as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 06/02/2016 09:56am
A bill for an act
relating to education; encouraging character development education to include
a focus on Congressional Medal of Honor recipients; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2014, section 120B.232.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.232, is amended to read:
new text begin (a) new text end The legislature encourages
districts to integrate or offer instruction on character education including, but not limited
to, character qualities such as attentiveness, truthfulness, respect for authority, diligence,
gratefulness, self-discipline, patience, forgiveness, respect for others, peacemaking, and
resourcefulness. Instruction should be integrated into a district's existing programs,
curriculum, or the general school environment. The commissioner shall provide assistance
at the request of a district to develop character education curriculum and programs.
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(b) Character development education under paragraph (a) may include a voluntary
elementary, middle, and high school program that incorporates the history and values of
Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and may be offered as part of the social studies,
English language arts, or other curriculum, as a schoolwide character building and veteran
awareness initiative, or as an after-school program, among other possibilities.
new text end
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(a) Staff development
opportunities under section 122A.60 may include training in character development
education that incorporates the history and values of Congressional Medal of Honor
recipients under subdivision 1, paragraph (b), and is provided without cost to the interested
school or district.
new text end
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(b) Local continuing education and relicensure committees or other local relicensure
committees under section 122A.18, subdivision 4, are encouraged to approve up to six
clock hours of continuing education for licensed teachers who complete the training in
character development education under paragraph (a).
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The commissioner must first use federal funds for
character development education programs to the extent available under United States
Code, title 20, section 7247. Districts may accept funds from private and other public
sources for character development education programs developed and implemented under
this sectionnew text begin , including programs funded through the Congressional Medal of Honor
Foundation, among other sourcesnew text end .
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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