HF 672

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/24/2011 10:15am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a pilot project to examine the policy
implications of allowing a charter school to become an educational entity within
a school district while retaining the autonomy and flexibility of a charter school.

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

Section 1. new text begin ALLOWING A CHARTER SCHOOL TO BECOME AN
EDUCATIONAL ENTITY WITHIN A SCHOOL DISTRICT WHILE RETAINING
ITS AUTONOMY AND FLEXIBILITY; PILOT PROJECT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section
123B.04, 124D.10, or other law to the contrary, a five-year pilot project is established to
allow the Lakes International Language Academy, District No. 4116, charter school to
become an educational entity within Independent School District No. 831, Forest Lake,
with the result that the charter school operates under the direct authority and supervision
of the Forest Lake school superintendent and the chief administrator of the charter school
reports directly to the superintendent.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Implementation. new text end

new text begin (a) To implement this pilot project, the following terms
apply during the term of the pilot project:
new text end

new text begin (1) the charter school remains located in its current facility and continues to operate
in the same manner as before the effective date of this act;
new text end

new text begin (2) the charter school remains subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.10, and
chapters 13 and 13D;
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new text begin (3) the charter school budget and expenditures are reflected in a detailed and binding
agreement reached between the school district and the charter school;
new text end

new text begin (4) the charter school board of directors serves as a site council and retains an
advisory role in the operation of the charter school;
new text end

new text begin (5) no increase in school district or charter school employees occurs as a result
of this pilot project;
new text end

new text begin (6) the charter school employees are at-will employees of the school district but may
become district employees upon the expiration of the pilot project; and
new text end

new text begin (7) the charter school employees remain eligible to participate in alternative teacher
pay under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.414, as described in the charter school quality
compensation agreement in effect on the effective date of this act.
new text end

new text begin (b) Independent School District No. 831, Forest Lake, may include all pupils
attending the Lakes International Language Academy in its count of pupils under
Minnesota Statutes, section 126C.05, and those pupils qualify for funding as pupils
served by the school district except that charter school building lease aid continues under
Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.11, subdivision 4.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Termination. new text end

new text begin Not later than March 1 in any school year in which the
pilot project is in effect, Independent School District No. 831, Forest Lake, or Lakes
International Language Academy, District No. 4116, charter school, may elect to withdraw
from participating in the pilot project and must immediately transmit notice to the other
party of its intent to withdraw. A decision of either party to withdraw from participating
causes the pilot project to terminate on the proximate June 30 and both parties to revert to
their prepilot project status on that date.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Evaluation. new text end

new text begin The education commissioner, in consultation with
representatives of school administrators, teachers, and charter school authorizers and
operators, must evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot project in improving student
outcomes and submit a report by February 1, 2016, of the commissioner's findings to the
education policy and finance committees of the legislature.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment
and applies to the 2011-2012 through 2015-2016 school years.
new text end