Subdivision 1.Establishment.

The commissioner of education must award grants for Grow Your Own Early Childhood Educator programs established under this section in order to develop an early childhood education workforce that more closely reflects the state's increasingly diverse student population and ensures all students have equitable access to high-quality early educators.

Subd. 2.Grow Your Own Early Childhood and Family Educator programs.

(a) Minnesota-licensed family child care or licensed center-based child care programs, school district or charter school early learning programs, Head Start programs, institutions of higher education, and other community partnership nongovernmental organizations may apply for a grant to host, build, or expand an early childhood educator preparation program that leads to an individual earning the credential or degree needed to enter or advance in the early childhood education workforce. Examples include programs that help interested individuals earn the child development associate (CDA) credential, an associate's degree in child development, or a bachelor's degree in early childhood and family education studies or early childhood licensures. The grant recipient must use at least 80 percent of grant money for student stipends, tuition scholarships, or unique student teaching or field placement experiences.

(b) Programs providing financial support to interested individuals may require a commitment from the individuals awarded, as determined by the commissioner, to teach in the program or school for a reasonable amount of time that does not exceed one year.

Subd. 3.Grant procedure.

(a) Eligible programs must apply for a grant under this section in the form and manner specified by the commissioner. To the extent that there are sufficient applications, the commissioner must, to the extent practicable, award an equal number of grants between applicants in greater Minnesota and those in the metropolitan area.

(b) For the 2023-2024 school year and later, grant applications for new and existing programs must be received by the commissioner no later than January 15 of the year prior to the school year in which the grant will be used. The commissioner must review all applications and notify grant recipients by March 15 or as soon as practicable of the anticipated amount awarded. If the commissioner determines that sufficient funding is unavailable for the grants, the commissioner must notify grant applicants by June 30 or as soon as practicable that there is insufficient money.

Subd. 4.Grow Your Own Early Childhood Education program account.

(a) The Grow Your Own Early Childhood Education program account is established in the special revenue fund.

(b) Money appropriated for the Grow Your Own Early Childhood Education program under this section must be transferred to the Grow Your Own Early Childhood Education program account in the special revenue fund.

(c) Money in the account is annually appropriated to the commissioner for the Grow Your Own Early Childhood Education program under this section. Any returned money is available to be regranted. Grant recipients may apply to use grant money over a period of up to 60 months.

(d) Up to $175,000 annually is appropriated to the commissioner for costs associated with administering and monitoring the program under this section.

Subd. 5.Report.

Grant recipients must annually report to the commissioner in the form and manner determined by the commissioner on their activities under this section, including the number of educators supported through grant money and the number of educators obtaining credentials by type. Data must indicate the beginning level of education and ending level of education of individual participants and an assessment of program effectiveness, including participant feedback, areas for improvement, and employment changes and current employment status, where applicable, after completing preparation programs. The commissioner must publish a report for the public that summarizes the activities and outcomes of grant recipients and what was done to promote sharing of effective practices among grant recipients and potential grant applicants.