HF 3372

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/14/2024 04:03pm

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; establishing a microcredential for teachers and
administrators of English learners; providing for student support personnel aid for
area learning centers; establishing a task force on fully funded alternative programs
and English learning programs; authorizing rulemaking; requiring a report;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 122A.14, by
adding a subdivision; 122A.187, by adding a subdivision; 122A.19, by adding a
subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, sections 122A.187, subdivision
3; 124D.901, subdivisions 3, 4; Laws 2023, chapter 55, article 5, section 64,
subdivision 14.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 122A.14, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 3a. new text end

new text begin English learner microcredential. new text end

new text begin The board may adopt rules establishing a
voluntary administrative microcredential for English learner and emerging multilingual
learner program directors and coordinators.
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. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 122A.187, subdivision 3, is amended
to read:

Subd. 3.

Professional growth.

(a) Applicants for license renewal for a Tier 3 or Tier 4
license under sections 122A.183 and 122A.184, respectively, who have been employed as
a teacher during the renewal period of the expiring license, as a condition of license renewal,
must present to their local continuing education and relicensure committee or other local
relicensure committee evidence of work that demonstrates professional reflection and growth
in best teaching practices, including among other things, cultural competence in accordance
with section 120B.30, subdivision 8 deleted text begin , and practices in meeting the varied needs of English
learners, from young children to adults under section 124D.59, subdivisions 2 and 2a deleted text end . A
teacher may satisfy the requirements of this paragraph by submitting the teacher's most
recent summative evaluation or improvement plan under section 122A.40, subdivision 8,
or 122A.41, subdivision 5.

(b) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must ensure that its teacher
relicensing requirements include paragraph (a).

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for licenses renewed on or after the day
that the rules adopted under section 3 become effective.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 122A.187, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin English learners. new text end

new text begin The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers renewing a Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, or Tier
4 teaching license under sections 122A.181 to 122A.184, respectively, to include in their
renewal requirements further preparation in best practices in meeting the varied needs of
English learners, from young children to adults under section 124D.59, subdivisions 2 and
2a. The rules must:
new text end

new text begin (1) require at least three hours of professional development training in content and
pedagogy associated with, at a minimum, the benefits of multilingualism and
multiculturalism;
new text end

new text begin (2) establish qualifications for a person conducting the training; and
new text end

new text begin (3) require that the training include culturally validating diversity, equity, and inclusion
training.
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. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 122A.19, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Microcredentials. new text end

new text begin (a) The board must adopt rules establishing best practices
for teaching English learners in specific content areas. The board must adopt rules
establishing a voluntary microcredential in communication arts and literature, math, science,
and social studies for teachers holding a license in bilingual or bicultural education or English
as a second language. To earn a microcredential, a teacher must demonstrate mastery of the
best practices established in rule for teaching English learners in a specific content area.
new text end

new text begin (b) The board must adopt rules to establish a voluntary microcredential in bilingual or
bicultural education or English as a second language for teachers holding a license in
communication arts and literature, math, science, or social studies. To earn the
microcredential, a teacher must demonstrate mastery of the best practices established in
rule for teaching English learners in the content area in which the teacher is licensed.
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. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 124D.901, subdivision 3, is amended
to read:

Subd. 3.

Student support personnel aid.

(a) The initial student support personnel aid
for a school district equals the greater of the student support personnel allowance times the
adjusted pupil units at the district for the current fiscal year or $40,000. The initial student
support personnel aid for a charter school equals the greater of the student support personnel
allowance times the adjusted pupil units at the charter school for the current fiscal year or
$20,000.

(b) The cooperative student support personnel aid for a school district that is a member
of an intermediate school district or other cooperative unit that serves students equals the
greater of the cooperative student support allowance times the adjusted pupil units at the
district for the current fiscal year or $40,000. If a district is a member of more than one
cooperative unit that serves students, the revenue must be allocated among the cooperative
units.

new text begin (c) In addition to other aid under this section, each area learning center established under
section 123A.05 that serves students participating in a dual enrollment program under section
124D.09 is eligible for school support personnel revenue equal to $20,000 for each fiscal
year.
new text end

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end The student support personnel allowance equals $11.94 for fiscal year 2024,
$17.08 for fiscal year 2025, and $48.73 for fiscal year 2026 and later.

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end The cooperative student support allowance equals $0.60 for fiscal year 2024,
$0.85 for fiscal year 2025, and $2.44 for fiscal year 2026 and later.

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (f) new text end Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) deleted text begin and deleted text end new text begin , new text end (b) new text begin , and (c) new text end , the student support personnel
aid must not exceed the district's, charter school's, or cooperative unit's actual expenditures.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 124D.901, subdivision 4, is amended
to read:

Subd. 4.

Allowed uses.

(a) Aid under this section must be used to hire new positions
for student support services personnel or increase a current position that is less than 1.0
full-time equivalent to a greater number of service hours or make permanent a position hired
using onetime resources awarded through the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic
Security Act, the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, the federal Division
M-Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, or the federal
American Rescue Plan Act, or to maintain a position that would otherwise be eliminated.

(b) Cooperative student support personnel aid must be transferred to the intermediate
district or other cooperative unit of which the district is a member and used to hire new
positions for student support services personnel or increase a current position that is less
than 1.0 full-time equivalent to a greater number of service hours or make permanent a
position hired using onetime resources awarded through the American Rescue Plan Act at
the intermediate district or cooperative unit.

new text begin (c) Area learning center student support personnel aid must be transferred to the area
learning center and used to hire new positions for student support services personnel or
increase a current position that is less than 1.0 full-time equivalent to a greater number of
service hours or make permanent a position hired using onetime resources awarded through
the federal American Rescue Plan Act at the area learning center.
new text end

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end If a school district, charter school, deleted text begin or deleted text end cooperative unit new text begin , or area learning center new text end
does not receive at least two applications and is not able to hire a new full-time equivalent
position with student support personnel aid, the aid may be used for contracted services
from individuals licensed to serve as a school counselor, school psychologist, school social
worker, school nurse, or chemical dependency counselor in Minnesota.

Sec. 7.

Laws 2023, chapter 55, article 5, section 64, subdivision 14, is amended to read:

Subd. 14.

Student support personnel aid.

(a) For aid to support schools in addressing
students' social, emotional, and physical health under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.901:

	$	29,138,000	.....	2024
	$	deleted text begin 35,270,000 deleted text end new text begin ....... new text end	.....	2025

(b) The 2024 appropriation includes $0 for fiscal year 2023 and $29,138,000 for fiscal
year 2024.

(c) The 2025 appropriation includes $3,237,000 for fiscal year 2024 and deleted text begin $32,033,000 deleted text end new text begin
$....... new text end for fiscal year 2025.

Sec. 8. new text begin TASK FORCE ON FULLY FUNDED ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS AND
ENGLISH LEARNER PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Task force established. new text end

new text begin A task force is established to consider the
resources necessary to fully fund alternative programs and English language learner programs
in order to provide students with an adequate level of education, as required under the
Minnesota Constitution.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Members. new text end

new text begin The task force consists of the following members:
new text end

new text begin (1) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house,
of whom one must be a member of the majority caucus of the house, and one must be a
member of the minority caucus of the house;
new text end

new text begin (2) two members of the senate appointed by the majority leader of the senate, of whom
one must be a member of the majority caucus of the senate, and one must be a member of
the minority caucus of the senate;
new text end

new text begin (3) the commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee;
new text end

new text begin (4) one member of a school district board;
new text end

new text begin (5) one member of a charter school board;
new text end

new text begin (6) one member who is a superintendent;
new text end

new text begin (7) one member who is a teacher of English learners;
new text end

new text begin (8) one member who is a teacher in a state-approved alternative program;
new text end

new text begin (9) one member who is the director of an English learner program in a school district;
new text end

new text begin (10) one member who is the director of a state-approved alternative program;
new text end

new text begin (11) one member who is a parent of a student identified as an English learner; and
new text end

new text begin (12) one member who is a parent of a student enrolled in a state-approved alternative
program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force must review available data regarding the cost of
providing state-approved alternative programs and English learner services, and determine
the cost of fully funding the following programs:
new text end

new text begin (1) an English learner program that implements best practices in class instructional
strategies, staffing, and curriculum during regular and extended day, week, and year
programs, including:
new text end

new text begin (i) an accountability framework that uses student performance on state assessments to
determine whether the program is improving academic outcomes for English learners;
new text end

new text begin (ii) professional development for teachers and other staff; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) evaluation of the efficacy of the fully funded English learner program;
new text end

new text begin (2) fully funded extended time services to support students who are eligible to participate
in the graduation incentives program under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.68, that
includes:
new text end

new text begin (i) an accountability framework that uses credit recovery rates and graduation rates to
determine whether the program is improving academic outcomes for participating students;
new text end

new text begin (ii) professional development for teachers and other staff; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) evaluation of the efficacy of the fully funded alternative program; and
new text end

new text begin (3) a dual enrollment program that has college and career readiness counselors for
students eligible for the graduation incentives program, and includes:
new text end

new text begin (i) an accountability framework based on the acceleration of dual credit accumulation
before a student graduates from high school;
new text end

new text begin (ii) professional development for counselors; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) evaluation of the efficacy of the dual enrollment program.
new text end

new text begin (b) The task force must report its findings and recommendations for fully funding
alternative programs and English learner services to the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education by January 15, 2025.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Compensation. new text end

new text begin Members of the task force must be compensated at the rate of
$55 per day spent on task force activities, when authorized by the task force.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Administrative support. new text end

new text begin The Department of Education must provide
administrative support to assist the task force in its work.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The task force expires on January 15, 2025, or upon submission
of the report required under subdivision 3, whichever is earlier.
new text end

Sec. 9. new text begin APPROPRIATION; TASK FORCE ON FULLY FUNDED ALTERNATIVE
PROGRAMS AND ENGLISH LEARNER PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

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

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Task force. new text end

new text begin (a) For the task force on fully funded alternative programs and
English learner programs:
new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin ....... new text end

new text begin ..... new text end

new text begin 2025 new text end

new text begin (b) This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

Sec. 10. new text begin APPROPRIATION; BOARD OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
RULEMAKING.
new text end

new text begin $30,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of School
Administrators to support the rulemaking process required under Minnesota Statutes, section
122A.14, subdivision 3a. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30,
2025.
new text end

Sec. 11. new text begin APPROPRIATION; PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR LICENSING AND
STANDARDS BOARD RULEMAKING.
new text end

new text begin $100,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the Professional
Educator Licensing and Standards Board to support the rulemaking process required under
Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.19, subdivision 7. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2025.
new text end