1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; establishing a pilot project to examine how school districts 
1.3 	might operate jointly to provide innovative delivery of programs and activities 
1.4 	and share resources.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. SCHOOL DISTRICTS' JOINT OPERATION AND INNOVATIVE 
1.7 	DELIVERY OF EDUCATION; PILOT PROJECT.
 1.8 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; requirements for participation. (a) A four-year 
1.9 	pilot project is established to allow groups of school districts to pursue benefits of operating 
1.10 	jointly to deliver innovative education programs and activities and share resources.
1.11 	(b) To participate in this pilot project, a group of three or more school districts 
1.12 	must form a joint partnership to share elements common to all the partners in providing 
1.13 	innovative delivery of educational programs and activities and sharing resources. The 
1.14 	member districts of a joint partnership selected by the commissioner may elect to admit 
1.15 	another district at any time during the pilot project.
1.16 	(c) A partnership under paragraph (b) interested in participating in this pilot project 
1.17 	must apply to the commissioner of education in the form and manner the commissioner 
1.18 	prescribes, consistent with subdivision 2. When submitting its application, each 
1.19 	participating school district in each partnership also must submit to the commissioner:
1.20 	(1) a formally adopted school board agreement identifying the specific joint use 
1.21 	opportunities the participating district intends to pursue as part of the joint partnership; and
1.22 	(2) a binding and specific plan for a minimum of two years and a maximum of four 
1.23 	years to provide innovative delivery of educational programs and activities and to share 
1.24 	resources, consistent with this paragraph.
2.1 	A participating district's plan under clause (2) must describe its educational 
2.2 	objectives and processes for seeking advice and collaboration and managing the project; 
2.3 	its budget arrangements that include regular reviews of expenditures; its administrative 
2.4 	structures for implementing and evaluating the plan; and any other applicable conditions, 
2.5 	regulations, responsibilities, duties, provisions, fee schedules, or legal considerations 
2.6 	needed to implement its plan.
2.7 	(d) The member districts of the joint partnership must comply with Minnesota 
2.8 	Statutes, section 124D.10, subdivision 8, as though they were a charter school and are 
2.9 	otherwise exempt from all statutes and rules applicable to a school, school board, or 
2.10 	school district unless a statute or rule is made specifically applicable to a charter school.
2.11 	(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), a school district that participates in the pilot 
2.12 	project under this section shall continue to receive revenue and maintain its taxation 
2.13 	authority as if it were a school district and not participating in the pilot project.
2.14 	(f) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), a school district that participates in the pilot 
2.15 	project under this section shall continue to be organized and governed by an elected school 
2.16 	board with the general powers under Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.02, as if it were a 
2.17 	school district and not participating in the pilot project.
2.18 		Subd. 2.Role of the commissioner. The commissioner, using available department 
2.19 	resources and staff, may select up to six applicants under subdivision 1, paragraph (b), 
2.20 	from throughout the state to participate in this pilot project. The commissioner may 
2.21 	consider and select only those applicants that the commissioner determines have fully 
2.22 	complied with the requirements in subdivision 1.
2.23 		Subd. 3.Pilot project evaluation. The commissioner must gather and evaluate data 
2.24 	on the measurable success of the joint partnerships in delivering innovative education 
2.25 	programs and activities and sharing resources. The commissioner must use the data to 
2.26 	develop and submit to the education policy and finance committees of the legislature by 
2.27 	February 1, 2016, a report evaluating the success of this pilot project and recommend 
2.28 	whether or not to continue or expand the pilot project. 

2.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
2.30 	and applies to the 2011-2012 through 2014-2015 school year.