HF 1424

1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; developing world language proficiency, resources, and
capacity; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections
120B.021, subdivision 1; 120B.022, subdivision 1; 120B.023, subdivision 2;
120B.024; 122A.18, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120B.021, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:

Subdivision 1.

Required academic standards.

new text begin (a) new text end The following subject areas
are required for statewide accountability:

(1) language arts;

(2) mathematics;

(3) science;

(4) social studies, including history, geography, economics, and government and
citizenship;

(5) health and physical education, for which locally developed academic standards
apply; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(6) the arts, for which statewide or locally developed academic standards apply, as
determined by the school district deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin so that (i) new text end public elementary and middle schools deleted text begin must deleted text end
offer at least three and require at least two of deleted text begin the following deleted text end four arts areas new text begin in new text end : dance;
music; theater; and visual arts deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; and (ii) new text end public high schools deleted text begin must deleted text end offer at least three and
require at least one of deleted text begin the following deleted text end five arts areas new text begin in new text end : media arts; dance; music; theater;
and visual arts new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (7) a world language, for which locally developed academic standards apply new text end .

new text begin (b) new text end The commissioner must submit proposed standards in science and social studies
to the legislature by February 1, 2004.

For purposes of applicable federal law, the academic standards for language arts,
mathematics, and science apply to all public school students, except the very few students
with extreme cognitive or physical impairments for whom an individualized education
plan team has determined that the required academic standards are inappropriate.
An individualized education plan team that makes this determination must establish
alternative standards.

new text begin (c) new text end A school district, no later than the 2007-2008 school year, must adopt graduation
requirements that meet or exceed state graduation requirements established in law or
rule. A school district that incorporates these state graduation requirements before the
2007-2008 school year must provide students who enter the 9th grade in or before
the 2003-2004 school year the opportunity to earn a diploma based on existing locally
established graduation requirements in effect when the students entered the 9th grade.
District efforts to develop, implement, or improve instruction or curriculum as a result
of the provisions of this section must be consistent with sections 120B.10, 120B.11,
and 120B.20.

new text begin (d) At a minimum, school districts must implement a world language graduation
requirement for students who graduate in the 2024-2025 school year and later unless
exempted by the commissioner. The graduation requirement must expect students to
demonstrate an intermediate-low level of proficiency in a language other than English
using the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages proficiency guidelines.
Students' requisite proficiency in indigenous American Indian languages, among other
world languages, satisfies the state's world language graduation requirement. School
districts must determine student proficiency levels based on a language classification
scale such as the Defense Language Institute or an equivalent and must consider national
foreign language standards descriptions of language proficiency expectations. Pupils of
limited English proficiency under section 124D.59, subdivision 2, satisfy this requirement
in their first learned language or in a third language other than English.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective immediately and applies to students
who graduate in the 2024-2025 school year and later.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120B.022, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Elective standards.

A district must establish its own deleted text begin standards in the
following subject areas:
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) deleted text end vocational and technical education deleted text begin ; and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) world languages deleted text end new text begin standards new text end .

A school district must offer courses in all elective subject areas.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective immediately and applies to students
who graduate in the 2024-2025 school year and later.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120B.023, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Revisions and reviews required.

(a) The commissioner of education must
revise and appropriately embed technology and information literacy standards consistent
with recommendations from school media specialists into the state's academic standards
and graduation requirements and implement a review cycle for state academic standards
and related benchmarks, consistent with this subdivision. During each review cycle, the
commissioner also must examine the alignment of each required academic standard and
related benchmark with the knowledge and skills students need for college readiness and
advanced work in the particular subject area.

(b) The commissioner in the 2006-2007 school year must revise and align the state's
academic standards and high school graduation requirements in mathematics to require
that students satisfactorily complete the revised mathematics standards, beginning in the
2010-2011 school year. Under the revised standards:

(1) students must satisfactorily complete an algebra I credit by the end of eighth
grade; and

(2) students scheduled to graduate in the 2014-2015 school year or later must
satisfactorily complete an algebra II credit or its equivalent.

The commissioner also must ensure that the statewide mathematics assessments
administered to students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 beginning in the 2010-2011
school year are aligned with the state academic standards in mathematics. The statewide
11th grade mathematics test administered to students under clause (2) beginning in
the 2013-2014 school year must include algebra II test items that are aligned with
corresponding state academic standards in mathematics. The commissioner must
implement a review of the academic standards and related benchmarks in mathematics
beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.

(c) The commissioner in the 2007-2008 school year must revise and align the state's
academic standards and high school graduation requirements in the arts to require that
students satisfactorily complete the revised arts standards beginning in the 2010-2011
school year. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and
related benchmarks in arts beginning in the 2016-2017 school year.

(d) The commissioner in the 2008-2009 school year must revise and align the state's
academic standards and high school graduation requirements in science to require that
students satisfactorily complete the revised science standards, beginning in the 2011-2012
school year. Under the revised standards, students scheduled to graduate in the 2014-2015
school year or later must satisfactorily complete a chemistry or physics credit. The
commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and related benchmarks
in science beginning in the 2017-2018 school year.

(e) The commissioner in the 2009-2010 school year must revise and align the state's
academic standards and high school graduation requirements in language arts to require
that students satisfactorily complete the revised language arts standards beginning in the
2012-2013 school year. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic
standards and related benchmarks in language arts beginning in the 2018-2019 school year.

(f) The commissioner in the 2010-2011 school year must revise and align the state's
academic standards and high school graduation requirements in social studies to require
that students satisfactorily complete the revised social studies standards beginning in the
2013-2014 school year. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic
standards and related benchmarks in social studies beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.

(g) School districts and charter schools must revise and align local academic
standards and high school graduation requirements in health, physical education, world
languages, and career and technical education to require students to complete the revised
standards beginning in a school year determined by the school district or charter school.
new text begin Students who graduate in the 2024-2025 school year and later must satisfactorily complete
credits in a world language between seventh and twelfth grades to meet the proficiency
expectations under section 120B.021, subdivision 1, paragraph (d). new text end School districts and
charter schools must formally establish a periodic review cycle for the academic standards
and related benchmarks in health, physical education, world languages, and career and
technical education.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective immediately and applies to students
who graduate in the 2024-2025 school year and later.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120B.024, is amended to read:

120B.024 GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS; COURSE CREDITS.

(a) Students beginning 9th grade in the 2004-2005 school year and later must
successfully complete the following high school level course credits for graduation:

(1) four credits of language arts;

(2) three credits of mathematics, encompassing at least algebra, geometry, statistics,
and probability sufficient to satisfy the academic standard;

(3) three credits of science, including at least one credit in biology;

(4) three and one-half credits of social studies, encompassing at least United
States history, geography, government and citizenship, world history, and economics or
three credits of social studies encompassing at least United States history, geography,
government and citizenship, and world history, and one-half credit of economics taught in
a school's social studies, agriculture education, or business department;

(5) one credit in the arts; and

(6) a minimum of seven elective course credits.

A course credit is equivalent to a student successfully completing an academic
year of study or a student mastering the applicable subject matter, as determined by the
local school district.

(b) An agriculture science course may fulfill a science credit requirement in addition
to the specified science credits in biology and chemistry or physics under paragraph (a),
clause (3).

new text begin (c) Students beginning ninth grade in the 2020-2021 school year and later must
demonstrate the level of proficiency under section 120B.021, subdivision 1, paragraph (d).
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective immediately and applies to students
who graduate in the 2024-2025 school year and later.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 122A.18, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin World language licenses. new text end

new text begin The board must review and approve qualified
alternative preparation programs under section 122A.24 leading to licensure as a world
language teacher in grades kindergarten through 8 and grades kindergarten through 12 for
those individuals who are fully proficient in English and another world language under
board requirements, have a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year postsecondary
institution, and are interested in becoming licensed world language teachers. Alternative
preparation programs for qualified individuals must be one school year in length.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for persons enrolling in an alternative
preparation program after August 15, 2008.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin ADVISORY TASK FORCE ON DEVELOPING STUDENTS' WORLD
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of education must establish an advisory task force on
developing students' world language no later than September 1, 2007, to consider and
recommend to the legislature a process for designing and implementing a comprehensive
statewide program to ensure a proficiency level consistent with Minnesota Statutes,
section 120B.021, subdivision 1, paragraph (d), for Minnesota students by the 2024-2025
school year. The process must anticipate a gradual implementation of world language
programs over time, acknowledge and reinforce the language proficiency and cultural
awareness that minority language speakers already possess, and encourage students'
proficiency in multiple world languages. To realize these goals, and consistent with this
act, the task force at least annually must make recommendations to the legislature and the
commissioner of education for developing and implementing:
new text end

new text begin (1) high quality sustainable program models that reach many learners but result in
lower proficiency levels and other program models that provide depth that reach fewer
students but lead to higher proficiency levels;
new text end

new text begin (2) week-long intensive training sessions for public school district administrators
interested in establishing high quality sustainable world language programs;
new text end

new text begin (3) postsecondary two-year and four-year programs that offer high quality world
language instruction, world language degrees, and opportunities to learn and apply a world
language to a specific purpose;
new text end

new text begin (4) increased language proficiency and quality of instruction for increased numbers
of licensed world language teachers whose teacher preparation programs reflect the
program standards of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and
the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education;
new text end

new text begin (5) compact, intensive teacher education programs that maintain Minnesota's
rigorous world language standards;
new text end

new text begin (6) programs that simultaneously support both minority language learners in
maintaining their native language while mastering English and majority language learners
in learning other languages, lead to certificates of bilingualism and multilingualism, and
provide scholarships for further world language study;
new text end

new text begin (7) information technology, including high-speed Internet access, for online learning
and increasing statewide access to world language information, books, and education
materials, and high quality world language instruction;
new text end

new text begin (8) a full-time position for a state coordinator for world languages in the Department
of Education; and
new text end

new text begin (9) model world language programs and plans for implementing a required world
language standard at various grade levels between kindergarten and grade 12.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of education must appoint an advisory task force that is
composed of a representative from each of the following entities who is selected by
that entity: the Department of Education; CARLA at the University of Minnesota; the
College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota; Concordia
Language Village; St. Paul public schools; Minneapolis public schools; the Minnesota
State Colleges and Universities system; the Association of Metropolitan School Districts;
the Minnesota Rural Education Association; the Minnesota School Boards Association;
Education Minnesota; the Parent Teacher Association; the Minnesota Association of
School Administrators; the Minnesota Private Colleges Council; the Minnesota Council
on the Teaching of Languages and Cultures; the Minnesota Articulation Project; and
others recommended by task force members. Task force members' terms and other task
force matters are subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059. Annually, by February
15, the task force must submit to the Education Policy and Finance Committees of the
legislature a written report on the ongoing process of designing and implementing a
comprehensive statewide program to ensure a high level of world language proficiency
for all Minnesota students by the 2024-2025 school year.
new text end

new text begin (c) The task force expires on February 16, 2025.
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

Sec. 7. new text begin PILOT PROGRAM TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT MANDARIN
CHINESE PROGRAMS AND TO ENHANCE EXISTING SUCCESSFUL
MANDARIN CHINESE PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; application. new text end

new text begin (a) A pilot program for fiscal years
2008 and 2009 is established to develop and implement alternative sustainable model
programs in Mandarin Chinese instruction and to enhance existing successful Mandarin
Chinese programs. The pilot programs either must provide: program breadth offering
intensive Mandarin Chinese programs to fewer students in elementary school and offering
middle and high school Mandarin Chinese programs to many students that may result
in a lower level of student proficiency; or program depth with intensive immersion or
content-based Mandarin Chinese programs that are available to fewer students but result
in a higher level of student proficiency.
new text end

new text begin (b) School districts interested in participating in developing and implementing
alternative sustainable model programs in Mandarin Chinese instruction or enhancing
existing successful Mandarin Chinese programs must apply to the commissioner of
education in the form and manner the commissioner determines. The application must:
new text end

new text begin (1) describe the applicant's capacity for offering a Mandarin Chinese program and
the proposed program model;
new text end

new text begin (2) include a plan for program articulation between grades, the development of
Mandarin Chinese benchmarks, and the assessment of students' language proficiency;
new text end

new text begin (3) demonstrate an alignment between the target student population and the proposed
program model;
new text end

new text begin (4) provide evidence of community and staff support;
new text end

new text begin (5) include a plan for sustaining a Mandarin Chinese program beyond the period
of the pilot program; and
new text end

new text begin (6) demonstrate an ability to provide matching nonstate funds.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner may require an applicant to submit additional information.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Application review; grant awards; evaluation. new text end

new text begin (a) Only those applicants
the commissioner determines have successfully complied with subdivision 1 are eligible
to receive a pilot program grant under this section.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may award up to ten pilot program grants. Each grant
recipient is eligible to receive $50,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $50,000 in fiscal year 2009
to implement a Mandarin Chinese program. To the extent feasible, the commissioner must
award the grants to successful applicants of various sizes that are located throughout
the state. Recipients must use the grant awards to implement a new Mandarin Chinese
program or enhance an existing program, consistent with the recipient's application.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner must provide for an evaluation of the pilot programs funded
under this section and recommend to the education policy and finance committees of the
legislature by February 15, 2010, how to make available Mandarin Chinese programs to
students in kindergarten through grade 12 throughout the state.
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

Sec. 8. new text begin SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education, in consultation with postsecondary institutions
and the state Board of School Administrators, must develop and implement week-long,
intensive training sessions for public school district administrators interested in
establishing high quality, sustainable world language program models. The training
sessions must be similar in structure to the advanced placement training programs offered
by the College Board under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.13.
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

Sec. 9. new text begin MINNESOTA OFFICE OF HIGHER EDUCATION;
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEVELOPING WORLD LANGUAGE
RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE.
new text end

new text begin The Minnesota Office of Higher Education under Minnesota Statutes, chapter
136A, must make recommendations to the education policy and finance committees of
the legislature by February 15, 2008, on developing and implementing world language
initiatives in postsecondary settings, including:
new text end

new text begin (1) a Mandarin Chinese undergraduate major in four-year colleges and universities;
new text end

new text begin (2) high quality Mandarin Chinese instruction in two-year colleges;
new text end

new text begin (3) better alignment of world language requirements in secondary schools and
postsecondary institutions;
new text end

new text begin (4) development of cross-curricular world language initiatives that enable students
to learn a world language related to a particular course of study such as international
business or politics; and
new text end

new text begin (5) development of scholarship programs that allow more students to study abroad.
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

Sec. 10. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; FULL-TIME LANGUAGE AND
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION POSITIONS.
new text end

new text begin The Department of Education must establish within the department:
new text end

new text begin (1) a full-time world language specialist position to assist school districts in
developing and implementing world language programs;
new text end

new text begin (2) a part-time licensing executive position to evaluate and process the licenses
of world language teachers; and
new text end

new text begin (3) a full-time international education specialist position to assist school districts
in developing and implementing cross-curricular international or global subject matter
content and to facilitate the work of a task force that must develop Minnesota's
kindergarten through grade 12 world language standards.
new text end

Sec. 11. new text begin BILINGUAL AND MULTILINGUAL CERTIFICATES; DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION.
new text end

new text begin The Department of Education, in consultation with interested stakeholders, must
develop and recommend to the legislature by February 15, 2008, the standards and process
for awarding bilingual and multilingual certificates to those kindergarten through grade
12 students who demonstrate and maintain a requisite level of proficiency in multiple
languages.
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

Sec. 12. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in this section
are appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal
year designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Pilot program for developing and expanding Mandarin Chinese
programs. new text end

new text begin For developing and implementing Mandarin Chinese programs and enhancing
existing successful Mandarin Chinese programs:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 500,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2008 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 500,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2009 new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin School administrators' training. new text end

new text begin For developing and implementing
week-long, intensive training sessions for public school district administrators interested
in establishing high quality, sustainable world language programs:
new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 50,000 new text end

new text begin ..... new text end

new text begin 2008 new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Department of Education world language positions. new text end

new text begin For the Department
of Education to hire one part-time and two full-time positions related to developing and
implementing world language programs and standards and licensing world language
teachers:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 300,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2008 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 300,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2009 new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Alternative teacher preparation scholarships. new text end

new text begin For providing $2,500
scholarships to 20 qualified Minnesota residents to enroll in alternative teacher preparation
programs leading to licensure as a world language teacher:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 100,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2008 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 100,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2009 new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Programs for world language teachers. new text end

new text begin For establishing and delivering
intensive teacher preparation and development summer programs for Minnesota residents
who (1) are fully proficient in English and another world language, (2) have a bachelor's
degree from an accredited four-year postsecondary institution, and (3) are interested
in becoming licensed world language teachers; for providing $10,000 stipends to 25
visiting teachers from China to receive on-site and Web-based orientation and professional
development in China, and mentoring and professional development and training in
Minnesota on effective pedagogy and working with Minnesota students for at least one
quarter before beginning to teach in Minnesota; and $100,000 for hiring a highly qualified
Chinese language teacher to serve as a statewide mentor on special assignment to assist
native Chinese language teachers teaching in Minnesota:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 700,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2008 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 700,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2009 new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Teacher training. new text end

new text begin To provide summer professional development programs
in fiscal year 2008 and in fiscal year 2009 for 50 world language teachers to learn to use
technology to deliver high quality language instruction and for summer and academic
year professional development programs to help teachers learn to differentiate language
instruction so that all students can succeed in learning world languages:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 100,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2008 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 100,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2009 new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Grants to develop innovative materials. new text end

new text begin For ten two-year grants
of $20,000 to encourage Mandarin Chinese community language schools to develop
innovative materials and information for the Mandarin Chinese Information and Resource
Center Web site and for Mandarin Chinese programs throughout Minnesota:
new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 200,000 new text end

new text begin ..... new text end

new text begin 2008 new text end

Sec. 13. new text begin MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in
this section are appropriated from the general fund to the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities for the fiscal years designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin World language teacher preparation. new text end

new text begin To the Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities for ten grants of $100,000 in fiscal year 2008 and ten grants of $100,000
in fiscal year 2009 to develop, in consultation with the state Board of Teaching, world
language teacher preparation programs leading to licensure as a world language teacher so
that Minnesota has sufficient teacher preparation program capacity to realize a long-term
goal of having all kindergarten through grade 12 students reach a specified level of world
language proficiency by the 2024-2025 school year, and to provide opportunities for
qualified world language teachers to study abroad:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 1,500,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2008 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 1,500,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2009 new text end

Sec. 14. new text begin MINNESOTA OFFICE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Office of Higher Education. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in
this section are appropriated from the general fund to the Minnesota Office of Higher
Education for the fiscal years designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Scholarships. new text end

new text begin To the Minnesota Office of Higher Education for 20 college
scholarships of $2,500 in fiscal year 2008 and of $2,500 in fiscal year 2009 to Minnesota
postsecondary students who are interested in pursuing a teaching degree in world
languages and to postsecondary students who are interested in enrolling in a summer
world language program or in study abroad:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 50,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2008 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin 50,000 new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2009 new text end