HF 1644

1st Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 04/06/2021 12:57pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; modifying the definition of hours of instruction; providing
for distance instruction; establishing an instruction model working group; requiring
a report; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 120A.41; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 120A.41, is amended to read:

120A.41 LENGTH OF SCHOOL YEAR; HOURS OF INSTRUCTION.

(a) A school board's annual school calendar must include at least 425 hours of instruction
for a kindergarten student without a disability, 935 hours of instruction for a student in
grades 1 through 6, and 1,020 hours of instruction for a student in grades 7 through 12, not
including summer school. The school calendar for all-day kindergarten must include at least
850 hours of instruction for the school year. The school calendar for a prekindergarten
student under section 124D.151, if offered by the district, must include at least 350 hours
of instruction for the school year. A school board's annual calendar must include at least
165 days of instruction for a student in grades 1 through 11 unless a four-day week schedule
has been approved by the commissioner under section 124D.126.

(b) A school board's annual school calendar may include plans for up to five days of
instruction provided through online instruction due to inclement weather. The inclement
weather plans must be developed according to section 120A.414.

new text begin (c) Hours of instruction include all learning opportunities and services designed to
support a student to be prepared to succeed and lead by having the knowledge and skills to
learn, engage civically, and lead meaningful lives, through implementation of evidence-based
practices, quality instruction, and personalized learning supports. Such opportunities and
services include but are not limited to blended learning, distance learning, project-based
learning, work-based learning, service learning, supervised internships, and in-person
learning in a school building.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [124D.097] DISTANCE INSTRUCTION OPTION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin "Distance instruction" means instruction provided to students
remotely, with students and teachers interacting through synchronous and other online
interactions, and students being provided appropriate education materials. During the period
of time when a student is participating exclusively in distance instruction for the full
instructional day, the student is considered to be engaged in full-day distance instruction.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin District option. new text end

new text begin (a) A school district may offer a full-time distance instruction
option to its enrolled resident students. A distance instruction option may be part of a school's
curriculum offerings. A student may complete all educational expectations and graduation
requirements under section 120B.02 through distance instruction. A school district that
offers distance instruction is not an online learning provider and is not subject to Department
of Education approval under section 124D.095.
new text end

new text begin (b) A school district may assign a student who is participating in full-time distance
instruction to a school site for purposes of determining compensatory revenue pupil units
under section 126C.05, subdivision 3, and free and reduced-price meal eligibility under
section 126C.05, subdivision 16.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for the 2021-2022 school year and later.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin INSTRUCTION MODEL WORKING GROUP.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Working group. new text end

new text begin A working group is established to review how school
districts and charter schools implemented distance and hybrid instruction due to disruptions
to on-site instruction caused by COVID-19 and make recommendations to increase flexibility
for school districts and charter schools to implement instruction models that meet students'
diverse learning needs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given them.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Distance instruction" means instruction provided to students remotely, with students
and teachers interacting through synchronous and other online interactions, and students
being provided appropriate education materials.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Hybrid instruction" means a manner of instruction that includes both on-site
instruction as well as distance instruction.
new text end

new text begin (d) "On-site instruction" means instruction delivered in person by a teacher at a school
facility.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The working group must study the outcomes, challenges, and
successes of distance instruction during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. In
particular, the group must consider:
new text end

new text begin (1) the impact of lower class sizes on student engagement and academic growth;
new text end

new text begin (2) how modifications to the school calendar would affect learning retention and student
engagement;
new text end

new text begin (3) the impact of distance instruction on students requiring special education services
and supports, students identified as English learners, and students experiencing homelessness
or who are highly mobile;
new text end

new text begin (4) the effect of distance instruction on students' social and emotional growth, student
discipline, and bullying;
new text end

new text begin (5) how students' educational needs vary by age group; and
new text end

new text begin (6) students' access to technology.
new text end

new text begin (b) The working group must report its findings and recommendations to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten
through grade 12 education by January 17, 2022. The report must be submitted in accordance
with Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner of education must provide technical assistance and public data
on student academic needs and performance, to the extent it is available, to help the working
group make evidence-based recommendations.
new text end

new text begin (d) The working group expires January 18, 2022.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Members. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee
must serve as a member of the working group. In addition, by July 1, 2021, the commissioner
of education must review applications to be named to the group and appoint the following
group members:
new text end

new text begin (1) two superintendents;
new text end

new text begin (2) four teachers;
new text end

new text begin (3) two school board members;
new text end

new text begin (4) two students;
new text end

new text begin (5) one curriculum director;
new text end

new text begin (6) one assessment coordinator;
new text end

new text begin (7) two technology directors;
new text end

new text begin (8) one parent of a student enrolled in a school district or charter school;
new text end

new text begin (9) one special education director; and
new text end

new text begin (10) one representative of an online learning provider approved under Minnesota Statutes,
section 124D.095.
new text end

new text begin (b) When appointing members to the working group, the commissioner must consider
whether the working group represents communities of color, American Indian communities,
and communities from throughout Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Meetings. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of education must convene the first meeting
of the working group no later than August 30, 2021. The working group must select a chair
or cochairs from among its members at the first meeting. The working group must meet
periodically.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner must provide technical and administrative assistance to the working
group upon request.
new text end

new text begin (c) Working group members are not eligible to receive expenses or per diem payments
for serving on the working group.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end