HF 2675

1st Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/19/2014 12:20pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing requirements for a standard adult high school
diploma; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 124D.52, by adding a
subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.52, subdivision
8.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.52, subdivision 8,
is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Standard high school diploma for adults.

(a) new text begin Consistent with subdivision
8a, new text end the commissioner shall deleted text begin adopt rules for providing deleted text end new text begin provide for new text end a standard adult high
school diploma to persons who:

(1) are not eligible for kindergarten through grade 12 services;

(2) do not have a high school diploma; and

(3) successfully complete an adult basic education program of instruction approved
by the commissioner of education necessary to earn an adult high school diploma.

(b) Persons participating in an approved adult basic education program of instruction
must demonstrate the competencies, knowledge, and skills sufficient to ensure that
postsecondary programs and institutions and potential employers regard persons with a
standard high school diploma and persons with a standard adult high school diploma as
equally well prepared and qualified graduates. Approved adult basic education programs
of instruction under this subdivision must issue a standard adult high school diploma to
persons who successfully demonstrate the competencies, knowledge, and skills required
by the program.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2014.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 124D.52, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 8a. new text end

new text begin Standard adult high school diploma requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) The
commissioner must establish criteria and requirements for eligible adult basic education
consortia under section 124D.518, subdivision 2, to effectively operate and provide
instruction under this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (b) An eligible and interested adult basic education consortium must apply to the
commissioner, in the form and manner determined by the commissioner, for approval to
provide an adult high school diploma program to eligible students under subdivision 8,
paragraph (a). An approved consortium annually must submit to the commissioner the
longitudinal and evaluative data, identified in the consortium's application, to demonstrate
its compliance with applicable federal and state law and its approved application and
the efficacy of its adult high school diploma program. The commissioner must use the
data to evaluate whether or not to reapprove an eligible consortium every fifth year. The
commissioner, at the commissioner's discretion, may reevaluate the compliance or efficacy
of a program provider sooner than every fifth year. The commissioner may limit the
number or size of adult high school diploma programs based on identified community
needs, available funding, other available resources, or other relevant criteria identified by
the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (c) At the time a student applies for admission to an adult high school diploma
program, the program provider must work with the student applicant to:
new text end

new text begin (1) identify the student's learning goals, skills and experiences, required
competencies already completed, and goals and options for viable career pathways;
new text end

new text begin (2) assess the student's instructional needs; and
new text end

new text begin (3) develop an individualized learning plan to guide the student in completing adult
high school diploma requirements and realizing career goals identified in the plan.
new text end

new text begin To fully implement the learning plan, the provider must provide the student with ongoing
advising, monitor the student's progress toward completing program requirements and
receiving a diploma, and provide the student with additional academic support services
when needed. At the time a student satisfactorily completes all program requirements and
is eligible to receive a diploma, the provider must conduct a final student interview to
examine both student and program outcomes related to the student's ability to demonstrate
required competencies and complete program requirements and to assist the student with
the student's transition to training, a career, or postsecondary education.
new text end

new text begin (d) Competencies and other program requirements must be rigorous, uniform
throughout the state, and align to Minnesota academic high school standards applicable
to adult learners and their career and college needs. The commissioner must establish
competencies, skills, and knowledge requirements in the following areas, consistent with
this paragraph:
new text end

new text begin (1) language arts, including reading, writing, speaking, and listening;
new text end

new text begin (2) mathematics;
new text end

new text begin (3) career development and employment-related skills;
new text end

new text begin (4) social studies; and
new text end

new text begin (5) science.
new text end

new text begin (e) Consistent with criteria established by the commissioner, students may
demonstrate satisfactory completion of program requirements through verification of
the student's:
new text end

new text begin (1) prior experiences, including K-12 courses and programs, postsecondary courses
and programs, adult basic education instruction, and other approved experiences aligned
with the Minnesota academic high school standards applicable to adult learners and their
career and college needs;
new text end

new text begin (2) knowledge and skills as measured or demonstrated by valid and reliable
high school assessments, secondary credentials, adult basic education programs, and
postsecondary entrance exams;
new text end

new text begin (3) adult basic education instruction and course completion; and
new text end

new text begin (4) applied and experiential learning acquired via contextualized projects and other
approved learning opportunities.
new text end

new text begin (f) Program providers must transmit a student's record of work to another approved
consortium for any student who transfers between approved programs under this
subdivision. The commissioner must establish a uniform format and transcript to record a
student's record of work and also the manner under which approved consortia maintain
permanent student records and transmit transferred student records. At a student's request,
a program provider must transmit the student's record of work to other entities such as
a postsecondary institution or employer.
new text end

new text begin (g) The commissioner may issue a standard adult high school diploma and transmit
the transcript and record of work of the student who receives the diploma. Alternatively, a
school district that is a member of an approved consortium providing a program under
this subdivision may issue a district diploma to a student who satisfactorily completes the
requirements for a standard adult high school diploma under this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (h) The commissioner must identify best practices for adult basic education
programs and develop adult basic education recommendations consistent with this
subdivision to assist approved consortia in providing an adult high school diploma
program. The commissioner must provide assistance to consortia providing an approved
adult high school diploma program.
new text end

new text begin (i) The commissioner must consult with practitioners from throughout Minnesota,
including educators, school board members, and school administrators, among others,
who are familiar with adult basic education students and programs, on establishing the
standards, requirements, and other criteria needed to ensure, consistent with subdivision 8,
that persons with a standard adult high school diploma are as equally well prepared and
qualified graduates as persons with a standard high school diploma. The commissioner,
in consultation with the practitioners, shall regularly review program requirements and
diploma standards.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2014.
new text end