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.
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 a partnership between eight school districts and other community partners in the north metro. Together, the collaboration forms the Metro East Consortium. The Consortium offers free Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes to develop basic skills for adults ages 18 and up who are not enrolled in a high school program. The Metro East Consortium is part of a state-wide network overseen by the Minnesota Department of Education and is funded with both federal and state funds.
Ramsey County Community Corrections department has been a voting member of the Consortium since 1998. North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale School Independent School District (ISD) # 622, a Consortium member and fiscal agent, provides some ABE funding, pre-post testing and GED testing for Ramsey County Correctional Facility residents and understands its unique educational setting. Participation in the Consortium allows the Correctional Facility to access reimbursement from the Minnesota Department of Education and the Federal Department of Education. A new agreement with North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale School ISD # 622 will be completed in late 2022.
During 2021, the Consortium updated its naming convention to a Joint Powers Agreement. The Correctional Facility is requesting approval for this change to continue providing these educational opportunities to its residents.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Racially and ethnically diverse communities have some of the highest high school dropout rates nationwide and also disproportionally represented in the justice system. The Adult Basic Education program of the Correctional Facility helps adult residents who are working towards a high school credential, learning English, improving basic skills such as literacy and math, and/or preparing for post-secondary education or employment. This contributes to their ability to attain livable wage jobs upon discharge from the Correctional Facility.
Community Participation Level and Impact
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☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The Minnesota Department of Education does not reimburse for the entire cost of the program. Sufficient funding is included in the approved 2022-2023 budget.
Last Previous Action
On December 12, 2017, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale Independent School District #622 for adult basic education services to residents of Ramsey County Correctional Facility (Resolution B2017-324).
Attachments
1. Joint Powers Agreement for the Metro East Adult Basic Education Consortium