HF 16

as introduced - 91st Legislature, 2020 1st Special Session (2019 - 2020) Posted on 06/12/2020 04:15pm

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; authorizing certain public school students to
participate in a parent-based distance learning program; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2019 Supplement, section 126C.05, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2019 Supplement, section 126C.05, subdivision 1, is amended
to read:

Subdivision 1.

Pupil unit.

Pupil units for each Minnesota resident pupil under the age
of 21 or who meets the requirements of section 120A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), in
average daily membership enrolled in the district of residence, in another district under
sections 123A.05 to 123A.08, 124D.03, 124D.08, or 124D.68; in a charter school under
chapter 124E; or for whom the resident district pays tuition under section 123A.18, 123A.22,
123A.30, 123A.32, 123A.44, 123A.488, 123B.88, subdivision 4, 124D.04, 124D.05, 125A.03
to 125A.24, 125A.51, or 125A.65, shall be counted according to this subdivision. new text begin For the
2020-2021 school year only, average daily membership and pupil units computed under
this section include any student participating in a distance learning parent-based program
under section 2.
new text end

(a) A prekindergarten pupil with a disability who is enrolled in a program approved by
the commissioner and has an individualized education program is counted as the ratio of
the number of hours of assessment and education service to 825 times 1.0 with a minimum
average daily membership of 0.28, but not more than 1.0 pupil unit.

(b) A prekindergarten pupil who is assessed but determined not to be disabled is counted
as the ratio of the number of hours of assessment service to 825 times 1.0.

(c) A kindergarten pupil with a disability who is enrolled in a program approved by the
commissioner is counted as the ratio of the number of hours of assessment and education
services required in the fiscal year by the pupil's individualized education program to 875,
but not more than one.

(d) A prekindergarten pupil who is not included in paragraph (a) or (b) and is enrolled
in an approved voluntary prekindergarten program under section 124D.151 is counted as
the ratio of the number of hours of instruction to 850 times 1.0, but not more than 0.6 pupil
units.

(e) A kindergarten pupil who is not included in paragraph (c) is counted as 1.0 pupil
unit if the pupil is enrolled in a free all-day, every day kindergarten program available to
all kindergarten pupils at the pupil's school that meets the minimum hours requirement in
section 120A.41, or is counted as .55 pupil unit, if the pupil is not enrolled in a free all-day,
every day kindergarten program available to all kindergarten pupils at the pupil's school.

(f) A pupil who is in any of grades 1 to 6 is counted as 1.0 pupil unit.

(g) A pupil who is in any of grades 7 to 12 is counted as 1.2 pupil units.

(h) A pupil who is in the postsecondary enrollment options program is counted as 1.2
pupil units.

(i) For fiscal years 2018 through 2021, a prekindergarten pupil who:

(1) is not included in paragraph (a), (b), or (d);

(2) is enrolled in a school readiness plus program under Laws 2017, First Special Session
chapter 5, article 8, section 9; and

(3) has one or more of the risk factors specified by the eligibility requirements for a
school readiness plus program,

is counted as the ratio of the number of hours of instruction to 850 times 1.0, but not more
than 0.6 pupil units. A pupil qualifying under this paragraph must be counted in the same
manner as a voluntary prekindergarten student for all general education and other school
funding formulas.

Sec. 2. new text begin DISTANCE LEARNING PARENT-BASED INSTRUCTION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Purpose. new text end

new text begin The purpose of this section is to provide additional learning
opportunities for students during distance learning periods.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Applicability. new text end

new text begin This section only applies during the 2020-2021 school year for
any semester or quarter when the Minnesota Department of Education has instituted a
distance learning plan.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Student eligibility. new text end

new text begin A student who was enrolled in a Minnesota school district
or charter school on March 13, 2020, who has not already graduated from high school may
participate in a parent-based distance learning program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Parent responsibility. new text end

new text begin (a) A parent who wishes to provide parent-based distance
learning must provide the student's school with a written notice of the parent's intent to do
so. The parent's notice must include the parent's agreement to provide the educational
services required under Minnesota Statutes, section 120A.22.
new text end

new text begin (b) A parent may terminate a parent-based distance learning program by submitting
written notice to the student's enrolling school. A parent who terminates a parent-based
distance learning program for the student may not request another parent-based distance
learning period for that student.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin School responsibilities. new text end

new text begin (a) A school district or charter school that enrolls an
eligible parent-based distance learning student may continue to count that student as an
enrolled pupil according to Minnesota Statutes, section 126C.05, subdivision 1, and any
other school funding formulas under Minnesota Statutes, chapters 124D, 125A, and 126C.
new text end

new text begin (b) A school district or charter school that enrolls a student under paragraph (a) must
provide the eligible student with a computer, textbooks, individualized instructional materials,
standardized tests, and software and education technology in the same manner as for other
students attending the school. If the student's family does not have access to adequate Internet
service, the school must provide Internet services for the student. If the school provides
access to noninteractive coursework online, the school must make this coursework available
to the student.
new text end

new text begin (c) The enrolling school is not required to provide the student access to its teachers as
a part of the parent-based distance learning program.
new text end

new text begin (d) The enrolling school is not required to provide compulsory instruction under
Minnesota Statutes, section 120A.22, for any student participating in parent-based distance
learning.
new text end

new text begin (e) Upon written request of the parent who has terminated a parent-based distance
learning program, the enrolling school must reassign a parent-based distance learning student
to the school's regular distance learning program. The school must place the student in the
same manner as it would a student transferring from another school.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Grade progression and graduation. new text end

new text begin (a) The enrolling school must recognize
the courses completed by a parent-based distance learning program student in the same
manner as it recognizes any other student's courses who transfers into the school.
new text end

new text begin (b) A parent-based distance learning student in grade 12 during the 2020-2021 school
year who satisfies the school's graduation requirements and successfully completes the
parent-based distance learning program must be awarded a diploma from the school where
the student is enrolled.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for the 2020-2021 school year only.
new text end