HF 983

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a three-year pilot project to transform high
school education through academic and career-related curriculum developed
jointly by college faculty, high school instructors, and business and industry
advisors and offered through career academies at multiple high school locations
throughout a designated region; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin CAREER ACADEMIES AND A WORKPLACE CONNECTION;
THREE-YEAR PILOT PROJECT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin A three-year pilot project is established to determine
the academic and career-related opportunities available to rural high school students able
to participate in a regional program that connects educational institutions and regional
employers and is offered jointly by school districts, a postsecondary institution, and a
regional chamber of commerce. To make this determination, Independent School Districts
No. 181, Brainerd; No. 182, Crosby Ironton; No. 2170, Staples Motley; No. 116, Pillager;
and No. 186, Pequot Lakes; and the Central Lakes College, in collaboration with the
Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce and participating business partners, shall jointly
establish multiple career academies that offer high school students a sequence of courses
and structured, outcome, and work-based learning experiences that provide the students
with the academic and career-related knowledge and skills they need for employment in
high-demand, well-paid careers within the region.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Program structure. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding other law to the contrary,
participants under subdivision 1 must collaborate in developing and offering the program
through a sequence of dual-credit, project-based courses that:
new text end

new text begin (1) share a curriculum incorporating essential academic knowledge and skills
related to applied engineering, health sciences, manufacturing technology, business and
administration, or nursing;
new text end

new text begin (2) are coordinated among the participating school districts and the Central Lakes
College and are taught at a high school located within a participating school district or,
alternatively, at the Central Lakes College or at approved business locations for the
required work-based credits;
new text end

new text begin (3) permit students enrolled in any participating school district to enroll in a course
offered at any participating high school or the Central Lakes College without the school
district or Central Lakes College suffering a net loss of funding;
new text end

new text begin (4) include online learning opportunities where appropriate;
new text end

new text begin (5) use both classroom work and work-based learning experiences to measure
studentsa?? competencies and course outcomes;
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new text begin (6) share an academic calendar;
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new text begin (7) are taught either by licensed teachers or the Central Lakes College faculty; and
new text end

new text begin (8) include curriculum incorporating workplace opportunities such as job shadowing,
internships, business tours, and classroom career and business speakers.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Technical assistance. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education, upon request, must
provide project participants with assistance in developing and implementing the project.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Evaluation; report. new text end

new text begin All project participants jointly must evaluate
the impact of offering academic and career-related opportunities to rural high school
students who participate in a regional program that connects educational institutions
and regional employers and provides students with the academic and career-related
knowledge and skills they need for employment in high-demand, well-paid careers
within the region, consistent with this section. Project participants must submit written
results of the evaluation to the commissioner by November 15, 2010. The commissioner
must present the evaluation results and recommendations for transforming high school
education through academic and career-related curriculum to the education policy and
finance committees of the legislature by February 1, 2011.
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 2007-2008 through 2009-2010 school years.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year 2008 to the commissioner
of education for the purpose of establishing a three-year pilot project to transform high
school education through academic and career-related curriculum developed jointly by
college faculty, high school instructors, and business and industry advisors, consistent
with section 1.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2007. Any funds unexpended
in fiscal year 2008 do not cancel and are available in fiscal year 2009.
new text end