1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; modifying academic standards requirements;amending 
1.3 	Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.021, subdivision 1.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.021, subdivision 1, is amended to 
1.6 	read:
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Required academic standards. The following subject areas are 
1.8 	required for statewide accountability:
1.9 	(1) language arts;
1.10 	(2) mathematics;
1.11 	(3) science;
1.12 	(4) social studies, including history, geography, economics, and government and 
1.13 	citizenship;
1.14 	(5) physical education;
1.15 	(6) health, for which locally developed academic standards apply; and
1.16 	(7) the arts, for which statewide or locally developed academic standards apply, as 
1.17 	determined by the school district. Public elementary and middle schools must offer at least 
1.18 	three and require at least two of the following four arts areas: dance; music; theater; and 
1.19 	visual arts. Public high schools must offer at least three and require at least one of the 
1.20 	following five arts areas: media arts; dance; music; theater; and visual arts.
1.21 	The commissioner must submit proposed standards in science and social studies to 
1.22 	the legislature by February 1, 2004.
1.23 	For purposes of applicable federal law, the academic standards for language arts, 
1.24 	mathematics, and science apply to all public school students, except the very few students 
2.1 	with extreme cognitive or physical impairments for whom an individualized education 
2.2 	program team has determined that the required academic standards are inappropriate. An 
2.3 	individualized education program team that makes this determination must establish 
2.4 	alternative standards.
2.5 	A school district, no later than the 2007-2008 school year, must adopt graduation 
2.6 	requirements that meet or exceed state graduation requirements established in law or rule. 
2.7 	A school district that incorporates these state graduation requirements before the 2007-2008 
2.8 	school year must provide students who enter the 9th grade in or before the 2003-2004 
2.9 	school year the opportunity to earn a diploma based on existing locally established 
2.10 	graduation requirements in effect when the students entered the 9th grade. District efforts 
2.11 	to develop, implement, or improve instruction or curriculum as a result of the provisions 
2.12 	of this section must be consistent with sections 120B.10, 120B.11, and 120B.20.
2.13 	The commissioner must include the contributions of Minnesota American Indian 
2.14 	tribes and communities as they relate to the academic standards during the review 
2.15 	and revision of the required academic standards. The commissioner must include the 
2.16 	contributions of Minnesota labor unions as they relate to the academic standards during 
2.17 	the review and revision of the required academic standards.