Schools could extend taxes without voter input and the state could offer alternative routes to teaching and give students up to $7,500 in college scholarships under the House education bill unveiled Monday.

What isn't included? Many of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposals to potentially strengthen the state's second Race to the Top application and a plan to scrap Minnesota's graduation tests with a hybrid system that includes end-of-course exams.

The bill keeps education funding flat through the rest of the biennium, but the $13.4 billion package includes about $1.7 billion in aid to schools Pawlenty postponed in July to help erase the state's current budget deficit.

"It stabilizes the current school funding system as best as you can given the economic times," said Scott Croonquist, executive director of the Association of Metropolitan School Districts.

Offering different pathways to teaching has been one of the most heated education issues this session.

Candidates would need a bachelor's degree and a high grade-point average before entering an alternative prep program. They would receive at least 200 hours of training, as well as mentoring and peer coaching, and would have to pass the required skills exams.

Those who complete the program could teach with a limited license for two years and get a full license if they met performance standards.

The House proposal would allow schools to hire teachers from alternative prep programs only if the teaching staff doesn't reflect the racial and cultural diversity in the school or if the school needs to address an academic achievement gap. A similar bill in the Senate doesn't have those restrictions.

Alternative teacher licensing has broad support from education groups, nonprofit organizations and business leaders. But the statewide teachers union, Education Minnesota, has opposed it. Union leaders argue such alternative programs offer little training in how to be a teacher and manage a classroom.

Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, has pushed for the early graduation scholarships since last year, arguing it would save the state money because Minnesota pays more in per-pupil funding for a high school junior or senior than a scholarship would cost.

Students would get a $2,500 scholarship for graduating a semester early, and the amount could increase to $7,500 if a student graduates three semesters early. The early-graduation program wouldn't replace the state's Post-Secondary Enrollment Option program, which lets high school students take college classes for credit at no cost.

A new framework for funding schools, dubbed the new Minnesota Miracle and championed by Rep. Mindy Greiling, D-Roseville, was also included. It would move responsibility for school funding to the state and away from property taxpayers. It would be phased in starting in 2014 and cost an additional $2.4 billion a year.

The House K-12 Education Finance Committee will vote on the bill Wednesday.

The state could receive up to $175 million in the second round of the federal Race to The Top competition. The application is due June 1.

Minnesota lost out on the first round in part because its plan lacked teachers union support and a clear strategy to develop highly qualified educators.

The bill is designed to address those shortfalls.

Pawlenty wants alternative routes to teaching and more stringent teacher evaluations that are closely linked to student performance. The governor also proposed changing teacher tenure laws so educators are evaluated every five years.

Megan Boldt can be reached at 651-228-5495.