Minnesota schools would set worker pay floors and join an insurance pool

School employees would receive health coverage through a mandatory school employee pool. The pool covers eligible employees of school districts, charter schools, service cooperatives, and other listed school employers, including during school breaks. School employees who are not public employees may buy coverage at their own expense, or with an employer contribution if negotiated. Employees who waive coverage may enroll only during the next open enrollment period. Districts may seek aid only for added employer premium costs approved by the commissioner. Employees whose insurance contracts expire on or before December 31, 2026, would join January 1, 2027. Other school employees would join starting January 1, 2027, or when provider agreements in place at enactment expire.

School districts and charter schools would pay at least $25 an hour to specified workers. The rule covers paraprofessionals, Title I aides, other instructional support staff, food service employees, bus drivers, and qualifying unlicensed employees of school districts and charter schools. Other employees qualify only if they lack a license from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board or Board of School Administrators and work at least 14 hours a week and 100 workdays a year in one position. The text leaves the amount of aid for this requirement blank. The cited provision does not state an effective date for this wage requirement.

Schools would provide paid annual training to instructional support and noninstructional staff. The paraprofessional rule covers paraprofessionals, Title I aides, and other instructional support staff. The separate rule covers noninstructional staff, including food service employees and bus drivers. Paraprofessional training must relate to the employee's work, and at least half of direct-support paraprofessionals' training must cover the requirements in the section. Noninstructional staff training must cover student behavior strategies, school policies, and resources. Up to eight hours of required driver training may count toward the 16 hours. The paraprofessional provision would apply for the 2026–2027 school year and later, if enacted. The noninstructional staff provision would take effect July 1, 2026.

School districts and charter schools would require service contractors to meet pay and work rules. The requirements apply to third parties under service contracts with a school district or charter school, including agreements already in effect on July 1, 2026. The commissioner of education may approve an exception to renegotiating an existing agreement. The text leaves the amount of aid for noninstructional staff training blank. The section would take effect July 1, 2026. School administrators would submit the first annual compliance certification by July 1, 2027.