HF 2981

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/15/2010 10:07am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing the MNovate Commission; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 127A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [127A.90] MNOVATE COMMISSION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; mission. new text end

new text begin A commission called MNovate is
established to assist the governor, the legislature, the commissioner of education, and
learning communities of Minnesota. The mission of the commission is to provide
leadership for the creation of new and innovative models of public schools and schooling
resulting in:
new text end

new text begin (1) Minnesota's youth learning through models designed around their individual
needs and aspirations;
new text end

new text begin (2) new ways emerging for learning to be evaluated;
new text end

new text begin (3) new professional opportunities for teachers; and
new text end

new text begin (4) improved efficiency of the public E-12 learning systems in the state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) For the initial appointments, the terms of the board
members of the commission shall be one year for one-third of the members, two years
for one-third of the members, and three years for one-third of the members. Thereafter,
the terms of members shall be for three years. Members may be reappointed upon the
completion of their first term for one additional term. Commission members may serve a
maximum of two consecutive terms. The compensation, filling of vacancies, and removal
of members are governed by section 15.0575. The commission may accept gifts and
contributions from public and private organizations.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commission shall consist of 12 voting members. Voting members shall
include the commissioner of education, who shall be an ongoing member and shall serve
as chairperson for the first year, after which time the chairperson will be selected by
the members.
new text end

new text begin (c) The governor, speaker of the house, and the Subcommittee on Committees of
the Committee on Rules and Administration of the senate shall each appoint four voting
members. At the initial meeting of the commission, the length of the terms would be
allocated by a lottery method. The commissioner of education is one of the governor's
appointees and shall serve a three-year period. One commission member may be a state
representative and one may be a state senator.
new text end

new text begin (d) Commission appointees must have expertise or experience that demonstrates
support for the risks and rewards of innovative efforts. The commission, to the extent
practicable, should reflect geographic and ethnic representation.
new text end

new text begin (e) Following the initial appointments as provided for in this subdivision, the
commission board will appoint its own members who shall serve with the advice and
consent of the senate.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The commission must:
new text end

new text begin (1) provide outreach to educators, community groups, and others to help stimulate
interest and develop proposals for new and fundamentally different schools;
new text end

new text begin (2) conduct research and identify high-priority unmet student learning needs in all
parts of the state, as well as districts facing severe fiscal stress where new learning models
or organizational models could help make districts and schools more fiscally sustainable.
Unmet needs to be researched and recommendations to be made include:
new text end

new text begin (i) improving student readiness for kindergarten;
new text end

new text begin (ii) new high school and postsecondary models;
new text end

new text begin (iii) administrative models for serving students in sparsely populated areas;
new text end

new text begin (iv) administrative, learning, or organizational models for districts facing severe
fiscal stress;
new text end

new text begin (v) models that use low- or no-cost technology as a significant way to improve
efficiency;
new text end

new text begin (vi) models which focus on student engagement in their learning with an enhanced
level of connection between the teachers and students;
new text end

new text begin (3) identify laws and rules that restrict the development of learning models and
constrain innovation;
new text end

new text begin (4) disseminate information about new school creation to audiences throughout
the state;
new text end

new text begin (5) create opportunities for current district schools, site-governed district schools,
chartered schools, contract alternative schools, and others to learn of new models,
exchange ideas, improve efficiency, improve accountability, and enhance innovation
in public education;
new text end

new text begin (6) research and develop new models of evaluation to support learning, efficiency,
and accountability;
new text end

new text begin (7) facilitate and coordinate quality assistance as well as nongovernmental support
to assist districts and other new school developers in creating proposals for high-quality
new models of schools and schooling and ultimately to effectively implement these new
models;
new text end

new text begin (8) as provided in section 124D.10, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), develop the
application process and review applications of organizations requesting to be authorizers
of charter schools and make recommendations to the commissioner of education regarding
approval, renewal, and removal of charter school authorizing authority;
new text end

new text begin (9) administer the federal charter school start-up grant funding awarded to the
state; and
new text end

new text begin (10) actively seek out funding from private sources, federal grants, and other sources
to fund the work of the commission. The commissioner shall enter into an agreement with
the commission to provide the federal charter school funding to enable the commission to
meet the requirements of clauses (8) and (9).
new text end

new text begin (b) The commission must periodically request testimony and advice from educators,
students, families, education organizations, the business community, higher education,
and other parties to gain their input with respect to learning models. Also, persons with
expertise in new models of teaching and learning, finance, technology evaluation models,
and other areas to be determined by the commission shall provide testimony and advice.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 21 of each year, the commission shall report to the
governor, legislature, and commissioner of education regarding the results of its work and
make recommendations for ongoing development of new school models. new text end new text begin The report must
also include draft legislation, if necessary, to further the goals of the commission.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Delegation to nonprofit. new text end

new text begin The commission shall create a private nonprofit
corporation and make application for tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The members appointed in subdivision 2 shall serve
as the corporation's board of directors. The private nonprofit corporation is not subject
to laws governing state agencies or political subdivisions, except that the provisions
of chapter 13, the open meeting law under chapter 13D, salary limits under section
15A.0815, subdivision 2, and audits by the legislative auditor under chapter 3 apply. The
board of directors and the executive director of the nonprofit corporation are considered
"officials" for purposes of section 10A.07. The commission may delegate any or all of its
powers and duties under state and federal law to the private nonprofit corporation. The
commission may revoke a delegation of powers and duties at any time.
new text end