HF 1093

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/14/2011 10:42am

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring a school district or charter school to spend at
least 70 percent of its total general operating expenditures on direct classroom
expenditures; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 123B.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [123B.748] DIRECT CLASSROOM EXPENDITURES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) "Direct classroom expenditures" means instructional
expenditures as defined in the uniform financial accounting and reporting standards,
excluding tuition payments to other Minnesota school districts, capital expenditures, and
expenditures for athletics, other cocurricular activities, and extracurricular activities.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Total K-12 general operating expenditures" means the total expenditures in
the general fund for kindergarten through grade 12, as defined in the uniform financial
accounting and reporting standards, excluding tuition payments to other Minnesota school
districts, pupil transportation expenditures, and capital expenditures.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Expected expenditure level. new text end

new text begin A school district or charter school must spend
at least 70 percent of its total K-12 general operating expenditures on direct classroom
expenditures. If the direct classroom expenditures of a school district or charter school
in fiscal year 2012 or later are less than 70 percent of its total K-12 general operating
expenditures, the district or charter school must submit a plan to the commissioner to
reach the 70 percent threshold within a three-year period.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Superintendent verification. new text end

new text begin A superintendent or person having
administrative control of a charter school must include in the audited financial statements
submitted to the commissioner under section 123B.77 a letter signed by the superintendent
or person having administrative control of a charter school certifying the percentage of
total K-12 general operating expenditures of the district or charter school that were spent
on direct classroom expenditures for that school year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Waiver. new text end

new text begin A school district or charter school that is unable to meet the
expenditure standards established under subdivision 2 may apply to the commissioner for
a waiver. The waiver request must list the reasons why the direct classroom expenditures
of the district or charter school cannot meet the requirements of subdivision 2 and describe
the changes the district or charter school intends to make in the subsequent three years in
order to approach the direct classroom instruction requirements. The commissioner must
grant or deny a waiver request within 60 days of receiving the request.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Exemption. new text end

new text begin A district in statutory operating debt that has an approved plan
or has received an extension from the department to file a plan to eliminate the statutory
operating debt is exempt from the requirements of subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2011, for the 2011-2012
school year and later.
new text end