Sponsor: Community Corrections
Title
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Joint Powers Agreement with the Metro East Consortium for Adult Basic Education Services
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Recommendation
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1. Approve the joint powers agreement with the Metro East Consortium, 2520 East 12th Avenue, North St. Paul, MN 55109 for adult basic education services through June 30, 2027.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the joint powers agreement.
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Background and Rationale
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Metro East Adult Basic Education is consortium of eighteen school districts and other community partners in the Twin Cities’ North Metro area. The Consortium offers free Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes to develop basic skills for adults who are not enrolled in a high school program. The Consortium is part of a state-wide network overseen by the Minnesota Department of Education and is funded by both federal and state dollars.
Ramsey County Community Corrections has been a voting member of the Consortium since 1998. North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District 622, a consortium member and the fiscal agent, provides ABE funding that supports pre- and post-testing, as well as General Educational Development (GED) testing, for Ramsey County Correctional Facility (RCCF) residents. Testing is facilitated by the RCCF Tester. Participation in the Consortium allows the RCCF to access reimbursement of educational expenses from the Minnesota Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education.
Approval of this joint powers agreement will allow Community Corrections to sustain the educational opportunities provided to residents of the RCCF. This action advances the county’s strategic priority of Resident-Centered Holistic Supports and advances the goal of reducing barriers, focusing on communities most impacted by disparities, and making services culturally responsive, restorative and easy to use. Providing educational services also supports the strategic priorities of justice transformation and Intergenerational Wealth and Economic Justice.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
X Well-being X Prosperity X Opportunity __ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Racially and ethnically diverse communities experience some of the highest high school dropout rates nationwide and are disproportionately represented within the justice system. The ABE Program at the RCCF provides adult residents with opportunities to pursue high school equivalency credentials, develop English language skills, strengthen foundational abilities in the areas of literacy and mathematics, and prepare for post-secondary education and employment opportunities. The RCCF also offers Microsoft Office Specialist online training and specialized support for students with traumatic brain injuries. These educational opportunities equip residents with essential skills, credentials, and resources that can increase their opportunities to secure livable-wage employment and support their ability to successfully reintegrate into the community upon discharge.
Community Participation Level and Impact
The Adult Basic Education program of the RCCF empowers adult residents by contributing to their economic independence through educational advancement.
X Inform __ Consult __ Involve __ Collaborate __ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The Minnesota Department of Education supplements the cost of Adult Basic Education program at RCCF.
In school year 2023/2024, the total cost of the learning center was $251,010 of which $15,231 was supplemented through the Metro East Consortium.
In school year 2024/2025, the total cost of the learning center was $341,132 of which $18,754 was supplemented through the Metro East Consortium.
In school year 2025/2026, the total cost of the learning center was $402,579 of which $52,553 was supplemented through the Metro East Consortium.
$12,000 in state aid reimbursement has been budgeted for BY2026 and BY2027 based on reimbursement received in previous years.
Last Previous Action
On October 1, 2024, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved a Joint Powers Agreement with the Metro East Consortium for Adult Basic Education Services (Resolution B2024-332).
Attachments
1. Joint Powers Agreement for the Metro East Adult Basic Education Consortium