1.1A bill for an act1.2relating to education; establishing a pilot project to examine how school districts 1.3might operate jointly to provide innovative delivery of programs and activities 1.4and share resources.1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:1.6    Section 1. INNOVATIVE DELIVERY OF EDUCATION SERVICES AND 1.7SHARING OF DISTRICT RESOURCES; PILOT PROJECT.1.8    Subdivision 1.Establishment; requirements for participation.(a) A five-year 1.9pilot project for the 2013-2014 through 2017-2018 school years is established to improve 1.10student and school outcomes by allowing groups of school districts to work together to 1.11provide innovative education programs and activities and share district resources.1.12(b) To participate in this pilot project to improve student and school outcomes, a 1.13group of two or more school districts must collaborate with school staff and receive formal 1.14school board approval to form a partnership. The partnership must develop a plan to 1.15provide challenging programmatic options for students, create professional development 1.16opportunities for educators, increase student engagement and connection and challenging 1.17learning opportunities for students, or demonstrate efficiencies in delivering financial and 1.18other services. The plan must establish:1.19(1) collaborative educational goals and objectives;1.20(2) strategies and processes to implement those goals and objectives, including a 1.21budget process with periodic expenditure reviews;1.22(3) valid and reliable measures to evaluate progress in realizing the goals and 1.23objectives;1.24(4) an implementation timeline; and2.1(5) other applicable conditions, regulations, responsibilities, duties, provisions, fee 2.2schedules, and legal considerations needed to fully implement the plan.2.3A partnership may invite additional districts to join the partnership during the pilot 2.4project term after notifying the commissioner.2.5(c) A partnership of interested districts must apply by February 1, 2013, to the 2.6education commissioner in the form and manner the commissioner determines, consistent 2.7with this section. The application must contain the formal approval adopted by the school 2.8board in each district to participate in the plan.2.9(d) Notwithstanding other law to the contrary, during the term of the pilot project, 2.10participating districts may begin the school year before Labor Day, may adopt an extended 2.11school calendar, or may schedule staff development days throughout the calendar year.2.12(e) Notwithstanding other law to the contrary, a participating school district under 2.13this section continues to: receive revenue and maintain its taxation authority; be organized 2.14and governed by an elected school board with general powers under Minnesota Statutes, 2.15section 123B.02; and be subject to employment agreements under Minnesota Statutes, 2.16chapter 122A, and Minnesota Statutes, section 179A.20; and district employees continue 2.17to remain employees of the employing school district.2.18    Subd. 2.Commissioner's role.Interested groups of school districts must submit a 2.19completed application to the commissioner by March 1, 2013, in the form and manner 2.20determined by the commissioner. The education commissioner must convene an advisory 2.21panel composed of a teacher appointed by Education Minnesota, a school principal 2.22appointed by the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals, a school 2.23board member appointed by the Minnesota School Boards Association, and a school 2.24superintendent appointed by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators to advise 2.25the commissioner on applicants' qualifications to participate in this pilot project. The 2.26commissioner must select between three and six qualified applicants under subdivision 1 2.27by April 1, 2013, to participate in this pilot project, ensuring an equitable geographical 2.28distribution of project participants to the extent practicable. The commissioner must 2.29select only those applicants that fully comply with the requirements in subdivision 1. The 2.30commissioner must terminate a project participant that fails to effectively implement the 2.31goals and objectives contained in its application and according to its stated timeline.2.32    Subd. 3.Pilot project evaluation.Participating school districts must submit pilot 2.33project data to the commissioner in the form and manner determined by the commissioner. 2.34The education commissioner must analyze participating districts' progress in realizing 2.35their educational goals and objectives to work together in providing innovative education 2.36programs and activities and sharing resources. The commissioner must include the 3.1analysis of best practices in a report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over 3.2kindergarten through grade 12 education finance and policy on the efficacy of this pilot 3.3project. The commissioner may submit an interim project report at any time and must 3.4submit a final report to the legislature by February 1, 2018, recommending whether or 3.5not to continue or expand the pilot project.3.6    Subd. 4.Existing resources.The additional duties prescribed to the commissioner 3.7of education under subdivisions 2 and 3 must be funded out of existing resources.3.8EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment 3.9and applies to the 2013-2014 through 2017-2018 school years.