Community schoolyards grant program establishment and appropriation

A bill for an act

relating to education; establishing a community schoolyards grant program;

requiring a report; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota

Statutes, chapter 124D.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

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[124D.332] COMMUNITY SCHOOLYARDS GRANT PROGRAM.

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Subdivision 1.

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Establishment; purpose.

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(a) The Minnesota community schoolyards

grant program is established to create park-like outdoor spaces located at elementary or

secondary schools that strengthen local ecological systems, provide a wide range of hands-on

learning resources, enhance physical and mental health and well-being for students and

community members, and foster nature play, recreation, and social opportunities for students

and community members.

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(b) The purpose of the community schoolyards grant program is to:

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(1) make community schoolyards accessible to the broader community outside of school

hours;

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(2) improve physical activity and mental health opportunities for students and community

members; and

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(3) incorporate natural landscapes, natural playgrounds, and recreational spaces that

promote adaptation, sustainability, resilience, and hands-on learning across subject matters,

including science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

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Subd. 2.

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Definitions.

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(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the

meanings given.

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(b) "Capital construction and improvement grant program" or "construction program"

means the capital construction and improvement grant program that is part of the community

schoolyards grant program.

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(c) "Community schoolyard" means a park-like outdoor environment located at an

elementary or secondary school that strengthens local ecological systems, provides a wide

range of hands-on learning resources, enhances physical and mental health and well-being

for students and community members, and fosters nature play, recreation, and social

opportunities for students and community members.

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(d) "Community schoolyards grant program" or "grant program" means the community

schoolyards grant program, which consists of two grant program components:

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(1) the planning and design grant program established under this section; and

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(2) the capital construction and improvement grant program.

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(e) "Community-use partner" means a partner that enters into a community-use agreement

with an eligible applicant. A community-use partner is either a local government or a school

district.

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(f) "Eligible applicant" means a local government or a school district and includes an

American Indian school as defined in section 124D.73, subdivision 4.

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(g) "Local government" means a municipality, county, township, Tribal Nation, or a

special district.

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(h) "Planning and design grant program" or "planning program" means the planning and

design grant program that is part of the community schoolyards grant program.

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Subd. 3.

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Grant program.

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The community schoolyards grant program consists of two

grant program components:

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(1) a planning and design grant program, which awards up to $150,000 to each grant

recipient selected by the commissioner for the planning and design of a community

schoolyard under subdivision 5; and

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(2) a capital construction and improvement grant program, which awards up to $850,000

to each grant recipient selected by the commissioner for the capital construction of a

community schoolyard under subdivision 8.

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Subd. 4.

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Community-use partnership; grant application.

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(a) A local government that

is an eligible applicant must enter into a community-use agreement with a community-use

partner that includes a school or an entire school district. A school district that is an eligible

applicant must enter into a community-use agreement with a community-use partner that

is a local government.

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(b) The commissioner must review grant applications from eligible applicants. A grant

application must contain:

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(1) documentation of a community-use agreement between the eligible applicant and a

community-use partner that enables the community schoolyard to serve as a community

facility outside of school hours. The community-use agreement must include, at a minimum,

the following:

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(i) a definition of the roles and responsibilities of the eligible applicant and the

community-use partner in the operation, use, safety, and maintenance of the community

schoolyard;

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(ii) a definition of the hours of operation for community use of the community schoolyard;

and

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(iii) documentation of the community use of the community schoolyard;

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(2) documentation of a partnership between the eligible applicant and a community

partner organization, such as a nonprofit organization, Tribal Nation, or entity with expertise

in outdoor learning spaces or outdoor education spaces, that has experience working with

local education providers;

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(3) documentation of the amount of matching funds or in-kind contributions that the

eligible applicant intends to provide to augment construction program grant money received

and the anticipated amount and source of any matching funds or in-kind contributions. The

matching fund amounts must be consistent with the requirements in subdivision 7; and

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(4) demonstration of the need for a community schoolyard that may use Trust for Public

Land's nationally recognized interactive map to help identify the top locations to build a

community schoolyard.

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Subd. 5.

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Planning and design grant program recipients.

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A planning and design grant

program recipient must develop a professional plan, design, and construction documents

through a community-centered participatory design process in collaboration with students,

educators, and community members. The planning and design documents for the community

schoolyard must include:

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(1) education and health goals, including physical, mental, and social health;

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(2) ecological, environmental, and biodiversity goals;

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(3) recreation goals;

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(4) accessibility, safety, and licensing standards;

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(5) the number of students enrolled at each school served by the grant;

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(6) the total acreage size of the school property;

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(7) the acreage size of the proposed community schoolyard;

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(8) a concept plan drawing of the proposed community schoolyard design, which must

incorporate design features that create healthy and environmentally sound spaces. Design

features may include:

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(i) noninvasive trees, plants, and vegetation;

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(ii) natural playgrounds, including natural and nature-based elements, including rock

gardens, sand boxes, stump logs, streams, living plants, and other features that are integrated

with the outdoor landscape and vegetation;

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(iii) outdoor classrooms with sitting areas for teachers to lead outdoor lessons;

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(iv) traditional and innovative playgrounds designed to encourage gross motor play,

collaboration, creative exploration, and joy;

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(v) athletic or multipurpose fields;

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(vi) stormwater management features;

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(vii) walking trails;

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(viii) heat mitigation features to protect students from the impact of extreme heat that

may include shade structures, increase in tree canopy, spray features, and water fountains;

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(ix) pollinator and food gardens;

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(x) cultural and interpretative features, such as signs, murals, or sculptures; or

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(xi) calm spaces for children;

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(9) identification of community partners, including nonprofit organizations and Tribal

Nations or entities that have expertise in outdoor learning spaces or outdoor education

spaces; and

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(10) a plan for the long-term maintenance of the community schoolyard.

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Subd. 6.

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Community partner responsibilities.

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A community partner organization

described in subdivision 4, paragraph (b), clause (2), is encouraged to provide technical

assistance to the grant recipient to help facilitate the community-centered participatory

design process to plan and design park-like spaces, outdoor learning spaces, or outdoor

education spaces with students, educators, and community members according to subdivision

5.

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Subd. 7.

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Construction project matching funds.

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A proposed community schoolyard

construction project that exceeds $500,000 requires, at a minimum, ten percent of the total

construction budget available as matching funds at the time of the grant award. A proposed

community schoolyard construction project that exceeds $1,000,000 requires, at a minimum,

25 percent of the total construction budget available as matching funds at the time of the

grant award. The matching funds may come from state or nonstate resources available to

the school or local government for a community schoolyard construction project.

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Subd. 8.

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Capital construction and improvement grant program.

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An eligible applicant

who does not apply for the planning and design grant program may apply to the commissioner

for the capital construction and improvement grant program. To be awarded a capital

construction and improvement grant, an applicant must include in the application the

professional plan, design, and construction documents described in subdivision 5 during

the capital construction and improvement grant application period. An eligible applicant

must provide evidence that the professional plan, design, and construction documents were

created through a community-centered participatory design process in collaboration with

students, educators, and community members. An eligible applicant must provide

documentation of a community-use agreement with a community-use partner according to

subdivision 4, paragraph (b), clause (1).

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Subd. 9.

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Commissioner responsibilities.

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By January 1, 2027, the commissioner must

implement a timeline for the community schoolyards grant program that includes:

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(1) announcing the planning and design grant and the capital construction and

improvement grant;

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(2) establishing program requirements, including the application process and timeline

for each grant, criteria for application evaluation, and a grant awards process;

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(3) accepting and selecting applications from eligible applicants and timely review of

applications;

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(4) distributing grant money to the grant recipients; and

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(5) establishing reporting timelines and requirements for grant recipients.

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Subd. 10.

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Reporting.

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(a) A grant recipient must report to the commissioner, at a

minimum, any grant money received for planning and design, any grant money received

for capital construction and improvement, the number of students affected by a grant award,

a description of how the grant money was spent, and after the community schoolyard is

completed, the plan for community access and use of the community schoolyard outside of

school hours contained in the community-use agreement.

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(b) By January 15, 2030, the commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority

members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade

12 education finance and policy summarizing the grant recipient reports under paragraph

(a).

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Sec. 2.
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COMMUNITY SCHOOLYARDS GRANT PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.
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Subdivision 1.

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Department of Education.

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The sum indicated in this section is

appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year

designated.

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Subd. 2.

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Community schoolyards grant program.

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(a) For the community schoolyards

grant program:

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$

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.......

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.....

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2027

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(b) Of this amount, $....... is for the planning and design grant program and $....... is for

the capital construction and improvement grant program.

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(c) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98, subdivision 14, up to $....... of

the appropriation is available for grant administration.

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(d) The base is $....... for fiscal year 2028 and fiscal year 2029.

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