendance in the first year, increasing by 3% each subsequent year.

  4. Parents who participate agree not to enroll their child in public schools, use ESA funds exclusively for qualifying educational expenses, and comply with other program requirements.

  5. Priority for ESA access is given to students entering kindergarten, those who attended public school the previous year, siblings of current ESA participants, and other eligible students based on specific criteria.

  6. The program includes detailed rules to prevent fraud, monitor expenses, and ensure that funds are used appropriately. Remaining funds after a student graduates high school can be used for postsecondary education, but must be returned to the state if not used within four years after graduation from high school.

  7. An advisory panel made up of parents of ESA students will be formed to provide input on the program’s implementation and effectiveness.

Overall, the bill aims to provide parents with more control over their children’s education through financial support for a range of educational services and providers, fostering a more personalized and potentially effective educational experience for students.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 05, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
February 05, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
February 05, 2025HouseFloorActionReferred toEducation Finance
February 05, 2025HouseFloorActionReferred toEducation Policy
February 05, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toEducation Policy
March 23, 2025SenateFloorActionAuthor stricken

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Reference to existing recognition standards for eligible nonpublic schools.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "123B.445",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Incorporates the definition of disability to align with existing special education law.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "125A.02",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Definition reference for English learner under existing Minnesota statutes.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "124D.59",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Reference to shared time program rules under current law.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "126C.19",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Ensures compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for students in ESA programs.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "United States Code title 20 section 1412",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Sets income eligibility for ESAs based on standards used for the National School Lunch Act.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "United States Code title 42 section 1751 et seq.",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Citations refer to the process for judicial review of commissioner decisions.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "14.63 to 14.69",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Sponsors