HF 3728

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; supporting new and existing K-12 world languages
programs; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 124D.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [124D.971] WORLD LANGUAGES PROGRAMS AND AID.
new text end

new text begin (a) A qualifying school district or school site's world language aid equals $50 times
the number of pupils enrolled in the school site or district on October 1 of the previous
school year.
new text end

new text begin (b) Interested school sites and school districts must apply to the commissioner in the
form and manner the commissioner determines. The applicant must indicate whether the
applicant intends to develop and implement a new world languages program or expand
an existing world languages program by offering a more intensive program or making
an existing program accessible to more students. An applicant must agree to disseminate
information about the applicant's world languages program to interested school sites,
school districts, parents, and others as a condition of receiving aid under this section.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner may select applicants that meet the requirements in paragraph
(b). To the extent feasible, the commissioner must select qualified applicants on an
equitable geographic basis and at least five qualified and selected applicants must intend to
develop and implement a new Mandarin Chinese program or expand an existing Mandarin
Chinese program. School sites and school districts that receive aid must expend the aid
consistent with the content of their application and the terms of this section.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner must provide for an evaluation of fund recipients to identify
exemplary world languages program models and the staff development needs of world
languages teachers and annually report the findings of the evaluation to the education
policy and finance committees of the legislature by February 15.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for the 2008-2009 school year and
later.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $5,000,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2009 from the general fund to the
commissioner of education for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.971.
new text end