1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; authorizing city sponsorship of 
  1.3             a performing arts charter school. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [PERFORMING ARTS CHARTER SCHOOL.] 
  1.6      (a) A city of the first class that is located in Ramsey 
  1.7   county may sponsor a charter school with a curriculum that 
  1.8   emphasizes the performing arts.  The charter school must comply 
  1.9   with all laws applicable to charter schools except the city may 
  1.10  apply directly to the commissioner for approval without prior 
  1.11  application to the school board.  
  1.12     (b) The sponsor of the school shall provide for ongoing 
  1.13  evaluation of the charter school.  The evaluation shall include 
  1.14  student academic performance and comparison of student 
  1.15  performance with other performing arts schools.  The sponsor 
  1.16  shall annually report its results to the education committees of 
  1.17  the legislature by February 15 of each new year.  A final report 
  1.18  must be made by February 15, 2006.