Bill > SF2330

This bill establishes a new Student Persistence Grant Program, overseen by the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education, to support students in Minnesota's public colleges and universities who are at risk of not completing their degrees due to academic, financial, or other challenges, particularly those in the "academic middle" (students with a high school GPA around 2.5 or higher). The program aims to improve student success through individualized coaching and coordinated academic and financial aid support, requiring participating organizations to assess student risks, implement tiered interventions, and align their services with existing campus resources. Eligible organizations must have proven experience in supporting low-income students, particularly those in the academic middle, and demonstrate the capacity to serve at least 1,000 students annually with a structured support model. The bill also mandates annual reporting to the legislature on program outcomes, including student persistence, completion rates, and financial aid trends, comparing participants to similar non-participants, and offering recommendations for future expansion. A one-time appropriation of $900,000 is allocated for fiscal year 2027 to fund these grants.