HF1176

Purpose

The bill would provide funding from Minnesota’s general fund to the Department of Education to support the ActivEd Walkabouts program. The goal is to use a movement-based (kinesthetic) learning platform to help prekindergarten through 5th grade students improve academic performance in math and English language arts, along with literacy, and to boost social-emotional learning.

Main Provisions

• Grants to regional centers of excellence: The bill creates a grant program to regional centers of excellence to deliver the ActivEd Walkabouts program.
• Program features: The ActivEd Walkabouts program is described as an evidence-based, standards-aligned kinesthetic learning platform that uses physical activity to teach math, ELA, and literacy standards for students in prekindergarten through grade 5.
• Cost to schools: The program must be provided at no cost to schools.
• Application process: Schools must apply to participate in the program using a form and process determined by the regional centers of excellence.
• Equity and geographic distribution: The regional centers of excellence should select schools that are identified for support under Minnesota’s state accountability system and should distribute participation across the state to be geographically equitable.
• Sunset/ Baseline: The bill sets the base funding for fiscal year 2028 and later to zero, implying no ongoing base funding after the designated years unless renewed.

Funding Details

• Funding source: General fund appropriations to the Department of Education.
• Amounts: The bill specifies an appropriation related to the program, with the indicated amount being five hundred thousand dollars (per the line items shown in the bill). The exact fiscal years and total amounts are listed in the statute and apply to the designated years in the bill.
• Duration: The funding is limited to the fiscal years designated in the bill; there is no base appropriation for 2028 and beyond unless the statute provides for renewal.

Implementation and Oversight

• Administration: Department of Education administers the appropriation and oversees the grant process.
• Participation: Participation is determined through an application process managed by the regional centers of excellence.
• Alignment with accountability: Selection of participating schools should align with the state accountability system.

Significance

• Focus: Prioritizes a movement-based approach to core early childhood and elementary learning standards.
• Access: Aims to implement the program with no cost to participating schools.
• Equity: Seeks geographically equitable distribution of schools receiving support.

Relevant Terms ActivEd Walkabouts program kinesthetic learning / movement-based learning evidence-based standards-aligned prekindergarten through grade 5 math English language arts (ELA) literacy standards social-emotional learning regional centers of excellence grant general fund Department of Education no cost to schools application process state accountability system geographically distributed equitably fiscal year 2028 base (funding) 0