1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education finance; providing for an approved special education study 
1.3 	and report; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDY.
 1.6 	(a) The commissioner of education must contract with an independent consultant that 
1.7 	has extensive experience working with various states on special education finance systems 
1.8 	to evaluate Minnesota's special education funding structure and make recommendations to 
1.9 	improve its effectiveness.
1.10 	(b) The consultant must do the following:
1.11 	(1) conduct an in-depth analysis of the current special education finance system 
1.12 	in Minnesota;
1.13 	(2) convene a task force in Minnesota consisting of superintendents and special 
1.14 	education directors to help formulate recommendations for improvement; and
1.15 	(3) prepare a report to be submitted to the Department of Education and the 
1.16 	legislature.
1.17 	(c) In addition to the requirements in paragraph (b), the consultant must analyze 
1.18 	and report on the effectiveness of the current special education program in educating 
1.19 	Minnesota students.  The consultant must use a statistical analysis to help explain 
1.20 	differences in spending across school districts while controlling for student performance.
1.21 	(d) The commissioner must report on the findings on the contract to the legislative 
1.22 	committees having jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 finance before 
1.23 	December 15, 2007.

2.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.2 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.3 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sum indicated in this section is 
2.4 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year 
2.5 	designated.
2.6 		Subd. 2.Improved school finance system contract. For a contract to follow up on 
2.7 	the work of the governor's education funding task force:

2.8		$
	250,000
	.....
	2007