HF 2130

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/25/2014 03:13pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring student-to-school counselor ratio at national
average; creating a task force on racial diversity of teachers and guidance
counselors; requiring a report; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 121A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [121A.24] SCHOOL COUNSELORS.
new text end

new text begin (a) A school district shall report the student-to-school counselor ratio for
kindergarten through grade 8 and grades 9 through 12 to the department in the form and
manner requested by the commissioner. Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, a school
district with ratios above that reported under paragraph (b) must submit a plan to the
department to meet those ratios within two school years.
new text end

new text begin (b) By February 1, 2015, and every five years thereafter, the department shall report
the current national average student-to-school counselor ratio for kindergarten through
grade 8 and grades 9 through 12.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin TEACHER AND SCHOOL COUNSELOR DIVERSITY TASK FORCE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education, in collaboration
with the president of the University of Minnesota and the chancellor of the Minnesota
State Colleges and Universities, shall appoint an advisory task force by July 1, 2014, to
research and develop recommendations on increasing diversity among teachers and school
counselors to reflect the current and future predicted diversity of students within the state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The duties of the task force include:
new text end

new text begin (1) analyzing demographic information of current teachers and school counselors
in all school districts and teacher and school counselor candidates in all Board of
Teaching-approved licensure programs;
new text end

new text begin (2) analyzing demographic trends for teachers, school counselors, and students
through the 2030-2031 school year;
new text end

new text begin (3) recommending programs that may reduce the difference between projected
student populations and projected teacher and school counselor pools through the
2030-2031 school year;
new text end

new text begin (4) recommending recruiting, reporting, and monitoring strategies for school
districts to establish and maintain a teacher and school counselor staff that reflects the
diversity of the district's students; and
new text end

new text begin (5) recommending resources and interventions that the Department of Education
may use to support school districts in establishing and maintaining a teacher and school
counselor staff that reflects the diversity of the district's students.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 6, 2015, the task force must submit its
recommendations to the commissioner of education. The commissioner shall report
the findings and recommendations to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
kindergarten through grade 12 education by January 13, 2015.
new text end