1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; requiring the Department of Education to report on how 
1.3 	productively time is used in public schools;amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, 
1.4 	section 127A.05, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 127A.05, is amended by adding a 
1.7 	subdivision to read:
1.8 		Subd. 7.Use of instructional time. The commissioner shall survey the state's 
1.9 	school districts and public school sites and report to the Education Policy and Finance 
1.10 	Committees of the legislature by January 15 of each odd-numbered year on how 
1.11 	productively schools use instructional time during the school day and school year. In 
1.12 	conducting the survey and preparing the report, the commissioner must determine: 
1.13 	(1) the amount of time students spend engaged in appropriate learning activities 
1.14 	during class and throughout the school day and school year; 
1.15 	(2) the amount of seatwork and other noninteractive learning activities that occur 
1.16 	during class and throughout the school day and school year; 
1.17 	(3) the extent to which teachers' planning, classroom management, grouping 
1.18 	strategies, instructional pacing, student monitoring, activity transitions, seatwork 
1.19 	assignments, and disciplinary functions are carried out to maximize the amount and 
1.20 	quality of instructional time; 
1.21 	(4) the extent to which schools' policies and practices are focused on maximizing 
1.22 	instructional time by providing appropriate staff development activities, minimizing 
1.23 	administrative intrusions, emphasizing timeliness, and streamlining noninstructional 
1.24 	activities; 
2.1 	(5) the relationship between the amount of time students spend engaged in 
2.2 	appropriate learning activities and their levels of academic achievement; 
2.3 	(6) what circumstances, if any, interfere with teachers' ability to complete the 
2.4 	curriculum and instruction in particular courses that are aligned with state and local 
2.5 	academic standards; and 
2.6 	(7) the extent to which teachers, students, or school administrators think that 
2.7 	additional time during the school day or school year would improve students' educational 
2.8 	outcomes.

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