Purpose

• Create and run a Teacher Classroom Support Grant Program to provide financial help to teachers and specialized instructional support personnel (SISPs).
• Support teacher development through funding for microcredentials or approved professional development courses.
• Help purchase classroom supplies, materials, or equipment needed to apply the skills learned in professional development.
• Address classroom needs for new teachers and support the implementation of new curriculum and standards in reading, math, and science.
• Fund special projects, including work related to English language learners, READ Act professional development, classroom materials, and student mental health.

Eligible recipients

• Teachers who are licensed under Minnesota statutes (specific license sections cited) and full-time SISPs employed by a school district or charter school.
• SISPs include roles such as school counselors, school social workers, paraprofessionals, and library media specialists.

Administration and partner organizations

• The commissioner of education must partner with one or more 501(c)(3) organizations to administer the grant program.
• Partner organizations must have statewide experience with fundraising or project-based platforms that let teachers propose projects, obtain donor-supported supplies, and manage fulfillment.
• Responsibilities of the partner organization include:
  • Help teachers request classroom materials, instructional resources, and microcredentials or PD courses.
  • Distribute stipends to PD providers.
  • Review requests for eligibility and compliance.
  • Provide item-level reporting and audit documentation.
  • Deliver approved materials directly to schools or classrooms.
  • Support classroom supplies for new teachers.
  • Support special projects described in the program.

Grant amounts

• Generally, the administering partner may not spend more than $600 per eligible recipient to support the program’s purposes.
• An eligible recipient may request more than $600, but the partner may fulfill such requests only if funds from nonstate sources are available.
• Private donations may supplement state funds.

Contributions and partnerships

• Partner organizations may seek and receive contributions from businesses, nonprofit groups, philanthropic entities, and community partners to extend the program.
• Contributions can be used to:
  • Increase total stipends for microcredentials or PD.
  • Fund classroom supplies, materials, or equipment needed to implement the learned skills.
  • Support classroom needs for new teachers.
  • Support materials for implementing new curriculum and standards in reading, math, and science.
  • Support special projects, including those for English language learners, READ Act PD, classroom materials, and student mental health.
• The commissioner may allow structuring of contributions so they target specific grade levels, content areas, geographic areas, or project categories, while ensuring all eligible teachers and SISPs have access to the base state-funded program.
• Contributions are not state funds.
• Contributions may exceed the value of the state grant.

Reporting

• The administering partner must submit a written annual report to the commissioner by January 15.
• The report must include:
  • The number of teachers and SISPs served.
  • The types of microcredentials and PD supported.
  • The types of classroom projects funded.
  • The value of private contributions received.
  • A summary of the geographic distribution of grants.

Significance and potential changes to current law

• Creates a new state-supported grant program under Minnesota law to fund teacher development and classroom needs.
• Establishes a public-private funding model through 501(c)(3) partner organizations, with formal reporting and accountability requirements.
• Explicitly formalizes private contributions and allows targeting of funds to specific grades, subjects, or regions, while preserving base access for all eligible teachers and SISPs.
• Expands support beyond PD to include direct classroom materials, supplies, and student mental health-related projects.

Relevant Terms - Teacher Classroom Support Grant Program - microcredentials - professional development (PD) - classroom supplies, materials, equipment - reading, math, science standards - English language learners (ELL) - READ Act professional development - student mental health - specialized instructional support personnel (SISPs) - school counselors - school social workers - paraprofessionals - library media specialists - Minnesota Statutes chapter 124D - 501(c)(3) partner organizations - donor-supported supplies - stipends - item-level reporting - audit documentation - geographic distribution - eligible recipients - nonstate funds - private contributions - contributions by grade level, content area, or region