1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; providing for funding and policy in early childhood, 
1.3 	kindergarten through grade 12, and adult education, including general education, 
1.4 	education excellence, standards and assessments, charter schools, special 
1.5 	education, facilities and technology, nutrition and accounting, libraries, early 
1.6 	childhood education, prevention, self-sufficiency and lifelong learning, state 
1.7 	agencies, and forecast adjustments; requiring rulemaking; appropriating money;
1.8 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 5A.03; 16A.103, subdivision 
1.9 	1c; 120A.41; 120B.02, subdivision 2; 120B.021, subdivision 4; 120B.022, 
1.10 	subdivisions 1, 1a, 1b; 120B.024, subdivision 2; 120B.11, subdivision 1a; 
1.11 	120B.12, subdivision 4a; 120B.125; 120B.13, subdivision 4; 120B.30, 
1.12 	subdivisions 1, 1a, 3; 120B.31, subdivision 4; 120B.36, subdivision 1; 121A.17, 
1.13 	subdivision 5; 122A.09, subdivision 4, by adding subdivisions; 122A.14, 
1.14 	subdivisions 3, 9, by adding a subdivision; 122A.18, subdivisions 2, 7c, 8; 
1.15 	122A.20, subdivision 1; 122A.21, subdivisions 1, 2; 122A.23; 122A.245, 
1.16 	subdivisions 1, 3, 7; 122A.25; 122A.30; 122A.31, subdivisions 1, 2; 122A.40, 
1.17 	subdivisions 5, 8, 10, 11, 13; 122A.41, subdivisions 2, 5, 6, 14; 122A.414, 
1.18 	subdivision 2; 122A.60; 122A.61, subdivision 1; 122A.69; 122A.70, subdivision 
1.19 	1; 123A.24, subdivision 1; 123A.75, subdivision 1; 123B.045; 123B.59, 
1.20 	subdivisions 6, 7; 123B.77, subdivision 3; 123B.88, subdivision 1, by adding 
1.21 	a subdivision; 124D.041, subdivisions 1, 2; 124D.09, subdivisions 5, 5a, 8, 9, 
1.22 	12; 124D.091, subdivision 1; 124D.10, subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 
1.23 	23, by adding a subdivision; 124D.11, subdivisions 1, 9; 124D.121; 124D.122; 
1.24 	124D.126, subdivision 1; 124D.127; 124D.128, subdivision 1; 124D.13; 
1.25 	124D.135; 124D.16; 124D.165; 124D.531, subdivisions 1, 2, 3; 124D.73, 
1.26 	subdivisions 3, 4; 124D.74, subdivisions 1, 3, 6; 124D.75, subdivisions 1, 3, 
1.27 	9; 124D.76; 124D.78; 124D.79, subdivisions 1, 2; 124D.791, subdivision 
1.28 	4; 124D.861; 124D.862; 125A.01; 125A.023, subdivisions 3, 4; 125A.027; 
1.29 	125A.03; 125A.08; 125A.085; 125A.0942, subdivision 3; 125A.21; 125A.28; 
1.30 	125A.63, subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 5; 125A.75, subdivision 9; 125A.76, subdivisions 
1.31 	1, 2c; 125B.26, subdivision 2; 126C.10, subdivisions 1, 2, 2a, 2e, 3, 13a, 18, 24; 
1.32 	126C.13, subdivision 4; 126C.15, subdivisions 1, 2, 3; 126C.17, subdivisions 
1.33 	1, 2; 127A.05, subdivision 6; 127A.49, subdivision 1; 134.355, subdivisions 8, 
1.34 	9, 10; 135A.101, by adding a subdivision; 179A.20, by adding a subdivision; 
1.35 	Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 1, section 58, subdivisions 2, as amended, 3, as 
1.36 	amended, 4, as amended, 5, as amended, 6, as amended, 7, as amended, 11, as 
1.37 	amended; article 3, section 37, subdivisions 3, as amended, 4, as amended, 5, as 
1.38 	amended, 20, as amended; article 4, section 9, subdivision 2, as amended; article 
1.39 	5, section 31, subdivisions 2, as amended, 3, as amended, 4, as amended; article 
2.1 	6, section 12, subdivisions 2, as amended, 6, as amended; article 7, sections 19; 
2.2 	21, subdivisions 2, as amended, 3, as amended, 4, as amended; article 8, section 
2.3 	5, subdivisions 3, as amended, 4, as amended, 14, as amended; Laws 2014, 
2.4 	chapter 312, article 16, section 15; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
2.5 	Statutes, chapters 119A; 121A; 122A; 124D; 125A; repealing Minnesota Statutes 
2.6 	2014, sections 120B.128; 122A.40, subdivision 11; 125A.63, subdivision 1; 
2.7 	126C.12, subdivision 6; 126C.13, subdivisions 3a, 3b, 3c; 126C.41, subdivision 
2.8 	1; Minnesota Rules, part 3500.1000.
2.9 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

2.10 	ARTICLE 1
2.11 	GENERAL EDUCATION

2.12 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120A.41, is amended to read:
2.13 	120A.41 LENGTH OF SCHOOL YEAR; HOURS OF INSTRUCTION.
2.14 	A school board's annual school calendar must include at least 425 hours of 
2.15 	instruction for a kindergarten student without a disability, 935 hours of instruction for a 
2.16 	student in grades 1 though 6, and 1,020 hours of instruction for a student in grades 7 
2.17 	though 12, not including summer school. The school calendar for all-day kindergarten 
2.18 	must include at least 850 hours of instruction for the school year. A school board's annual 
2.19 	calendar must include at least 165 days of instruction for a student in grades 1 through 
2.20 	11 unless a four-day week schedule has been approved by the commissioner board under 
2.21 	section 124D.126 sections 124D.12 to 124D.127.

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

2.23 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.11, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.24 		Subdivision 1.General education revenue. (a) General education revenue must 
2.25 	be paid to a charter school as though it were a district. The general education revenue 
2.26 	for each adjusted pupil unit is the state average general education revenue per pupil unit, 
2.27 	plus the referendum equalization aid allowance in the pupil's district of residence, minus 
2.28 	an amount equal to the product of the formula allowance according to section 126C.10, 
2.29 	subdivision 2, times .0466, calculated without declining enrollment revenue, local optional 
2.30 	revenue, basic skills revenue, extended time support revenue, pension adjustment revenue, 
2.31 	transition revenue, and transportation sparsity revenue, plus declining enrollment revenue, 
2.32 	basic skills revenue, extended time support revenue, pension adjustment revenue, and 
2.33 	transition revenue as though the school were a school district.
2.34 	(b) For a charter school operating an extended day, extended week, or summer 
2.35 	program, the general education revenue for each extended time pupil unit equals $4,794 
3.1 	in paragraph (a) is increased by an amount equal to 25 percent of the statewide average 
3.2 	extended support revenue per pupil unit.

3.3 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2016 and later.

3.4 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.121, is amended to read:
3.5 	124D.121 DEFINITION OF FLEXIBLE LEARNING YEAR PROGRAM.
3.6 	"Flexible learning year program" means any district plan approved by the 
3.7 	commissioner that utilizes buildings and facilities during the entire year or that provides 
3.8 	forms of optional scheduling of pupils and personnel during the learning year in 
3.9 	elementary and secondary schools or residential facilities for children with a disability.

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

3.11 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.122, is amended to read:
3.12 	124D.122 ESTABLISHMENT OF FLEXIBLE LEARNING YEAR PROGRAM.
3.13 	The board of any district or a consortium of districts, with the approval of the 
3.14 	commissioner, may establish and operate a flexible learning year program in one or more of 
3.15 	the day or residential facilities for children with a disability within the district. Consortiums 
3.16 	may use a single application and evaluation process, though results, public hearings, and 
3.17 	board approvals must be obtained for each district as required under appropriate sections.

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

3.19 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.126, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
3.20 		Subdivision 1.Powers and duties. The commissioner must:
3.21 	(1) promulgate rules necessary to the operation of sections 124D.12 to 124D.127;
3.22 	(2) (1) cooperate with and provide supervision of flexible learning year programs 
3.23 	to determine compliance with the provisions of sections 124D.12 to 124D.127, the 
3.24 	commissioner's standards and qualifications, and the proposed program as submitted 
3.25 	and approved;
3.26 	(3) (2) provide any necessary adjustments of (a) (i) attendance and membership 
3.27 	computations and (b) (ii) the dates and percentages of apportionment of state aids; and
3.28 	(4) (3) consistent with the definition of "average daily membership" in section 
3.29 	126C.05, subdivision 8, furnish the board of a district implementing a flexible learning 
3.30 	year program with a formula for computing average daily membership. This formula must 
3.31 	be computed so that tax levies to be made by the district, state aids to be received by the 
4.1 	district, and any and all other formulas based upon average daily membership are not 
4.2 	affected solely as a result of adopting this plan of instruction.

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

4.4 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.127, is amended to read:
4.5 	124D.127 TERMINATION OF FLEXIBLE LEARNING YEAR PROGRAM.
4.6 	The board of any district, with the approval of the commissioner of education, may 
4.7 	terminate a flexible learning year program in one or more of the day or residential facilities 
4.8 	for children with a disability within the district. This section shall not be construed to 
4.9 	permit an exception to section 120A.22, 127A.41, subdivision 7, or 127A.43.

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

4.11 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.128, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.12 		Subdivision 1.Program established. A learning year program provides instruction 
4.13 	throughout the year on an extended year calendar, extended school day calendar, or 
4.14 	both. A pupil may participate in the program and accelerate attainment of grade level 
4.15 	requirements or graduation requirements. A learning year program may begin after the 
4.16 	close of the regular school year in June. The program may be for students in one or more 
4.17 	grade levels from kindergarten through grade 12.

4.18 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.10, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.19 		Subdivision 1.General education revenue. (a) For fiscal years 2013 and 2014, the 
4.20 	general education revenue for each district equals the sum of the district's basic revenue, 
4.21 	extended time revenue, gifted and talented revenue, small schools revenue, basic skills 
4.22 	revenue, secondary sparsity revenue, elementary sparsity revenue, transportation sparsity 
4.23 	revenue, total operating capital revenue, equity revenue, alternative teacher compensation 
4.24 	revenue, and transition revenue.
4.25 	(b) For fiscal year 2015 and later, The general education revenue for each district 
4.26 	equals the sum of the district's basic revenue, extended time support revenue, gifted and 
4.27 	talented revenue, declining enrollment revenue, local optional revenue, small schools 
4.28 	revenue, basic skills revenue, secondary sparsity revenue, elementary sparsity revenue, 
4.29 	transportation sparsity revenue, total operating capital revenue, equity revenue, pension 
4.30 	adjustment revenue, and transition revenue.

4.31 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.10, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
5.1 		Subd. 2.Basic revenue. For fiscal year 2014, the basic revenue for each district 
5.2 	equals the formula allowance times the adjusted marginal cost pupil units for the school 
5.3 	year. For fiscal year 2015 and later, the basic revenue for each district equals the formula 
5.4 	allowance times the adjusted pupil units for the school year. The formula allowance for 
5.5 	fiscal year 2013 is $5,224. The formula allowance for fiscal year 2014 is $5,302. The 
5.6 	formula allowance for fiscal year 2015 and later is $5,831. The formula allowance for 
5.7 	fiscal year 2016 is $5,864. The formula allowance for fiscal year 2017 and later is $5,898.

5.8 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.10, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
5.9 		Subd. 2a.Extended time support revenue. (a) A school district's extended time 
5.10 	revenue for fiscal year 2014 is equal to the product of $4,601 and the sum of the adjusted 
5.11 	marginal cost pupil units of the district for each pupil in average daily membership in 
5.12 	excess of 1.0 and less than 1.2 according to section 126C.05, subdivision 8. A school 
5.13 	district's extended time support revenue for fiscal year 2015 and later is equal to the 
5.14 	product of $5,017 $5,117 and the sum of the adjusted pupil units of the district for each 
5.15 	pupil in average daily membership in excess of 1.0 and less than 1.2 according to section 
5.16 	126C.05, subdivision 8.
5.17 	(b) A school district's extended time support revenue may be used for extended day 
5.18 	programs, extended week programs, summer school, vacation break academies such as 
5.19 	spring break academies and summer term academies, and other programming authorized 
5.20 	under the learning year program. Extended support revenue may also be used by alternative 
5.21 	learning centers serving high school students for academic purposes during the school day.

5.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2016 and later.

5.23 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.10, subdivision 2e, is amended to read:
5.24 		Subd. 2e.Local optional revenue. (a) Local optional revenue for a school district 
5.25 	equals $424 times the adjusted pupil units of the district for that school year.
5.26 	(b) A district's local optional levy equals its local optional revenue times the lesser 
5.27 	of one or the ratio of its referendum market value per resident pupil unit to $510,000 
5.28 	the local optional equalizing factor. The local optional revenue levy must be spread on 
5.29 	referendum market value. A district may levy less than the permitted amount.
5.30 	(c) A district's local optional aid equals its local optional revenue less its local 
5.31 	optional levy, times the ratio of the actual amount levied to the permitted levy.
5.32 	(d) A district's local optional equalizing factor equals $510,000 times the greater of 
5.33 	one or the ratio of the district's seasonal recreational factor to 0.30.
6.1 	(e) A district's seasonal recreational factor equals the ratio of the market value of 
6.2 	property in the district classified as 4(c)12 under section 273.13 to the district's total 
6.3 	taxable market value under section 273.13.

6.4 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for taxes payable in 2016 and later.

6.5 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.10, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
6.6 		Subd. 3.Compensatory education revenue. (a) For fiscal year 2014, the 
6.7 	compensatory education revenue for each building in the district equals the formula 
6.8 	allowance minus $415 times the compensation revenue pupil units computed according to 
6.9 	section 126C.05, subdivision 3. For fiscal year 2015 2016 and later, the compensatory 
6.10 	education revenue for each building in the district equals the formula allowance for fiscal 
6.11 	year 2015 minus $839 times the compensation revenue pupil units computed according to 
6.12 	section 126C.05, subdivision 3.
6.13 	(b) A district's compensatory revenue under paragraph (a) is increased by an amount 
6.14 	equal to the product of (1) the ratio of the statewide compensatory growth revenue to the 
6.15 	sum of the number of pupils in the district eligible to receive free lunch plus one-half of the 
6.16 	number of pupils eligible to receive reduced-price lunch on October 1 of the previous year, 
6.17 	and (2) the district's number of pupils eligible to receive free lunch plus one-half of the 
6.18 	number of pupils eligible to receive reduced-price lunch on October 1 of the previous year.
6.19 	(c) Revenue shall be paid to the district and must be allocated according to section 
6.20 	126C.15, subdivision 2.
6.21 	(b) (d) When the district contracting with an alternative program under section 
6.22 	124D.69 changes prior to the start of a school year, the compensatory revenue generated 
6.23 	by pupils attending the program shall be paid to the district contracting with the alternative 
6.24 	program for the current school year, and shall not be paid to the district contracting with 
6.25 	the alternative program for the prior school year.
6.26 	(c) (e) When the fiscal agent district for an area learning center changes prior to the 
6.27 	start of a school year, the compensatory revenue shall be paid to the fiscal agent district 
6.28 	for the current school year, and shall not be paid to the fiscal agent district for the prior 
6.29 	school year.
6.30 	(f) Statewide compensatory growth revenue equals the difference between 
6.31 	compensatory revenue computed under paragraph (a) with the formula allowance for the 
6.32 	current year and the revenue computed under paragraph (a) using the formula allowance 
6.33 	for fiscal year 2015.

6.34 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2016 and later.

7.1 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.10, subdivision 13a, is amended to read:
7.2 		Subd. 13a.Operating capital levy. To obtain operating capital revenue for fiscal 
7.3 	year 2015 and later, a district may levy an amount not more than the product of its 
7.4 	operating capital revenue for the fiscal year times the lesser of one or the ratio of its 
7.5 	adjusted net tax capacity per adjusted marginal cost pupil unit to the operating capital 
7.6 	equalizing factor. The operating capital equalizing factor equals $14,500.

7.7 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment for 
7.8 	fiscal year 2015 and later.

7.9 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.10, subdivision 18, is amended to read:
7.10 		Subd. 18.Transportation sparsity revenue allowance. (a) A district's 
7.11 	transportation sparsity allowance equals the greater of zero or the result of the following 
7.12 	computation:
7.13 	(i) Multiply the formula allowance according to subdivision 2, by .141.
7.14 	(ii) Multiply the result in clause (i) by the district's sparsity index raised to the 
7.15 	26/100 power.
7.16 	(iii) Multiply the result in clause (ii) by the district's density index raised to the 
7.17 	13/100 power.
7.18 	(iv) Multiply the formula allowance according to subdivision 2, by .0466.
7.19 	(v) Subtract the result in clause (iv) from the result in clause (iii).
7.20 	(vi) Multiply the result in clause (v) by the greater of (1) one or (2) the ratio of the 
7.21 	square mile area of the district to 3,000.
7.22 	(vii) For a district that does not qualify for secondary sparsity revenue under 
7.23 	subdivision 7 or elementary sparsity revenue under subdivision 8, multiply the result in 
7.24 	clause (vi) by the greater of (1) one or (2) the ratio of the square mile area of the district to 
7.25 	525.
7.26 	(b) Transportation sparsity revenue is equal to the transportation sparsity allowance 
7.27 	times the adjusted pupil units.

7.28 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for revenue in fiscal year 2016 and 
7.29 	later.

7.30 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.10, subdivision 24, is amended to read:
7.31 		Subd. 24.Equity revenue. (a) A school district qualifies for equity revenue if:
7.32 	(1) the school district's adjusted pupil unit amount of basic revenue, transition 
7.33 	revenue, and referendum revenue is less than the value of the school district at or 
8.1 	immediately above the 95th percentile of school districts in its equity region for those 
8.2 	revenue categories; and
8.3 	(2) the school district's administrative offices are not located in a city of the first 
8.4 	class on July 1, 1999.
8.5 	(b) Equity revenue for a qualifying district that receives referendum revenue under 
8.6 	section 126C.17, subdivision 4, equals the product of (1) the district's adjusted pupil 
8.7 	units for that year; times (2) the sum of (i) $14, plus (ii) $80, times the school district's 
8.8 	equity index computed under subdivision 27.
8.9 	(c) Equity revenue for a qualifying district that does not receive referendum revenue 
8.10 	under section 126C.17, subdivision 4, equals the product of the district's adjusted pupil 
8.11 	units for that year times $14.
8.12 	(d) A school district's equity revenue is increased by the greater of zero or an amount 
8.13 	equal to the district's adjusted pupil units times the difference between ten percent of the 
8.14 	statewide average amount of referendum revenue per adjusted pupil unit for that year and 
8.15 	the district's referendum revenue per adjusted pupil unit. A school district's revenue under 
8.16 	this paragraph must not exceed $100,000 for that year.
8.17 	(e) A school district's equity revenue for a school district located in the metro equity 
8.18 	region equals the amount computed in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) multiplied by 1.25.
8.19 	(f) A school district's additional equity revenue equals $50 times its adjusted pupil 
8.20 	units.

8.21 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2017 and later.

8.22 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.13, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
8.23 		Subd. 4.General education aid. (a) For fiscal years 2013 and 2014 only, a district's 
8.24 	general education aid is the sum of the following amounts:
8.25 	(1) general education revenue, excluding equity revenue, total operating capital 
8.26 	revenue, alternative teacher compensation revenue, and transition revenue;
8.27 	(2) operating capital aid under section 126C.10, subdivision 13b;
8.28 	(3) equity aid under section 126C.10, subdivision 30;
8.29 	(4) alternative teacher compensation aid under section 126C.10, subdivision 36;
8.30 	(5) transition aid under section 126C.10, subdivision 33;
8.31 	(6) shared time aid under section 126C.01, subdivision 7;
8.32 	(7) referendum aid under section 126C.17, subdivisions 7 and 7a; and
8.33 	(8) online learning aid according to section 124D.096.
8.34 	(b) For fiscal year 2015 and later, A district's general education aid equals:
9.1 	(1) general education revenue, excluding operating capital revenue, equity revenue, 
9.2 	local optional revenue, and transition revenue, minus the student achievement levy, 
9.3 	multiplied times the ratio of the actual amount of student achievement levy levied to the 
9.4 	permitted student achievement levy; plus
9.5 	(2) operating capital aid under section 126C.10, subdivision 13b;
9.6 	(2) (3) equity aid under section 126C.10, subdivision 30; plus
9.7 	(3) (4) transition aid under section 126C.10, subdivision 33; plus
9.8 	(4) (5) shared time aid under section 126C.10, subdivision 7; plus
9.9 	(5) (6) referendum aid under section 126C.17, subdivisions 7 and 7a; plus
9.10 	(6) (7) online learning aid under section 124D.096; plus
9.11 	(7) (8) local optional aid according to section 126C.10, subdivision 2d, paragraph (d).

9.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. Clause (1) of this section is effective for fiscal year 2017 and 
9.13 	later. Clause (2) of this section is effective for fiscal year 2015 and later.

9.14 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.15, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
9.15 		Subdivision 1.Use of revenue. The basic skills revenue under section 126C.10, 
9.16 	subdivision 4, must be reserved and used to meet the educational needs of pupils who 
9.17 	enroll under-prepared to learn and whose progress toward meeting state or local content 
9.18 	or performance standards is below the level that is appropriate for learners of their age. 
9.19 	Basic skills revenue may also be used for programs designed to prepare children and their 
9.20 	families for entry into school whether the student first enrolls in kindergarten or first grade. 
9.21 	Any of the following may be provided to meet these learners' needs:
9.22 	(1) direct instructional services under the assurance of mastery program according 
9.23 	to section 124D.66;
9.24 	(2) remedial instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, other content areas, 
9.25 	or study skills to improve the achievement level of these learners;
9.26 	(3) additional teachers and teacher aides to provide more individualized instruction 
9.27 	to these learners through individual tutoring, lower instructor-to-learner ratios, or team 
9.28 	teaching;
9.29 	(4) a longer school day or week during the regular school year or through a summer 
9.30 	program that may be offered directly by the site or under a performance-based contract 
9.31 	with a community-based organization;
9.32 	(5) recruitment and new teacher development activities through quality mentor-led 
9.33 	induction or "grow your own" initiatives;
9.34 	(6) a hiring bonus or other added compensation for a teacher identified as effective 
9.35 	or highly effective under the local teacher professional review cycle who agrees to work 
10.1 	in a hard-to-fill position or hard-to-staff school setting such as a school with a majority 
10.2 	of students whose families meet federal poverty guidelines, a geographically isolated 
10.3 	school, or a school identified by the state as eligible for targeted programs or services 
10.4 	for its students;
10.5 	(5)(7) comprehensive and ongoing staff development consistent with district and 
10.6 	site plans according to section 122A.60, for teachers, teacher aides, principals, and other 
10.7 	personnel to improve their ability to identify the needs of these learners and provide 
10.8 	appropriate remediation, intervention, accommodations, or modifications;
10.9 	(6)(8) instructional materials, digital learning, and technology appropriate for 
10.10 	meeting the individual needs of these learners;
10.11 	(7)(9) programs to reduce truancy, encourage completion of high school, enhance 
10.12 	self-concept, provide health services, provide nutrition services, provide a safe and secure 
10.13 	learning environment, provide coordination for pupils receiving services from other 
10.14 	governmental agencies, provide psychological services to determine the level of social, 
10.15 	emotional, cognitive, and intellectual development, and provide counseling services, 
10.16 	guidance services, and social work services;
10.17 	(8)(10) bilingual programs, bicultural programs, and programs for English learners;
10.18 	(9) all-day kindergarten;
10.19 	(10)(11) prekindergarten programs for four-year-olds and other early education 
10.20 	programs, parent-training programs, school readiness programs, kindergarten programs 
10.21 	for four-year-olds, voluntary home visits under section 124D.13, subdivision 4, and other 
10.22 	outreach efforts designed to prepare children for kindergarten;
10.23 	(11)(12) extended school day and extended school year programs including summer 
10.24 	academies; and
10.25 	(12)(13) substantial parent involvement in developing and implementing remedial 
10.26 	education or intervention plans for a learner, including learning contracts between the 
10.27 	school, the learner, and the parent that establish achievement goals and responsibilities of 
10.28 	the learner and the learner's parent or guardian.

10.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.

10.30 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.15, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
10.31 		Subd. 2.Building allocation. (a) Unless a plan has been adopted according to 
10.32 	paragraph (b), a district or cooperative must allocate its compensatory revenue to each 
10.33 	school building in the district or cooperative where the children who have generated the 
10.34 	revenue are served unless the school district or cooperative has received permission under 
11.1 	Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 5, article 1, section 50, to allocate compensatory 
11.2 	revenue according to student performance measures developed by the school board.
11.3 	(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the board of a district or cooperative may allocate 
11.4 	up to five percent of the amount of reallocate any or all of its  compensatory revenue that 
11.5 	the district receives to school sites according to a plan adopted by the school board, and a 
11.6 	district or cooperative may allocate up to an additional five percent of its compensatory 
11.7 	revenue for activities under subdivision 1, clause (10), according to a plan adopted by the 
11.8 	school board. The money reallocated under this paragraph must be spent for the purposes 
11.9 	listed in subdivision 1, but may be spent on students in any grade, including students 
11.10 	attending school readiness or other prekindergarten programs.
11.11 	(c) For the purposes of this section and section 126C.05, subdivision 3, "building" 
11.12 	means education site as defined in section 123B.04, subdivision 1.
11.13 	(d) Notwithstanding section 123A.26, subdivision 1, compensatory revenue 
11.14 	generated by students served at a cooperative unit shall be paid to the cooperative unit.
11.15 	(e) A district or cooperative with school building openings, school building 
11.16 	closings, changes in attendance area boundaries, or other changes in programs or student 
11.17 	demographics between the prior year and the current year may reallocate compensatory 
11.18 	revenue among sites to reflect these changes. A district or cooperative must report to the 
11.19 	department any adjustments it makes according to this paragraph and the department must 
11.20 	use the adjusted compensatory revenue allocations in preparing the report required under 
11.21 	section 123B.76, subdivision 3, paragraph (c).

11.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.

11.23 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.15, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
11.24 		Subd. 3.Recommendation. A school site decision-making team, as defined in 
11.25 	section 123B.04, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), or the instruction and curriculum advisory 
11.26 	committee under section 120B.11, if the school has no school site decision team, shallmay 
11.27 	recommend to the school board how the compensatory education revenue will be used to 
11.28 	carry out the purpose of this section. A school district that has received permission under 
11.29 	Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 5, article 1, section 50, to allocate compensatory 
11.30 	revenue according to school performance measures shall share its plan for the distribution 
11.31 	of compensatory revenue with the school site decision team.

11.32 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.

11.33 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.17, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
12.1 		Subdivision 1.Referendum allowance. (a) A district's initial referendum allowance 
12.2 	equals the result of the following calculations:
12.3 	(1) multiply the referendum allowance the district would have received for fiscal 
12.4 	year 2015 under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 126C.17, subdivision 1, based on 
12.5 	elections held before July 1, 2013, by the resident marginal cost pupil units the district 
12.6 	would have counted for fiscal year 2015 under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 126C.05;
12.7 	(2) add to the result of clause (1) the adjustment the district would have received 
12.8 	under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 127A.47, subdivision 7, paragraphs (a), (b), and 
12.9 	(c), based on elections held before July 1, 2013;
12.10 	(3) divide the result of clause (2) by the district's adjusted pupil units for fiscal 
12.11 	year 2015;
12.12 	(4) add to the result of clause (3) any additional referendum allowance per adjusted 
12.13 	pupil unit authorized by elections held between July 1, 2013, and December 31, 2013;
12.14 	(5) add to the result in clause (4) any additional referendum allowance resulting from 
12.15 	inflation adjustments approved by the voters prior to January 1, 2014;
12.16 	(6) subtract from the result of clause (5), the sum of a district's actual local optional 
12.17 	levy and local optional aid under section 126C.10, subdivision 2e, divided by the adjusted 
12.18 	pupil units of the district for that school year; and
12.19 	(7) if the result of clause (6) is less than zero, set the allowance to zero.
12.20 	(b) A district's referendum allowance equals the sum of the district's initial 
12.21 	referendum allowance, plus any new referendum allowance authorized between July 1, 
12.22 	2013, and December 31, 2013, under subdivision 9a, plus any additional referendum 
12.23 	allowance per adjusted pupil unit authorized after December 31, 2013, minus any 
12.24 	allowances expiring in fiscal year 2016 or later, provided that the allowance may not be 
12.25 	less than zero. For a district with more than one referendum allowance for fiscal year 
12.26 	2015 under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 126C.17, the allowance calculated under 
12.27 	paragraph (a), clause (3), must be divided into components such that the same percentage 
12.28 	of the district's allowance expires at the same time as the old allowances would have 
12.29 	expired under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 126C.17. For a district with more than one 
12.30 	allowance for fiscal year 2015 that expires in the same year, the reduction under paragraph 
12.31 	(a), clause (6), to offset local optional revenue shall be made first from any allowances that 
12.32 	do not have an inflation adjustment approved by the voters.

12.33 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment for 
12.34 	fiscal year 2015 and later.

12.35 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.17, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
13.1 		Subd. 2.Referendum allowance limit. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 1, for 
13.2 	fiscal year 2015 and later, a district's referendum allowance must not exceed the annual 
13.3 	inflationary increase as calculated under paragraph (b) times the greatest of:
13.4 	(1) $1,845;
13.5 	(2) the sum of the referendum revenue the district would have received for fiscal 
13.6 	year 2015 under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 126C.17, subdivision 4, based on 
13.7 	elections held before July 1, 2013, and the adjustment the district would have received 
13.8 	under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 127A.47, subdivision 7, paragraphs (a), (b), and 
13.9 	(c), based on elections held before July 1, 2013, divided by the district's adjusted pupil 
13.10 	units for fiscal year 2015;
13.11 	(3) the product of the referendum allowance limit the district would have received 
13.12 	for fiscal year 2015 under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 126C.17, subdivision 2, and 
13.13 	the resident marginal cost pupil units the district would have received for fiscal year 2015 
13.14 	under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 126C.05, subdivision 6, plus the adjustment the 
13.15 	district would have received under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 127A.47, subdivision 
13.16 	7, paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), based on elections held before July 1, 2013, divided by 
13.17 	the district's adjusted pupil units for fiscal year 2015; minus $424 for a district receiving 
13.18 	local optional revenue under section 126C.10, subdivision 2d, paragraph (a), minus 
13.19 	$212 for a district receiving local optional revenue under section 126C.10, subdivision 
13.20 	2d, paragraph (b); or
13.21 	(4) for a newly reorganized district created after July 1, 2013, the referendum 
13.22 	revenue authority for each reorganizing district in the year preceding reorganization 
13.23 	divided by its adjusted pupil units for the year preceding reorganization.
13.24 	(b) For purposes of this subdivision, for fiscal year 2016 and later, "inflationary 
13.25 	increase" means one plus the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for urban 
13.26 	consumers, as prepared by the United States Bureau of Labor Standards, for the current 
13.27 	fiscal year to fiscal year 2015. For fiscal year 2016 and later, for purposes of paragraph (a), 
13.28 	clause (3), the inflationary increase equals one-fourth of the percentage increase in the 
13.29 	formula allowance for that year compared with the formula allowance for fiscal year 2015.

13.30 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment for 
13.31 	fiscal year 2015 and later.

13.32 	Sec. 22. APPROPRIATIONS.
 14.1 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
14.2 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
14.3 	designated.
14.4 		Subd. 2.General education aid. For general education aid under Minnesota 
14.5 	Statutes, section 126C.13, subdivision 4:

14.6		$ 
	6,546,771,000
	.....
	2016
	
14.7		$
	6,609,377,000
	.....
	2017
	
14.8 	The 2016 appropriation includes $622,908,000 for 2015 and $5,923,863,000 for 
14.9 	2016.
14.10 	The 2017 appropriation includes $630,151,000 for 2016 and $5,979,226,000 for 
14.11 	2017.
14.12 		Subd. 3.Enrollment options transportation. For transportation of pupils attending 
14.13 	postsecondary institutions under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, or for transportation 
14.14 	of pupils attending nonresident districts under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.03:

14.15		$
	39,000
	.....
	2016
	
14.16		$
	42,000
	.....
	2017
	
14.17 		Subd. 4.Abatement revenue. For abatement aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 
14.18 	127A.49:

14.19		$
	2,740,000
	.....
	2016
	
14.20		$
	2,932,000
	.....
	2017
	
14.21 	The 2016 appropriation includes $278,000 for 2015 and $2,462,000 for 2016.
14.22 	The 2017 appropriation includes $273,000 for 2016 and $2,659,000 for 2017.
14.23 		Subd. 5.Consolidation transition. For districts consolidating under Minnesota 
14.24 	Statutes, section 123A.485:

14.25		$
	292,000
	.....
	2016
	
14.26		$
	165,000
	.....
	2017
	
14.27 	The 2016 appropriation includes $22,000 for 2015 and $270,000 for 2016.
14.28 	The 2017 appropriation includes $30,000 for 2016 and $135,000 for 2017.
14.29 		Subd. 6.Nonpublic pupil education aid. For nonpublic pupil education aid under 
14.30 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 123B.40 to 123B.43 and 123B.87:

14.31		$
	16,756,000
	.....
	2016
	
14.32		$
	17,309,000
	.....
	2017
	
14.33 	The 2016 appropriation includes $1,575,000 for 2015 and $15,181,000 for 2016.
15.1 	The 2017 appropriation includes $1,686,000 for 2016 and $15,623,000 for 2017.
15.2 		Subd. 7.Nonpublic pupil transportation. For nonpublic pupil transportation aid 
15.3 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.92, subdivision 9:

15.4		$
	17,322,000
	.....
	2016
	
15.5		$
	17,228,000
	.....
	2017
	
15.6 	The 2016 appropriation includes $1,816,000 for 2015 and $15,506,000 for 2016.
15.7 	The 2017 appropriation includes $1,722,000 for 2016 and $15,506,000 for 2017.
15.8 		Subd. 8.One-room schoolhouse. For a grant to Independent School District No. 
15.9 	690, Warroad, to operate the Angle Inlet School:

15.10		$
	65,000
	.....
	2016
	
15.11		$
	65,000
	.....
	2017
	
15.12 		Subd. 9.Compensatory revenue pilot project. For grants for participation in the 
15.13 	compensatory revenue pilot program under Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 5, 
15.14 	article 1, section 50:

15.15		$
	7,325,000
	.....
	2016
	
15.16		$
	7,325,000
	.....
	2017
	
15.17 	Of this amount, $4,730,000 in each year is for a grant to Independent School District 
15.18 	No. 11, Anoka-Hennepin; $240,000 in each year is for a grant to Independent School 
15.19 	District No. 286, Brooklyn Center; $660,000 in each year is for a grant to Independent 
15.20 	School District No. 279, Osseo; $500,000 in each year is for a grant to Independent 
15.21 	School District No. 281, Robbinsdale; $520,000 in each year is for a grant to Independent 
15.22 	School District No. 535, Rochester; $205,000 in each year is for a grant to Independent 
15.23 	School District No. 833, South Washington; and $470,000 in each year is for a grant to 
15.24 	Independent School District No. 241, Albert Lea.
15.25 	If a grant to a specific school district is not awarded, the commissioner may increase 
15.26 	the aid amounts to any of the remaining participating school districts.
15.27 		Subd. 10.Career and technical aid. For career and technical aid under Minnesota 
15.28 	Statutes, section 124D.4531, subdivision 1b:

15.29		$
	5,420,000
	.....
	2016
	
15.30		$
	4,405,000
	.....
	2017
	
15.31 	The 2016 appropriation includes $574,000 for 2015 and $4,846,000 for 2016.
15.32 	The 2017 appropriation includes $538,000 for 2016 and $3,867,000 for 2017.

15.33 	Sec. 23.  REPEALER.
 16.1 	Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 126C.12, subdivision 6; 126C.13, subdivisions 3a, 
16.2 	3b, and 3c; and 126C.41, subdivision 1, and Minnesota Rules, part 3500.1000, are repealed.

16.3 	ARTICLE 2
16.4 	EDUCATION EXCELLENCE

16.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 5A.03, is amended to read:
16.6 	5A.03 ORGANIZATION APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION.
16.7 		Subdivision 1.Placing high school students in Minnesota. (a) An application for 
16.8 	registration as an international student exchange visitor placement organization must be 
16.9 	submitted in the form prescribed by the secretary of state. The application must include:
16.10 	(1) evidence that the organization meets the standards established by the secretary of 
16.11 	state by rule;
16.12 	(2) the name, address, and telephone number of the organization, its chief executive 
16.13 	officer, and the person within the organization who has primary responsibility for 
16.14 	supervising placements within the state;
16.15 	(3) the organization's unified business identification number, if any;
16.16 	(4) the organization's Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation, United 
16.17 	States Department of State number, if any;
16.18 	(5) evidence of Council on Standards for International Educational Travel listing, if 
16.19 	any;
16.20 	(6) whether the organization is exempt from federal income tax; and
16.21 	(7) a list of the organization's placements in Minnesota for the previous academic 
16.22 	year including the number of students placed, their home countries, the school districts in 
16.23 	which they were placed, and the length of their placements.
16.24 	(b) The application must be signed by the chief executive officer of the organization 
16.25 	and the person within the organization who has primary responsibility for supervising 
16.26 	placements within Minnesota. If the secretary of state determines that the application is 
16.27 	complete, the secretary of state shall file the application and the applicant is registered.
16.28 	(c) Organizations that have registered shall inform the secretary of state of any 
16.29 	changes in the information required under paragraph (a), clause (1), within 30 days of the 
16.30 	change. There is no fee to amend a registration.
16.31 	(d) Registration under this chapter is valid for one year. The registration may be 
16.32 	renewed annually. The fee to renew a registration is $50 per year.
16.33 	(e) Organizations registering for the first time in Minnesota must pay an initial 
16.34 	registration fee of $150.
17.1 	(f) Fees collected by the secretary of state under this section must be deposited in the 
17.2 	state treasury and credited to the general fund.
17.3 		Subd. 2.Placing Minnesota students in travel abroad programs. (a) A school 
17.4 	district or charter school with enrolled students who participate in a foreign exchange or 
17.5 	study or other travel abroad program under a written agreement between the district or 
17.6 	charter school and the program provider must use a form developed by the Department 
17.7 	of Education to annually report to the department by November 1 the following data 
17.8 	from the previous school year:
17.9 	(1) the number of Minnesota student deaths that occurred while Minnesota students 
17.10 	were participating in the foreign exchange or study or other travel abroad program and 
17.11 	that resulted from Minnesota students participating in the program;
17.12 	(2) the number of Minnesota students hospitalized due to accidents and the illnesses 
17.13 	that occurred while Minnesota students were participating in the foreign exchange or study 
17.14 	or other travel abroad program and that resulted from Minnesota students participating 
17.15 	in the program; and
17.16 	(3) the name and type of the foreign exchange or study or other travel abroad 
17.17 	program and the city or region where the reported death, hospitalization due to accident, 
17.18 	or the illness occurred.
17.19 	(b) School districts and charter schools must ask but must not require enrolled 
17.20 	eligible students and the parents or guardians of other enrolled students who complete 
17.21 	a foreign exchange or study or other travel abroad program to disclose the information 
17.22 	under paragraph (a).
17.23 	(c) When reporting the data under paragraph (a), a school district or charter school 
17.24 	may supplement the data with a brief explanatory statement. The Department of Education 
17.25 	annually must aggregate and publish the reported data on the department Web site in 
17.26 	a format that facilitates public access to the aggregated data and include links to both 
17.27 	the United States Department of State's Consular Information Program that informs the 
17.28 	public of conditions abroad that may affect students' safety and security and the publicly 
17.29 	available reports on sexual assaults and other criminal acts affecting students participating 
17.30 	in a foreign exchange or study or other travel abroad program.
17.31 	(d) School districts and charter schools with enrolled students who participate in 
17.32 	foreign exchange or study or other travel abroad programs under a written agreement 
17.33 	between the district or charter school and the program provider are encouraged to adopt 
17.34 	policies supporting the programs and to include program standards in their policies to 
17.35 	ensure students' health and safety.
18.1 	(e) To be eligible under this subdivision to provide a foreign exchange or study or 
18.2 	other travel abroad program to Minnesota students enrolled in a school district or charter 
18.3 	school, a program provider annually must register with the secretary of state and provide 
18.4 	the following information on a form developed by the secretary of state: the name, 
18.5 	address, and telephone number of the program provider, its chief executive officer, and 
18.6 	the person within the provider's organization who is primarily responsible for supervising 
18.7 	programs within the state; the program provider's unified business identification number, 
18.8 	if any; evidence of Council on Standards for International Educational Travel listing, 
18.9 	if any; whether the program provider is exempt from federal income tax; a list of the 
18.10 	program provider's placements in foreign countries for the previous school year including 
18.11 	the number of Minnesota students placed, where Minnesota students were placed, and 
18.12 	the length of their placement; the terms and limits of the medical and accident insurance 
18.13 	available to cover participating students and the process for filing a claim; and the 
18.14 	signatures of the program provider's chief executive officer and the person primarily 
18.15 	responsible for supervising Minnesota students' placements in foreign countries. If the 
18.16 	secretary of state determines the registration is complete, the secretary of state shall file the 
18.17 	registration and the program provider is registered. Registration with the secretary of state 
18.18 	must not be considered or represented as an endorsement of the program provider by the 
18.19 	secretary of state. The secretary of state annually must publish on its Web site aggregated 
18.20 	data under paragraph (c) received from the Department of Education.
18.21 	(f) Program providers, annually by August 1, must provide the data required under 
18.22 	paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (3), to the districts and charter schools with enrolled students 
18.23 	participating in the provider's program.
18.24 	(g) The school district, the charter school, the Department of Education, and their 
18.25 	respective employees, when acting in their official capacity, are immune from civil and 
18.26 	criminal liability with respect to all activities related to implementing this subdivision.

18.27 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and 
18.28 	later.

18.29 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.022, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
18.30 		Subd. 1a.Foreign language and culture; proficiency certificates. (a) World 
18.31 	languages teachers and other school staff should develop and implement world languages 
18.32 	programs that acknowledge and reinforce the language proficiency and cultural awareness 
18.33 	that non-English language speakers already possess, and encourage students' proficiency 
18.34 	in multiple world languages. Programs under this section must encompass indigenous 
18.35 	American Indian languages and cultures, among other world languages and cultures. The 
19.1 	department shall consult with postsecondary institutions in developing related professional 
19.2 	development opportunities for purposes of this section.
19.3 	(b) Any Minnesota public, charter, or nonpublic school may award Minnesota 
19.4 	World Language Proficiency Certificates or Minnesota World Language Proficiency High 
19.5 	Achievement Certificates, consistent with this subdivision.
19.6 	(c) The Minnesota World Language Proficiency Certificate recognizes students who 
19.7 	demonstrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing language skills at the American 
19.8 	Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' Intermediate-Low level on a valid and 
19.9 	reliable assessment tool. For languages listed as Category 3 by the United States Foreign 
19.10 	Service Institute or Category 4 by the United States Defense Language Institute, the 
19.11 	standard is Intermediate-Low for listening and speaking and Novice-High for reading 
19.12 	and writing.
19.13 	(d) The Minnesota World Language Proficiency High Achievement Certificate 
19.14 	recognizes students who demonstrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing language 
19.15 	skills at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' Pre-Advanced level 
19.16 	for K-12 learners on a valid and reliable assessment tool. For languages listed as Category 
19.17 	3 by the United States Foreign Service Institute or Category 4 by the United States 
19.18 	Defense Language Institute, the standard is Pre-Advanced for listening and speaking and 
19.19 	Intermediate-Mid for reading and writing.

19.20 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.022, subdivision 1b, is amended to read:
19.21 		Subd. 1b.State bilingual and multilingual seals. (a) Consistent with efforts to 
19.22 	strive for the world's best workforce under sections 120B.11 and 124D.10, subdivision 8, 
19.23 	paragraph (u), and close the academic achievement and opportunity gap under sections 
19.24 	124D.861 and 124D.862, voluntary state bilingual and multilingual seals are established 
19.25 	to recognize high school graduates students who demonstrate level 3 an advanced low 
19.26 	level or an intermediate high level of functional native proficiency in listening, speaking, 
19.27 	reading, and writing on either the Foreign Services Institute language assessments aligned 
19.28 	with American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' (ACTFL) proficiency 
19.29 	tests guidelines or on equivalent valid and reliable assessments in one or more languages 
19.30 	in addition to English. American Sign Language is a language other than English for 
19.31 	purposes of this subdivision and a world language for purposes of subdivision 1a.
19.32 	(b) In addition to paragraph (a), to be eligible to receive a seal:
19.33 	(1) students must satisfactorily complete all required English language arts credits; 
19.34 	and
20.1 	(2) students whose primary language is other than English must demonstrate mastery 
20.2 	of Minnesota's English language proficiency standards.
20.3 	(c) Consistent with this subdivision, a high school graduate who demonstrates 
20.4 	an intermediate high ACTFL level of functional native proficiency in one language 
20.5 	in addition to English is eligible to receive the state bilingual gold seal. A high school 
20.6 	graduate who demonstrates an intermediate high ACTFL level of functional native 
20.7 	proficiency in more than one language in addition to English is eligible to receive the 
20.8 	state multilingual gold seal. A high school graduate who demonstrates an advanced low 
20.9 	ACTFL level of functional proficiency in one language in addition to English is eligible 
20.10 	to receive the state bilingual platinum seal. A high school graduate who demonstrates 
20.11 	an advanced-low ACTFL level of functional proficiency in more than one language in 
20.12 	addition to English is eligible to receive the state multilingual platinum seal.
20.13 	(d) School districts and charter schools, in consultation with regional centers of 
20.14 	excellence under section 120B.115, must may give students periodic opportunities to 
20.15 	demonstrate their level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a 
20.16 	language in addition to English. Where valid and reliable assessments are unavailable, a 
20.17 	school district or charter school may rely on a licensed foreign language immersion teacher 
20.18 	or a nonlicensed community expert under section 122A.25 evaluators trained in assessing 
20.19 	under ACTFL proficiency guidelines to assess a student's level of foreign, heritage, or 
20.20 	indigenous language proficiency under this section. School districts and charter schools 
20.21 	must maintain appropriate records to identify high school graduates eligible to receive the 
20.22 	state bilingual or multilingual seal gold and platinum seals. The school district or charter 
20.23 	school must affix the appropriate seal to the transcript of each high school graduate who 
20.24 	meets the requirements of this subdivision and may affix the seal to the student's diploma. A 
20.25 	school district or charter school must not charge the high school graduate a fee for this seal.
20.26 	(e) A school district or charter school may award elective course credits in world 
20.27 	languages to a student who demonstrates the requisite proficiency in a language other 
20.28 	than English under this section.
20.29 	(f) A school district or charter school may award community service credit to a 
20.30 	student who demonstrates level 3 an intermediate high or advanced low ACTFL level of  
20.31 	functional native proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a language 
20.32 	other than English and who participates in community service activities that are integrated 
20.33 	into the curriculum, involve the participation of teachers, and support biliteracy in the 
20.34 	school or local community.
21.1 	(g) The commissioner must develop a Web page for the electronic delivery of these 
21.2 	seals. The commissioner must list on the Web page those assessments that are equivalent 
21.3 	to the Foreign Services Institute language aligned to ACTFL proficiency tests guidelines.
21.4 	(h) By August 1, 2015, the colleges and universities of the Minnesota State Colleges 
21.5 	and Universities system must award foreign language credits to a student who receives a 
21.6 	state bilingual seal or a state multilingual seal under this subdivision and mayestablish 
21.7 	criteria to translate the seals into college credits based on the world language course 
21.8 	equivalencies identified by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities faculty and 
21.9 	staff and, upon request from an enrolled student, the Minnesota State Colleges and 
21.10 	Universities may award foreign language credits to a student who receives a Minnesota 
21.11 	World Language Proficiency Certificate or a Minnesota World Language Proficiency 
21.12 	High Achievement Certificate under subdivision 1a. A student who demonstrated the 
21.13 	requisite level of language proficiency in grade 10, 11, or 12 to receive a seal or certificate 
21.14 	and is enrolled in a Minnesota State Colleges and Universities institution must request 
21.15 	college credits for the student's seal or proficiency certificate within three academic years 
21.16 	after graduating from high school. The University of Minnesota is encouraged to award 
21.17 	students foreign language academic credits consistent with this paragraph.

21.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment and 
21.19 	applies beginning with students graduating in the 2014-2015 school year who demonstrate 
21.20 	the requisite language proficiency in grade 10, 11, or 12.

21.21 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.12, subdivision 4a, is amended to read:
21.22 		Subd. 4a.Local literacy plan. (a) Consistent with this section, a school district 
21.23 	must adopt a local literacy plan to have every child reading at or above grade level no 
21.24 	later than the end of grade 3, including English learners. The plan must be consistent with 
21.25 	section 122A.06, subdivision 4, and include the following:
21.26 	(1) a process to assess students' level of reading proficiency, and data to support the 
21.27 	effectiveness of an assessment used to screen and identify a student's level of reading 
21.28 	proficiency;
21.29 	(2) a process to notify and involve parents, intervene with;
21.30 	(3) a description of how schools in the district will determine the proper reading 
21.31 	intervention strategy for a student and the process for intensifying or modifying the 
21.32 	reading strategy in order to obtain measurable reading progress;
21.33 	(4) evidence-based intervention methods for students who are not reading at or 
21.34 	above grade level, and identify and meet and progress monitoring to provide information 
21.35 	on the effectiveness of the intervention; and
22.1 	(5) identification of staff development needs, including a program to meet those 
22.2 	needs.
22.3 	(b) The district must post its literacy plan on the official school district Web site.

22.4 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2016 and later.

22.5 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.13, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
22.6 		Subd. 4.Rigorous course taking information; AP, IB, and PSEO. The 
22.7 	commissioner shall submit the following information on rigorous course taking, 
22.8 	disaggregated by student subgroup, school district, and postsecondary institution,  to the 
22.9 	education committees of the legislature each year by February 1:
22.10 	(1) the number of pupils enrolled in postsecondary enrollment options under section 
22.11 	124D.09, including concurrent enrollment, career and technical education courses offered 
22.12 	as a concurrent enrollment course, advanced placement, and international baccalaureate 
22.13 	courses in each school district;
22.14 	(2) the number of teachers in each district attending training programs offered by the 
22.15 	college board, International Baccalaureate North America, Inc., or Minnesota concurrent 
22.16 	enrollment programs;
22.17 	(3) the number of teachers in each district participating in support programs;
22.18 	(4) recent trends in the field of postsecondary enrollment options under section 
22.19 	124D.09, including concurrent enrollment, advanced placement, and international 
22.20 	baccalaureate programs;
22.21 	(5) expenditures for each category in this section and under sections 124D.09 and 
22.22 	124D.091, including career and technical education courses offered as a concurrent 
22.23 	enrollment course; and
22.24 	(6) other recommendations for the state program or the postsecondary enrollment 
22.25 	options under section 124D.09, including concurrent enrollment.

22.26 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.30, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
22.27 		Subd. 3.Reporting. The commissioner shall report test results publicly and to 
22.28 	stakeholders, including the performance achievement levels developed from students' 
22.29 	unweighted test scores in each tested subject and a listing of demographic factors that 
22.30 	strongly correlate with student performance, including student homelessness, among other 
22.31 	factors. The test results must not include personally identifiable information as defined in 
22.32 	Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 99.3. The commissioner shall also report 
22.33 	data that compares performance results among school sites, school districts, Minnesota 
22.34 	and other states, and Minnesota and other nations. The commissioner shall disseminate to 
23.1 	schools and school districts a more comprehensive report containing testing information 
23.2 	that meets local needs for evaluating instruction and curriculum. The commissioner 
23.3 	shall disseminate to charter school authorizers a more comprehensive report containing 
23.4 	testing information that contains anonymized data where cell count data are sufficient to 
23.5 	protect student identity and that meets the authorizer's needs in fulfilling its obligations 
23.6 	under section 124D.10.

23.7 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
23.8 	and applies to school year reports for the 2015-2016 school year and later.

23.9 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.31, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
23.10 		Subd. 4. Student performance data. In developing policies and assessment 
23.11 	processes to hold schools and districts accountable for high levels of academic standards 
23.12 	under section 120B.021, the commissioner shall aggregate student data over time to 
23.13 	report student performance and growth levels measured at the school, school district, and 
23.14 	statewide level. When collecting and reporting the performance data, the commissioner 
23.15 	shall organize and report the data so that state and local policy makers can understand the 
23.16 	educational implications of changes in districts' demographic profiles over time, including 
23.17 	student homelessness, among other demographic factors. Any report the commissioner 
23.18 	disseminates containing summary data on student performance must integrate student 
23.19 	performance and the demographic factors that strongly correlate with that performance.

23.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
23.21 	and applies to school year reports for the 2015-2016 school year and later.

23.22 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.36, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
23.23 		Subdivision 1.School performance reports. (a) The commissioner shall report 
23.24 	student academic performance under section 120B.35, subdivision 2; the percentages of 
23.25 	students showing low, medium, and high growth under section 120B.35, subdivision 
23.26 	3, paragraph (b); school safety and student engagement and connection under section 
23.27 	120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (d); rigorous coursework under section 120B.35, 
23.28 	subdivision 3, paragraph (c); the percentage of students under section 120B.35, 
23.29 	subdivision 3, paragraph (b), clause (2), whose progress and performance levels are 
23.30 	meeting career and college readiness benchmarks under sections 120B.30, subdivision 1, 
23.31 	and 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (e); longitudinal data on the progress of eligible 
23.32 	districts in reducing disparities in students' academic achievement and realizing racial 
23.33 	and economic integration under section 124D.861; the acquisition of English, and 
24.1 	where practicable, native language academic literacy, including oral academic language, 
24.2 	and the academic progress of English learners under section 124D.59, subdivisions 
24.3 	2 and 2a; two separate student-to-teacher ratios that clearly indicate the definition of 
24.4 	teacher consistent with sections 122A.06 and 122A.15 for purposes of determining these 
24.5 	ratios; staff characteristics excluding salaries; student enrollment demographics; student 
24.6 	homelessness and district mobility; and extracurricular activities. The report also must 
24.7 	indicate a school's adequate yearly progress status under applicable federal law, and must 
24.8 	not set any designations applicable to high- and low-performing schools due solely to 
24.9 	adequate yearly progress status.
24.10 	(b) The commissioner shall develop, annually update, and post on the department 
24.11 	Web site school performance reports.
24.12 	(c) The commissioner must make available performance reports by the beginning 
24.13 	of each school year.
24.14 	(d) A school or district may appeal its adequate yearly progress status in writing to 
24.15 	the commissioner within 30 days of receiving the notice of its status. The commissioner's 
24.16 	decision to uphold or deny an appeal is final.
24.17 	(e) School performance data are nonpublic data under section 13.02, subdivision 9, 
24.18 	until the commissioner publicly releases the data. The commissioner shall annually post 
24.19 	school performance reports to the department's public Web site no later than September 1, 
24.20 	except that in years when the reports reflect new performance standards, the commissioner 
24.21 	shall post the school performance reports no later than October 1.

24.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
24.23 	and applies to school year reports for the 2015-2016 school year and later.

24.24 	Sec. 9. [121A.35] STUDENT PHYSICAL PRIVACY ACT.
24.25 		Subdivision 1.Purpose. The purpose of this section is to protect and provide for 
24.26 	the privacy and safety of all students enrolled in public schools and to maintain order and 
24.27 	dignity in restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, showers, and other facilities where 
24.28 	students may be in various states of undress in the presence of other students.
24.29 		Subd. 2.Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
24.30 	the meanings given them.
24.31 	(a) "Sex" means the physical condition of being male or female, which is determined 
24.32 	by a person's chromosomes and is identified at birth by a person's anatomy.
24.33 	(b) "Public school" means a public school under section 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 
24.34 	11, 13, and 17, and a charter school under section 124D.10.
25.1 		Subd. 3.Student physical privacy protection. (a) A public school student 
25.2 	restroom, locker room, changing room, and shower room accessible by multiple students 
25.3 	at the same time shall be designated for the exclusive use by students of the male sex 
25.4 	only or by students of the female sex only.
25.5 	(b) A public school student restroom, locker room, changing room, and shower room 
25.6 	that is designated for the exclusive use of one sex shall be used only by members of that sex.
25.7 	(c) In any other public school facility or setting where a student may be in a state of 
25.8 	undress in the presence of other students, school personnel shall provide separate, private, 
25.9 	and safe areas designated for use by students based on their sex.
25.10 	(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit public schools from providing 
25.11 	accommodation such as single-occupancy facilities or controlled use of faculty 
25.12 	facilities upon a student request due to special circumstances, but in no event shall that 
25.13 	accommodation result in a public school allowing a student to use a facility designated 
25.14 	under paragraph (b) for a sex other than the student's own sex.

25.15 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.09, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
25.16 		Subd. 4.License and rules. (a) The board must adopt rules to license public school 
25.17 	teachers and interns subject to chapter 14.
25.18 	(b) The board must adopt rules requiring a person to pass a college-level skills 
25.19 	examination in reading, writing, and mathematics or attain either a composite score 
25.20 	composed of the average of theessentially equivalent passing scores in English and 
25.21 	writing, reading, and mathematics on the ACT Plus Writing recommended by the board, 
25.22 	or an equivalent composite score composed of the average of theessentially equivalent 
25.23 	passing scores in critical reading, mathematics, and writing on the SAT recommended 
25.24 	by the board, as a requirement for initial teacher licensure, except that the board may 
25.25 	issue up to two temporary, one-year teaching licenses to an otherwise qualified candidate 
25.26 	who has not yet passed the college-level skills exam or attained the requisite composite 
25.27 	scoreessentially equivalent passing scores on the ACT Plus Writing or SAT. Such rules 
25.28 	must require college and universities offering a board-approved teacher preparation 
25.29 	program to provide remedial assistance to persons who did not achieve a qualifying 
25.30 	score on the college-level skills examination or attain the requisite composite score 
25.31 	essentially equivalent passing scores on the ACT Plus Writing or SAT, including those 
25.32 	for whom English is a second language. The requirement to pass a reading, writing, 
25.33 	and mathematics college-level skills examination or attain the requisite composite score 
25.34 	essentially equivalent passing scores on the ACT Plus Writing or SAT does not apply to 
25.35 	nonnative English speakers, as verified by qualified Minnesota school district personnel 
26.1 	or Minnesota higher education faculty, who, after meeting the content and pedagogy 
26.2 	requirements under this subdivision, apply for a teaching license to provide direct 
26.3 	instruction in their native language or world language instruction under section 120B.022, 
26.4 	subdivision 1. A teacher candidate's official ACT Plus Writing or SAT composite score 
26.5 	report to the board must not be more than ten years old at the time of licensure.
26.6 	(c) The board must adopt rules to approve teacher preparation programs. The board, 
26.7 	upon the request of a postsecondary student preparing for teacher licensure or a licensed 
26.8 	graduate of a teacher preparation program, shall assist in resolving a dispute between the 
26.9 	person and a postsecondary institution providing a teacher preparation program when the 
26.10 	dispute involves an institution's recommendation for licensure affecting the person or the 
26.11 	person's credentials. At the board's discretion, assistance may include the application 
26.12 	of chapter 14.
26.13 	(d) The board must provide the leadership and adopt rules for the redesign of teacher 
26.14 	education programs to implement a research based, results-oriented curriculum that 
26.15 	focuses on the skills teachers need in order to be effective. Among other components, 
26.16 	teacher preparation programs are encouraged to provide a school-year-long student 
26.17 	teaching program that combines clinical opportunities with academic coursework and 
26.18 	in-depth student teaching experiences to offer students ongoing mentorship, coaching 
26.19 	and assessment, help to prepare a professional development plan, and structured 
26.20 	learning experiences. The board shall implement new systems of teacher preparation 
26.21 	program evaluation to assure program effectiveness based on proficiency of graduates in 
26.22 	demonstrating attainment of program outcomes. Teacher preparation programs including 
26.23 	alternative teacher preparation programs under section 122A.245, among other programs, 
26.24 	must include a content-specific, board-approved, performance-based assessment that 
26.25 	measures teacher candidates in three areas: planning for instruction and assessment; 
26.26 	engaging students and supporting learning; and assessing student learning. The board's 
26.27 	redesign rules must include creating flexible, specialized teaching licenses, credentials, 
26.28 	and other endorsement forms to increase students' participation in language immersion 
26.29 	programs, world language instruction, career development opportunities, work-based 
26.30 	learning, early college courses and careers, career and technical programs, Montessori 
26.31 	schools, and project and place-based learning, among other career and college ready 
26.32 	learning offerings.
26.33 	(e) The board must adopt rules requiring candidates for initial licenses to pass an 
26.34 	examination of general pedagogical knowledge and examinations of licensure-specific 
26.35 	teaching skills. The rules shall be effective by September 1, 2001. The rules under this 
26.36 	paragraph also must require candidates for initial licenses to teach prekindergarten or 
27.1 	elementary students to pass, as part of the examination of licensure-specific teaching 
27.2 	skills, test items assessing the candidates' knowledge, skill, and ability in comprehensive, 
27.3 	scientifically based reading instruction under section 122A.06, subdivision 4, and their 
27.4 	knowledge and understanding of the foundations of reading development, the development 
27.5 	of reading comprehension, and reading assessment and instruction, and their ability to 
27.6 	integrate that knowledge and understanding.
27.7 	(f) The board must adopt rules requiring teacher educators to work directly with 
27.8 	elementary or secondary school teachers in elementary or secondary schools to obtain 
27.9 	periodic exposure to the elementary or secondary teaching environment.
27.10 	(g) The board must grant licenses to interns and to candidates for initial licenses 
27.11 	based on appropriate professional competencies that are aligned with the board's licensing 
27.12 	system and students' diverse learning needs. All teacher candidates must have preparation 
27.13 	in English language development and content instruction for English learners in order to be 
27.14 	able to effectively instruct the English learners in their classrooms. The board must include 
27.15 	these licenses in a statewide differentiated licensing system that creates new leadership 
27.16 	roles for successful experienced teachers premised on a collaborative professional culture 
27.17 	dedicated to meeting students' diverse learning needs in the 21st century, recognizes the 
27.18 	importance of cultural and linguistic competencies, including the ability to teach and 
27.19 	communicate in culturally competent and aware ways, and formalizes mentoring and 
27.20 	induction for newly licensed teachers provided through a teacher support framework.
27.21 	(h) The board must design and implement an assessment system which requires a 
27.22 	candidate for an initial license and first continuing license to demonstrate the abilities 
27.23 	necessary to perform selected, representative teaching tasks at appropriate levels.
27.24 	(i) The board must receive recommendations from local committees as established 
27.25 	by the board for the renewal of teaching licenses. The board must require licensed teachers 
27.26 	who are renewing a continuing license to include in the renewal requirements further 
27.27 	preparation in English language development and specially designed content instruction 
27.28 	in English for English learners.
27.29 	(j) The board must grant life licenses to those who qualify according to requirements 
27.30 	established by the board, and suspend or revoke licenses pursuant to sections 122A.20 and 
27.31 	214.10. The board must not establish any expiration date for application for life licenses.
27.32 	(k) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing 
27.33 	their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation in 
27.34 	the areas of using positive behavior interventions and in accommodating, modifying, and 
27.35 	adapting curricula, materials, and strategies to appropriately meet the needs of individual 
27.36 	students and ensure adequate progress toward the state's graduation rule.
28.1 	(l) In adopting rules to license public school teachers who provide health-related 
28.2 	services for disabled children, the board shall adopt rules consistent with license or 
28.3 	registration requirements of the commissioner of health and the health-related boards who 
28.4 	license personnel who perform similar services outside of the school.
28.5 	(m) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing 
28.6 	their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further reading 
28.7 	preparation, consistent with section 122A.06, subdivision 4. The rules do not take effect 
28.8 	until they are approved by law. Teachers who do not provide direct instruction including, at 
28.9 	least, counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, school social workers, audiovisual 
28.10 	directors and coordinators, and recreation personnel are exempt from this section.
28.11 	(n) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing 
28.12 	their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation, 
28.13 	first, in understanding the key warning signs of early-onset mental illness in children 
28.14 	and adolescents and then, during subsequent licensure renewal periods, preparation may 
28.15 	include providing a more in-depth understanding of students' mental illness trauma, 
28.16 	accommodations for students' mental illness, parents' role in addressing students' mental 
28.17 	illness, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, autism, the requirements of section 125A.0942 
28.18 	governing restrictive procedures, and de-escalation methods, among other similar topics.
28.19 	(o) The board must adopt rules by January 1, 2016, to license applicants under 
28.20 	sections 122A.23 and 122A.245. The rules must permit applicants to demonstrate their 
28.21 	qualifications through the board's recognition of a teaching license from another state 
28.22 	in a similar content field, completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program, 
28.23 	teaching experience as the teacher of record in a similar licensure field, depth of content 
28.24 	knowledge, depth of content methods or general pedagogy, subject-specific professional 
28.25 	development and contribution to the field, or classroom performance as determined by 
28.26 	documented student growth on normed assessments or documented effectiveness on 
28.27 	evaluations. The rules must adopt criteria for determining a "similar content field" and 
28.28 	"similar licensure area."

28.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
28.30 	and applies to all candidates seeking initial teacher licensure, including those holding a 
28.31 	temporary, one-year teaching license.

28.32 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.09, is amended by adding a 
28.33 	subdivision to read:
28.34 		Subd. 4a.Teacher and administrator preparation and performance data; 
28.35 	report. (a) The Board of Teaching and the Board of School Administrators, in cooperation 
29.1 	with the Minnesota Association of Colleges of Teacher Education and Minnesota colleges 
29.2 	and universities offering board-approved teacher or administrator preparation programs, 
29.3 	annually must collect and report summary data on teacher and administrator preparation 
29.4 	and performance outcomes, consistent with this subdivision. The Board of Teaching 
29.5 	and the Board of School Administrators annually by June 1 must update and post the 
29.6 	reported summary preparation and performance data on teachers and administrators from 
29.7 	the preceding school years on a Web site hosted jointly by the boards.
29.8 	(b) Publicly reported summary data on teacher preparation programs must include: 
29.9 	student entrance requirements for each Board of Teaching-approved program, including 
29.10 	grade point average for enrolling students in the preceding year; the average college-level 
29.11 	skills examination or ACT or SAT scores of students entering the program in the preceding 
29.12 	year; summary data on faculty qualifications, including at least the content areas of faculty 
29.13 	undergraduate and graduate degrees and their years of experience either as kindergarten 
29.14 	through grade 12 classroom teachers or school administrators; the average time resident 
29.15 	and nonresident program graduates in the preceding year needed to complete the program; 
29.16 	the current number and percent of students by program who graduated, received a standard 
29.17 	Minnesota teaching license, and were hired to teach full time in their licensure field in a 
29.18 	Minnesota district or school in the preceding year; the number of content area credits and 
29.19 	other credits by undergraduate program that students in the preceding school year needed 
29.20 	to complete to graduate; students' pass rates on skills and subject matter exams required for 
29.21 	graduation in each program and licensure area in the preceding school year; survey results 
29.22 	measuring student and graduate satisfaction with the program in the preceding school 
29.23 	year; a standard measure of the satisfaction of school principals or supervising teachers 
29.24 	with the student teachers assigned to a school or supervising teacher; and information 
29.25 	under paragraphs (d) and (e). Program reporting must be consistent with subdivision 11.
29.26 	(c) Publicly reported summary data on administrator preparation programs 
29.27 	approved by the Board of School Administrators must include: summary data on faculty 
29.28 	qualifications, including at least the content areas of faculty undergraduate and graduate 
29.29 	degrees and their years of experience either as kindergarten through grade 12 classroom 
29.30 	teachers or school administrators; the average time program graduates in the preceding 
29.31 	year needed to complete the program; the current number and percent of students who 
29.32 	graduated, received a standard Minnesota administrator license, and were employed as an 
29.33 	administrator in a Minnesota school district or school in the preceding year; the number of 
29.34 	credits by graduate program that students in the preceding school year needed to complete 
29.35 	to graduate; survey results measuring student, graduate, and employer satisfaction with 
30.1 	the program in the preceding school year; and information under paragraphs (f) and (g). 
30.2 	Program reporting must be consistent with section 122A.14, subdivision 10.
30.3 	(d) School districts annually by October 1 must report to the Board of Teaching 
30.4 	the following information for all teachers who finished the probationary period and 
30.5 	accepted a continuing contract position with the district from September 1 of the previous 
30.6 	year through August 31 of the current year: the effectiveness category or rating of the 
30.7 	teacher on the summative evaluation under section 122A.40, subdivision 8, or 122A.41, 
30.8 	subdivision 5; the licensure area in which the teacher primarily taught during the 
30.9 	three-year evaluation cycle; and the teacher preparation program preparing the teacher in 
30.10 	the teacher's primary areas of instruction and licensure.
30.11 	(e) School districts annually by October 1 must report to the Board of Teaching the 
30.12 	following information for all probationary teachers in the district who were released or 
30.13 	whose contracts were not renewed from September 1 of the previous year through August 
30.14 	31 of the current year: the licensure areas in which the probationary teacher taught; and 
30.15 	the teacher preparation program preparing the teacher in the teacher's primary areas of 
30.16 	instruction and licensure.
30.17 	(f) School districts annually by October 1 must report to the Board of School 
30.18 	Administrators the following information for all school principals and assistant principals 
30.19 	who finished the probationary period and accepted a continuing contract position with the 
30.20 	district from September 1 of the previous year through August 31 of the current year: the 
30.21 	effectiveness category or rating of the principal or assistant principal on the summative 
30.22 	evaluation under section 123B.147, subdivision 3; and the principal preparation program 
30.23 	providing instruction to the principal or assistant principal.
30.24 	(g) School districts annually by October 1 must report to the Board of School 
30.25 	Administrators all probationary school principals and assistant principals in the district 
30.26 	who were released or whose contracts were not renewed from September 1 of the previous 
30.27 	year through August 31 of the current year.

30.28 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2016.

30.29 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.09, is amended by adding a 
30.30 	subdivision to read:
30.31 		Subd. 11.Teacher preparation program reporting. By December 31, 2018, and 
30.32 	annually thereafter, the Board of Teaching shall report and publish on its Web site the 
30.33 	cumulative summary results of at least three consecutive years of data reported to the board 
30.34 	under subdivision 4a, paragraph (b). Where the data are sufficient to yield statistically 
31.1 	reliable information and the results would not reveal personally identifiable information 
31.2 	about an individual teacher, the board shall report the data by teacher preparation program.

31.3 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.14, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
31.4 		Subd. 3.Rules for continuing education requirements. The board shall 
31.5 	adopt rules establishing continuing education requirements that promote continuous 
31.6 	improvement and acquisition of new and relevant skills by school administrators. 
31.7 	Continuing education programs, among other things, must provide school administrators 
31.8 	with information and training about building coherent and effective English learner 
31.9 	strategies that include relevant professional development, accountability for student 
31.10 	progress, students' access to the general curriculum, and sufficient staff capacity to effect 
31.11 	these strategies. A retired school principal who serves as a substitute principal or assistant 
31.12 	principal for the same person on a day-to-day basis for no more than 15 consecutive 
31.13 	school days is not subject to continuing education requirements as a condition of serving 
31.14 	as a substitute principal or assistant principal.

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

31.16 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.14, is amended by adding a 
31.17 	subdivision to read:
31.18 		Subd. 10.Principal preparation program reporting. By December 31, 2018, and 
31.19 	annually thereafter, the Board of School Administrators shall report and publish on its 
31.20 	Web site the cumulative summary results of three years of data reported to the board under 
31.21 	section 122A.09, subdivision 4a, paragraph (c), for each principal preparation program.

31.22 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.18, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
31.23 		Subd. 2.Teacher and support personnel qualifications. (a) The Board of 
31.24 	Teaching must issue licenses under its jurisdiction to persons the board finds to be 
31.25 	qualified and competent for their respective positions, including those who meet the 
31.26 	standards adopted under section 122A.09, subdivision 4, paragraph (o).
31.27 	(b) The board must require a person to pass an examination of college-level skills 
31.28 	in reading, writing, and mathematics or attain either a composite score composed of the 
31.29 	average of the passing scores in English and writing, reading, and mathematics on the ACT 
31.30 	Plus Writing recommended by the board, or an equivalent composite score composedof 
31.31 	the average of thepassing scores in critical reading, mathematics, and writing on the SAT 
31.32 	recommended by the board, before being granted an initial teaching license to provide 
31.33 	direct instruction to pupils in prekindergarten, elementary, secondary, or special education 
32.1 	programs, except that the board may issue up to two temporary, one-year teaching licenses 
32.2 	to an otherwise qualified candidate who has not yet passed the college-level skills exam 
32.3 	or attained the requisite composite scoreessentially equivalent passing scores on the 
32.4 	ACT Plus Writing or SAT. At the request of a school district or charter school employer, 
32.5 	the Board of Teaching must grant an additional temporary one-year teaching license to 
32.6 	an otherwise qualified teacher, employed by the district or charter school, who held a 
32.7 	temporary one-year teaching license in the previous school year and who agrees to try to 
32.8 	pass the college-level skills examination or attain the requisite ACT or SAT scores during 
32.9 	the term of the third, temporary one-year teaching license. Also at the request of the school 
32.10 	district or charter school employer, the Board of Teaching must issue a standard teaching 
32.11 	license to a teacher who, after being granted a third, temporary one-year teaching license, 
32.12 	is determined by the school district or charter school employer, based on required teacher 
32.13 	evaluations, to have been an effective teacher in each of the three consecutive school years 
32.14 	during which the teacher taught full-time under a temporary, one-year teaching license. 
32.15 	The board must require colleges and universities offering a board approved teacher 
32.16 	preparation program to make available upon request remedial assistance that includes a 
32.17 	formal diagnostic component to persons enrolled in their institution who did not achieve a 
32.18 	qualifying score on the college-level skills examination or attain the requisite composite 
32.19 	ACT Plus Writing or SAT score essentially equivalent passing scores, including those for 
32.20 	whom English is a second language. The colleges and universities must make available 
32.21 	assistance in the specific academic areas of candidates' deficiency. School districts may 
32.22 	make available upon request similar, appropriate, and timely remedial assistance that 
32.23 	includes a formal diagnostic component to those persons employed by the district who 
32.24 	completed their teacher education program, who did not achieve a qualifying score on the 
32.25 	college-level skills examination, or attain the requisite composite ACT Plus Writing or 
32.26 	SAT score essentially equivalent passing scores, and who received a temporary license 
32.27 	to teach in Minnesota. The Board of Teaching shall report annually to the education 
32.28 	committees of the legislature on the total number of teacher candidates during the most 
32.29 	recent school year taking the college-level skills examination, the number who achieve a 
32.30 	qualifying score on the examination, the number who do not achieve a qualifying score 
32.31 	on the examination, the distribution of all candidates' scores, the number of candidates 
32.32 	who have taken the examination at least once before, and the number of candidates who 
32.33 	have taken the examination at least once before and achieve a qualifying score, and the 
32.34 	candidates who have not attained the requisite composite ACT Plus Writing or SAT score 
32.35 	essentially equivalent passing scores or have not passed a content or pedagogy exam, 
32.36 	disaggregated by categories of race, ethnicity, and eligibility for financial aid.
33.1 	(c) The Board of Teaching must grant continuing licenses only to those persons 
33.2 	who have met meet board criteria for granting a continuing license, which includes 
33.3 	passing the college-level skills examination in reading, writing, and mathematics or 
33.4 	attaining the requisite composite ACT Plus Writing or SAT scoreessentially equivalent 
33.5 	passing scores consistent with paragraph (b), and the exceptions in section 122A.09, 
33.6 	subdivision 4, paragraph (b), that are consistent with this paragraph. The requirement to 
33.7 	pass a reading, writing, and mathematics college-level skills examination, or attain the 
33.8 	requisite composite scoreessentially equivalent passing scores on the ACT Plus Writing 
33.9 	or SAT does not apply to nonnative English speakers, as verified by qualified Minnesota 
33.10 	school district personnel or Minnesota higher education faculty, who, after meeting the 
33.11 	content and pedagogy requirements under this subdivision, apply for a teaching license to 
33.12 	provide direct instruction in their native language or world language instruction under 
33.13 	section 120B.022, subdivision 1. A teacher candidate's official ACT Plus Writing or SAT 
33.14 	composite scorepassing scores report to the board must not be more than ten years old 
33.15 	at the time of licensure.
33.16 	(d) All colleges and universities approved by the board of teaching to prepare persons 
33.17 	for teacher licensure must include in their teacher preparation programs a common core 
33.18 	of teaching knowledge and skills to be acquired by all persons recommended for teacher 
33.19 	licensure. Among other requirements, teacher candidates must demonstrate the knowledge 
33.20 	and skills needed to provide appropriate instruction to English learners to support and 
33.21 	accelerate their academic literacy, including oral academic language, and achievement in 
33.22 	content areas in a regular classroom setting. This common core shall meet the standards 
33.23 	developed by the interstate new teacher assessment and support consortium in its 1992 
33.24 	"model standards for beginning teacher licensing and development." Amendments to 
33.25 	standards adopted under this paragraph are covered by chapter 14. The board of teaching 
33.26 	shall report annually to the education committees of the legislature on the performance 
33.27 	of teacher candidates on common core assessments of knowledge and skills under this 
33.28 	paragraph during the most recent school year.

33.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
33.30 	and applies to all candidates seeking initial teacher licensure, including those holding a 
33.31 	temporary, one-year teaching license.

33.32 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.20, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
33.33 		Subdivision 1.Grounds for revocation, suspension, or denial. (a) The Board of 
33.34 	Teaching or Board of School Administrators, whichever has jurisdiction over a teacher's 
33.35 	licensure, may, on the written complaint of the school board employing a teacher, a teacher 
34.1 	organization, or any other interested person, refuse to issue, refuse to renew, suspend, or 
34.2 	revoke a teacher's license to teach for any of the following causes:
34.3 	(1) immoral character or conduct;
34.4 	(2) failure, without justifiable cause, to teach for the term of the teacher's contract;
34.5 	(3) gross inefficiency or willful neglect of duty;
34.6 	(4) failure to meet licensure requirements; or
34.7 	(5) fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining a license.
34.8 	The written complaint must specify the nature and character of the charges.
34.9 	(b) The Board of Teaching or Board of School Administrators, whichever 
34.10 	has jurisdiction over a teacher's licensure, shall refuse to issue, refuse to renew, or 
34.11 	automatically revoke a teacher's license to teach without the right to a hearing upon 
34.12 	receiving a certified copy of a conviction showing that the teacher has been convicted 
34.13 	of child abuse, as defined in section 609.185, sex trafficking in the first degree under 
34.14 	section 609.322, subdivision 1, sex trafficking in the second degree under section 609.322, 
34.15 	subdivision 1a, engaging in hiring, or agreeing to hire a minor to engage in prostitution 
34.16 	under section 609.324, subdivision 1, sexual abuse under section 609.342, 609.343, 
34.17 	609.344, 609.345, 609.3451, subdivision 3, or 617.23, subdivision 3, solicitation of 
34.18 	children to engage in sexual conduct or communication of sexually explicit materials 
34.19 	to children under section 609.352, interference with privacy under section 609.746 or 
34.20 	stalking under section 609.749 and the victim was a minor, using minors in a sexual 
34.21 	performance under section 617.246, or possessing pornographic works involving a minor 
34.22 	under section 617.247, or any other offense not listed in this paragraph that requires the 
34.23 	person to register as a predatory offender under section 243.166, or a crime under a similar 
34.24 	law of another state or the United States. The board shall send notice of this licensing 
34.25 	action to the district in which the teacher is currently employed.
34.26 	(c) A person whose license to teach has been revoked, not issued, or not renewed 
34.27 	under paragraph (b), may petition the board to reconsider the licensing action if the 
34.28 	person's conviction for child abuse or sexual abuse is reversed by a final decision of the 
34.29 	Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court or if the person has received a pardon for the 
34.30 	offense. The petitioner shall attach a certified copy of the appellate court's final decision or 
34.31 	the pardon to the petition. Upon receiving the petition and its attachment, the board shall 
34.32 	schedule and hold a disciplinary hearing on the matter under section 214.10, subdivision 2, 
34.33 	unless the petitioner waives the right to a hearing. If the board finds that, notwithstanding 
34.34 	the reversal of the petitioner's criminal conviction or the issuance of a pardon, the 
34.35 	petitioner is disqualified from teaching under paragraph (a), clause (1), the board shall 
35.1 	affirm its previous licensing action. If the board finds that the petitioner is not disqualified 
35.2 	from teaching under paragraph (a), clause (1), it shall reverse its previous licensing action.
35.3 	(d) For purposes of this subdivision, the Board of Teaching is delegated the authority 
35.4 	to suspend or revoke coaching licenses.

35.5 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.21, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
35.6 		Subd. 2.Licensure via portfolio. (a) An eligible candidate may use licensure 
35.7 	via portfolio to obtain an initial licensure or to add a licensure field, consistent with the 
35.8 	applicable Board of Teaching licensure rules.
35.9 	(b) A candidate for initial licensure must submit to the Educator Licensing Division 
35.10 	at the department one portfolio demonstrating pedagogical competence and one portfolio 
35.11 	demonstrating content competence.
35.12 	(c) A candidate seeking to add a licensure field must submit to the Educator 
35.13 	Licensing Division at the department one portfolio demonstrating content competence.
35.14 	(d) The Board of Teaching must notify a candidate who submits a portfolio under 
35.15 	paragraph (b) or (c) within 90 calendar days after the portfolio is received whether or not 
35.16 	the portfolio was approved. If the portfolio was not approved, the board must immediately 
35.17 	inform the candidate how to revise the portfolio to successfully demonstrate the requisite 
35.18 	competence. The candidate may resubmit a revised portfolio at any time and the Educator 
35.19 	Licensing Division at the department must approve or disapprove the portfolio within 
35.20 	60 calendar days of receiving it.
35.21 	(e) A candidate must pay to the executive secretary of the Board of Teaching a 
35.22 	$300 fee for the first portfolio submitted for review and a $200 fee for any portfolio 
35.23 	submitted subsequently. The fees must be paid to the executive secretary of the Board of 
35.24 	Teaching. The revenue generated from the fee must be deposited in an education licensure 
35.25 	portfolio account in the special revenue fund. The fees set by the Board of Teaching are 
35.26 	nonrefundable for applicants not qualifying for a license. The Board of Teaching may 
35.27 	waive or reduce fees for candidates based on financial need.

35.28 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment and 
35.29 	applies to all portfolios submitted to the Educator Licensing Division at the department 
35.30 	after that date.

35.31 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.23, is amended to read:
35.32 	122A.23 APPLICANTS TRAINED IN OTHER STATES.
36.1 		Subdivision 1.Preparation equivalency. When a license to teach is authorized to 
36.2 	be issued to any holder of a diploma or a degree of a Minnesota state university, or of the 
36.3 	University of Minnesota, or of a liberal arts university, or a technical training institution, 
36.4 	such license may also, in the discretion of the Board of Teaching or the commissioner of 
36.5 	education, whichever has jurisdiction, be issued to any holder of a diploma or a degree 
36.6 	of a teacher training institution of equivalent rank and standing of any other state. The 
36.7 	diploma or degree must be granted by virtue of completing a coursecoursework in teacher 
36.8 	preparation essentially equivalent in content to that required by such Minnesota state 
36.9 	university or the University of Minnesota or a liberal arts university in Minnesota or a 
36.10 	technical training institution as preliminary to the granting of a diploma or a degree of the 
36.11 	same rank and class. For purposes of granting a Minnesota teaching license to a person 
36.12 	who receives a diploma or degree from a state-accredited, out-of-state teacher training 
36.13 	program leading to licensure, the Board of Teaching must establish criteria and streamlined 
36.14 	procedures by January 1, 2016, to recognize the experience and professional credentials of 
36.15 	the person holding the out-of-state diploma or degree and allow that person to demonstrate 
36.16 	to the board the person's qualifications for receiving a Minnesota teaching license based 
36.17 	on performance measures the board adopts by January 1, 2016, under this section.
36.18 		Subd. 2.Applicants licensed in other states. (a) Subject to the requirements 
36.19 	of sections 122A.18, subdivision 8, and 123B.03, the Board of Teaching must issue a 
36.20 	teaching license or a temporary teaching license under paragraphs (b) (c) to (e)(f) to an 
36.21 	applicant who holds at least a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college 
36.22 	or university and holds or held a similaran out-of-state teaching license that requires the 
36.23 	applicant to successfully complete a teacher preparation program approved by the issuing 
36.24 	state, which includes either (1) field-specific teaching methods and, student teaching, or 
36.25 	essentially equivalent experience, or (2) at least two years of teaching experience as the 
36.26 	teacher of record in a similar licensure field.
36.27 	(b) The Board of Teaching may issue a standard license on the basis of teaching 
36.28 	experience and examination requirements only.
36.29 	(c) The Board of Teaching must issue a teaching license to an applicant who:
36.30 	(1) successfully completed all exams and human relations preparation components 
36.31 	required by the Board of Teaching; and
36.32 	(2) holds or held an out-of-state teaching license to teach the samea similar content 
36.33 	field and grade levels if the scope of the out-of-state license is no more than two grade 
36.34 	levels less than a similar Minnesota license, and either (i) has completed field-specific 
36.35 	teaching methods, student teaching, or equivalent experience, or (ii) has at least two years 
36.36 	of teaching experience as the teacher of record in a similar licensure field.
37.1 	(c)(d) The Board of Teaching, consistent with board rules and paragraph (h) (i), 
37.2 	must issue up to three one-year temporary teaching licenses to an applicant who holds or 
37.3 	held an out-of-state teaching license to teach the samea similar content field and grade 
37.4 	levels, where the scope of the out-of-state license is no more than two grade levels less 
37.5 	than a similar Minnesota license, but has not successfully completed all exams and human 
37.6 	relations preparation components required by the Board of Teaching.
37.7 	(d)(e) The Board of Teaching, consistent with board rules, must issue up to three 
37.8 	one-year temporary teaching licenses to an applicant who:
37.9 	(1) successfully completed all exams and human relations preparation components 
37.10 	required by the Board of Teaching; and
37.11 	(2) holds or held an out-of-state teaching license to teach the samea similar content 
37.12 	field and grade levels, where the scope of the out-of-state license is no more than two 
37.13 	grade levels less than a similar Minnesota license, but has not completed field-specific 
37.14 	teaching methods or student teaching or equivalent experience.
37.15 	The applicant may complete field-specific teaching methods and student teaching 
37.16 	or equivalent experience by successfully participating in a one-year school district 
37.17 	mentorship program consistent with board-adopted standards of effective practice and 
37.18 	Minnesota graduation requirements.
37.19 	(e)(f) The Board of Teaching must issue a temporary teaching license for a term 
37.20 	of up to three years only in the content field or grade levels specified in the out-of-state 
37.21 	license to an applicant who:
37.22 	(1) successfully completed all exams and human relations preparation components 
37.23 	required by the Board of Teaching; and
37.24 	(2) holds or held an out-of-state teaching license where the out-of-state license is 
37.25 	more limited in the content field or grade levels than a similar Minnesota license.
37.26 	(f)(g) The Board of Teaching must not issue to an applicant more than three 
37.27 	one-year temporary teaching licenses under this subdivision.
37.28 	(g)(h) The Board of Teaching must notmay issue a license under this subdivision if 
37.29 	the applicant has not attained the additional degrees, credentials, or licenses required in 
37.30 	a particular licensure field and the applicant can demonstrate competency by obtaining 
37.31 	qualifying scores on the college-level skills examination in reading, writing, and 
37.32 	mathematics or demonstrating attainment of essentially equivalent passing scores on the 
37.33 	ACT Plus Writing or SAT, and on applicable board-approved rigorous content area and 
37.34 	pedagogy examinations under section 122A.09, subdivision 4, paragraphs (a) and (e).
37.35 	(h)(i) The Board of Teaching must require an applicant for a teaching license 
37.36 	or a temporary teaching license under this subdivision to pass a college-level skills 
38.1 	examination in reading, writing, and mathematics or demonstrate, consistent with section 
38.2 	122A.09, subdivision 4, the applicant's attainment of either the requisite composite ACT 
38.3 	Plus Writing or SAT scoreessentially equivalent passing scores before the board issues 
38.4 	the license unless, notwithstanding other provisions of this subdivision, an applicable 
38.5 	board-approved National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education interstate 
38.6 	reciprocity agreement exists to allow fully certified teachers from other states to transfer 
38.7 	their certification to Minnesota.
38.8 		Subd. 3.Teacher licensure agreements with adjoining states. (a) Notwithstanding 
38.9 	other law to the contrary, the Board of Teaching must enter into interstate agreements for 
38.10 	teacher licensure to allow fully certified teachers from adjoining states to transfer their 
38.11 	certification to Minnesota and receive a full, five-year continuing teaching license without 
38.12 	having to complete any additional exams or other preparation requirements. The board 
38.13 	must enter into these interstate agreements only after determining that the rigor of the 
38.14 	teacher licensure or certification requirements in the adjoining state is commensurate with 
38.15 	the rigor of Minnesota's teacher licensure requirements. The board may limit an interstate 
38.16 	agreement to particular content fields or grade levels based on established priorities or 
38.17 	identified shortages. This subdivision does not apply to out-of-state applicants holding 
38.18 	only a provisional teaching license.
38.19 	(b) The Board of Teaching is strongly encouraged to work with designated 
38.20 	authorities in adjoining states to establish reciprocal interstate teacher licensure 
38.21 	agreements under this section.

38.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2015.

38.23 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.245, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
38.24 		Subdivision 1.Requirements. (a) To improve academic excellence, improve ethnic 
38.25 	and cultural diversity in the classroom, and close the academic achievement gap, the 
38.26 	Board of Teaching must approve qualified teacher preparation programs under this section 
38.27 	that are a means to acquire a two-year limited-term license, which the board may renew 
38.28 	one time for an additional one-year term, and to prepare for acquiring a standard license. 
38.29 	The following entities are eligible to participate under this section:
38.30 	(1) a school district or, charter school, or nonprofit corporation organized under 
38.31 	chapter 317A for an education-related purpose that forms a partnership with a college or 
38.32 	university that has a board-approved alternative teacher preparation program; or
38.33 	(2) a school district or, charter school, or nonprofit corporation organized under 
38.34 	chapter 317A for an education-related purpose after consulting with a college or university 
38.35 	with a board-approved teacher preparation program, that forms a partnership with a 
39.1 	nonprofit corporation organized under chapter 317A for an education-related purpose that 
39.2 	has a board-approved teacher preparation program.
39.3 	(b) Before participating in this program becoming a teacher of record, a candidate 
39.4 	must:
39.5 	(1) have a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 or higher grade point average unless the 
39.6 	board waives the grade point average requirement based on board-adopted criteria adopted 
39.7 	by January 1, 2016;
39.8 	(2) pass the reading, writing, and mathematics college-level skills examination under 
39.9 	section 122A.09, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), or demonstrate attainment of either ACT 
39.10 	Plus Writing or SAT essentially equivalent passing scores; and
39.11 	(3) obtain qualifying scores on applicable board-approved rigorous content area and 
39.12 	pedagogy examinations under section 122A.09, subdivision 4, paragraph (e).
39.13 	(c) The Board of Teaching must issue a two-year limited-term license to a person 
39.14 	who enrolls in an alternative teacher preparation program. This limited term license is not 
39.15 	a provisional license under section 122A.40 or 122A.41.

39.16 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.245, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
39.17 		Subd. 3.Program approval; disapproval. (a) The Board of Teaching must approve 
39.18 	alternative teacher preparation programs under this section based on board-adopted 
39.19 	criteria that reflect best practices for alternative teacher preparation programs, consistent 
39.20 	with this section. 
39.21 	(b) The board must permit teacher candidates to demonstrate mastery of pedagogy 
39.22 	and content standards in school-based settings and through other nontraditional means. 
39.23 	"Nontraditional means" must include a portfolio of previous experiences, teaching 
39.24 	experience, educator evaluations, certifications marking the completion of education 
39.25 	training programs, and essentially equivalent demonstrations. 
39.26 	(c) The board must use nontraditional criteria to determine the qualifications of 
39.27 	program instructors.
39.28 	(d) The board may permit instructors to hold a baccalaureate degree only.
39.29 	(b)(e) If the Board of Teaching determines that a teacher preparation program under 
39.30 	this section does not meet the requirements of this section, it may revoke its approval 
39.31 	of the program after it notifies the program provider of any deficiencies and gives the 
39.32 	program provider an opportunity to remedy the deficiencies.

39.33 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.245, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
40.1 		Subd. 7.Standard license. The Board of Teaching must issue a standard license 
40.2 	to an otherwise qualified teacher candidate under this section who successfully performs 
40.3 	throughout a program under this section, successfully completes all requiredobtains 
40.4 	qualifying scores on applicable board-approved rigorous college-level skills, pedagogy, 
40.5 	and content area examinations under section 122A.09, subdivision 4, paragraphs (a) and 
40.6 	(e), and is recommended for licensure under subdivision 5 or successfully demonstrates to 
40.7 	the board qualifications for licensure under subdivision 6.

40.8 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.25, is amended to read:
40.9 	122A.25 NONLICENSED COMMUNITY EXPERTS; VARIANCE.
40.10 		Subdivision 1.Authorization. Notwithstanding any law, Board of Teaching rule,  or 
40.11 	commissioner of education rule to the contrary, the Board of Teaching may allow school 
40.12 	districts or charter schools to may hire nonlicensed community experts to teach in the 
40.13 	public schools or charter schools on a limited basis according to this section after making 
40.14 	efforts to obtain acceptable licensed teachers for the particular course or subject area, 
40.15 	consistent with subdivision 2, clause (3). A school district or charter school must notify a 
40.16 	student's parent or guardian before placing the student in the classroom of a nonlicensed 
40.17 	community expert hired by the district or school to provide instruction under this section.
40.18 		Subd. 2.Applications Reports; criteria. The school district or charter school 
40.19 	shall apply report to the Board of Teaching for approval when it uses a variance to hire 
40.20 	nonlicensed teaching personnel from the community. In approving or disapproving the 
40.21 	application for each community expert, The board report shall consider include:
40.22 	(1) the qualifications of the community person whom the district or charter school 
40.23 	proposes to employ employs;
40.24 	(2) the unique and compelling reasons for the need for a variance from the teacher 
40.25 	licensure requirements;
40.26 	(3) the district's efforts to obtain licensed teachers, who are acceptable to the school 
40.27 	board, for the particular course or subject area or the charter school's efforts to obtain 
40.28 	licensed teachers for the particular course or subject area;
40.29 	(4) the amount of teaching time for which the community expert would be is hired;
40.30 	(5) the extent to which the district or charter school is utilizing uses other 
40.31 	nonlicensed community experts under this section;
40.32 	(6) the nature of the community expert's proposed teaching responsibility; and
40.33 	(7) the proposed level of compensation to be paid to the community expert.
40.34 		Subd. 3.Approval of plan Comment on variance. The Board of Teaching shall 
40.35 	approve or disapprove an application may comment on a district or charter school report 
41.1 	under subdivision 2 within 60 days of receiving it from a school and the district or charter 
41.2 	school must post the comment on its official Web site.
41.3 		Subd. 4.Background check. A school district or charter school shall provide 
41.4 	confirm to the Board of Teaching with confirmation that criminal background checks have 
41.5 	been were completed for all nonlicensed community experts employed by the district or 
41.6 	charter school and approved by the Board of Teaching under this section.

41.7 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
41.8 	and applies to all nonlicensed community experts hired or sponsored after that date.

41.9 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.30, is amended to read:
41.10 	122A.30 EXEMPTION FOR TECHNICAL COLLEGE EDUCATION 
41.11 	INSTRUCTORS.
41.12 	Notwithstanding section 122A.15, subdivision 1, and upon approval of the local 
41.13 	employer school board, a person who teaches in a part-time vocational or career and 
41.14 	technical education program not more than 61 hours per fiscal year is exempt from a 
41.15 	license requirement.

41.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
41.17 	and applies to all technical education instructors hired after that date.

41.18 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.40, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
41.19 		Subd. 5.Probationary period. (a) The first three consecutive years of a teacher's 
41.20 	first teaching experience in Minnesota in a single district is deemed to be a probationary 
41.21 	period of employment, and, the probationary period in each district in which the teacher is 
41.22 	thereafter employed shall be one year. The school board must adopt a plan for written 
41.23 	evaluation of teachers during the probationary period that is consistent with subdivision 
41.24 	8. Evaluation must occur at least three times periodically throughout each school year 
41.25 	for a teacher performing services during that school year; the first evaluation must occur 
41.26 	within the first 90 days of teaching service. Days devoted to parent-teacher conferences, 
41.27 	teachers' workshops, and other staff development opportunities and days on which a 
41.28 	teacher is absent from school must not be included in determining the number of school 
41.29 	days on which a teacher performs services. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph 
41.30 	(b), during the probationary period any annual contract with any teacher may or may not 
41.31 	be renewed (1) as the school board shall see fit, or (2) consistent with the negotiated 
41.32 	unrequested leave of absence plan in effect under subdivision 10. However, the board 
41.33 	must give any such teacher whose contract it declines to renew for the following school 
42.1 	year written notice to that effect before July 1. If the teacher requests reasons for any 
42.2 	nonrenewal of a teaching contract, the board must give the teacher its reason in writing, 
42.3 	including a statement that appropriate supervision was furnished describing the nature and 
42.4 	the extent of such supervision furnished the teacher during the employment by the board, 
42.5 	within ten days after receiving such request. The school board may, after a hearing held 
42.6 	upon due notice, discharge a teacher during the probationary period for cause, effective 
42.7 	immediately, under section 122A.44.
42.8 	(b) A board must discharge a probationary teacher, effective immediately, upon 
42.9 	receipt of notice under section 122A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), that the teacher's 
42.10 	license has been revoked due to a conviction for child abuse or sexual abuse.
42.11 	(c) A probationary teacher whose first three years of consecutive employment are 
42.12 	interrupted for active military service and who promptly resumes teaching consistent with 
42.13 	federal reemployment timelines for uniformed service personnel under United States 
42.14 	Code, title 38, section 4312(e), is considered to have a consecutive teaching experience 
42.15 	for purposes of paragraph (a).
42.16 	(d) A probationary teacher whose first three years of consecutive employment are 
42.17 	interrupted for maternity, paternity, or medical leave and who resumes teaching within 12 
42.18 	months of when the leave began is considered to have a consecutive teaching experience 
42.19 	for purposes of paragraph (a) if the probationary teacher completes a combined total of 
42.20 	three years of teaching service immediately before and after the leave.
42.21 	(e) A probationary teacher must complete at least 120 days of teaching service each 
42.22 	year during the probationary period. Days devoted to parent-teacher conferences, teachers' 
42.23 	workshops, and other staff development opportunities and days on which a teacher is 
42.24 	absent from school do not count as days of teaching service under this paragraph.

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

42.26 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.40, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
42.27 		Subd. 8.Development, evaluation, and peer coaching for continuing contract 
42.28 	teachers. (a) To improve student learning and success, a school board and an exclusive 
42.29 	representative of the teachers in the district, consistent with paragraph (b), may develop 
42.30 	a teacher evaluation and peer review process for probationary and continuing contract 
42.31 	teachers through joint agreement. If a school board and the exclusive representative of the 
42.32 	teachers do not agree to an annual teacher evaluation and peer review process, then the 
42.33 	school board and the exclusive representative of the teachers must implement the state 
42.34 	teacher evaluation plan under paragraph (c). The process must include having trained 
43.1 	observers serve as peer coaches or having teachers participate in professional learning 
43.2 	communities, consistent with paragraph (b).
43.3 	(b) To develop, improve, and support qualified teachers and effective teaching 
43.4 	practices and improve student learning and success, the annual evaluation process for 
43.5 	teachers:
43.6 	(1) must, for probationary teachers, provide for all evaluations required under 
43.7 	subdivision 5;
43.8 	(2) must establish a three-year professional review cycle for each teacher that 
43.9 	includes an individual growth and development plan, a peer review process, and at least 
43.10 	one summative evaluation performed by a qualified and trained evaluator such as a school 
43.11 	administrator. For the years when a tenured teacher is not evaluated by a qualified and 
43.12 	trained evaluator, the teacher must be evaluated by a peer review;
43.13 	(3) must be based on professional teaching standards established in rule;
43.14 	(4) must coordinate staff development activities under sections 122A.60 and 
43.15 	122A.61 with this evaluation process and teachers' evaluation outcomes;
43.16 	(5) may provide time during the school day and school year for peer coaching and 
43.17 	teacher collaboration;
43.18 	(6) may include job-embedded learning opportunities such as professional learning 
43.19 	communities;
43.20 	(7) may include mentoring and induction programs;
43.21 	(8) must include an option for teachers to develop and present a portfolio 
43.22 	demonstrating evidence of reflection and professional growth, consistent with section 
43.23 	122A.18, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), and include teachers' own performance assessment 
43.24 	based on student work samples and examples of teachers' work, which may include video 
43.25 	among other activities for the summative evaluation;
43.26 	(9) must use data from valid and reliable assessments aligned to state and local 
43.27 	academic standards and must use state and local measures of student growth and literacy 
43.28 	that may include value-added models or student learning goals to determine 35 percent of 
43.29 	teacher evaluation results;
43.30 	(10) must use longitudinal data on student engagement and connection, and other 
43.31 	student outcome measures explicitly aligned with the elements of curriculum for which 
43.32 	teachers are responsible, including academic literacy, oral academic language, and 
43.33 	achievement of content areas of English learners;
43.34 	(11) must require qualified and trained evaluators such as school administrators to 
43.35 	perform summative evaluations and ensure school districts and charter schools provide for 
43.36 	effective evaluator training specific to teacher development and evaluation;
44.1 	(12) must give teachers not meeting professional teaching standards under clauses 
44.2 	(3) through (11) support to improve through a teacher improvement process that includes 
44.3 	established goals and timelines; and
44.4 	(13) must discipline a teacher for not making adequate progress in the teacher 
44.5 	improvement process under clause (12) that may include a last chance warning, 
44.6 	termination, discharge, nonrenewal, transfer to a different position, a leave of absence, or 
44.7 	other discipline a school administrator determines is appropriate.
44.8 	Data on individual teachers generated under this subdivision are personnel data 
44.9 	under section 13.43. The observation and interview notes of peer coaches may only be 
44.10 	disclosed to other school officials with the consent of the teacher being coached.
44.11 	(c) The department, in consultation with parents who may represent parent 
44.12 	organizations and teacher and administrator representatives appointed by their respective 
44.13 	organizations, representing the Board of Teaching, the Minnesota Association of School 
44.14 	Administrators, the Minnesota School Boards Association, the Minnesota Elementary 
44.15 	and Secondary Principals Associations, Education Minnesota, and representatives of 
44.16 	the Minnesota Assessment Group, the Minnesota Business Partnership, the Minnesota 
44.17 	Chamber of Commerce, and Minnesota postsecondary institutions with research expertise 
44.18 	in teacher evaluation, must create and publish a teacher evaluation process that complies 
44.19 	with the requirements in paragraph (b) and applies to all teachers under this section and 
44.20 	section 122A.41 for whom no agreement exists under paragraph (a) for an annual teacher 
44.21 	evaluation and peer review process. The teacher evaluation process created under this 
44.22 	subdivision does not create additional due process rights for probationary teachers under 
44.23 	subdivision 5.
44.24 	(d) Consistent with the measures of teacher effectiveness under this subdivision:
44.25 	(1) for students in kindergarten through grade 4, a school administrator must not 
44.26 	place a student in consecutive school years in the classroom of a teacher with the lowest 
44.27 	evaluation rating in the previous school year unless no other teacher at the school teaches 
44.28 	that grade; and
44.29 	(2) for students in grades 5 through 12, a school administrator must not place 
44.30 	students in consecutive school years in the classroom of a teacher with the lowest 
44.31 	evaluation rating in the previous school year unless no other teacher at the school teaches 
44.32 	that subject area and grade.

44.33 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2017-2018 school year and 
44.34 	later, except paragraph (b), clause (7), is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and later.

44.35 	Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.40, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
45.1 		Subd. 10.Negotiated unrequested leave of absence. (a) The school board 
45.2 	and the exclusive bargaining representative of the teachers may must negotiate a plan, 
45.3 	consistent with subdivision 8, providing for unrequested leave of absence without pay or 
45.4 	fringe benefits for as many teachers as may be necessary because of discontinuance of 
45.5 	position, lack of pupils, financial limitations, or merger of classes caused by consolidation 
45.6 	of districts. Failing to successfully negotiate such a plan, the provisions of subdivision 
45.7 	11 shall apply. The negotiated plan must not include provisions which would result in 
45.8 	the exercise of seniority by a teacher holding only a provisional license, other than a 
45.9 	vocational education license, contrary to the provisions of subdivision 11, paragraph (c) 
45.10 	if required for the position, or the reinstatement of a teacher holding only a provisional 
45.11 	license, other than a vocational education license, contrary to the provisions of subdivision 
45.12 	11, paragraph (e) required for the position. The provisions of section 179A.16 do not 
45.13 	apply for the purposes of this subdivision.
45.14 	(b) Beginning in the 2017-2018 school year and later, and notwithstanding any law 
45.15 	to the contrary, a school board must place teachers on unrequested leave of absence based 
45.16 	on their subject matter licensure fields, most recent evaluation outcomes and effectiveness 
45.17 	category or rating under subdivision 8, and other, locally determined criteria such as 
45.18 	teacher seniority, and may include both probationary teachers and continuing contract 
45.19 	teachers within an effectiveness category or rating. For purposes of placing a teacher on 
45.20 	unrequested leave of absence or recalling a teacher from unrequested leave of absence, a 
45.21 	school board is not required to reassign a teacher with more seniority to accommodate the 
45.22 	seniority claims of a teacher who is similarly licensed and effective but with less seniority. 
45.23 	Nothing in this paragraph permits a school board to use a teacher's remuneration as a basis 
45.24 	for making unrequested leave of absence decisions. Any executed employment contract 
45.25 	between the school board and the exclusive representative of the teachers must contain the 
45.26 	negotiated unrequested leave of absence plan. The school board must publish in a readily 
45.27 	accessible format the unrequested leave of absence plan it negotiates under this paragraph.
45.28 	(c) A teacher who receives notice of being placed on unrequested leave of absence 
45.29 	under paragraph (b) may submit to the board, within 14 days of receiving the notice, a 
45.30 	written request for a hearing before a neutral hearing officer to establish whether the 
45.31 	district met the following teacher evaluation requirements under subdivision 8: if the 
45.32 	teacher is a probationary teacher, all evaluations required under subdivision 5 were 
45.33 	provided; a three-year professional review cycle was established for the teacher; any 
45.34 	summative evaluation of the teacher was performed by a qualified and trained evaluator; 
45.35 	a peer review evaluation occurred in any year when the teacher was not evaluated by a 
45.36 	qualified and trained evaluator; and if the teacher did not meet professional teaching 
46.1 	standards, a teacher improvement process with goals and timelines was established. The 
46.2 	school board and the exclusive representative of the teachers must agree on a panel of 
46.3 	people and a process to select the person to hear the matter. The hearing officer must issue 
46.4 	a decision within 14 days of the request for the hearing. Nothing in this subdivision 
46.5 	prevents a school board and the exclusive representative of the teachers from negotiating a 
46.6 	different process for determining whether the teacher evaluation requirements listed in 
46.7 	this subdivision were met.
46.8 	(d) Evaluation outcomes and effectiveness categories under paragraph (b) must not 
46.9 	be used to place a teacher on unrequested leave of absence if the principal evaluating the 
46.10 	teacher is on an improvement plan under section 123B.147, subdivision 3, paragraph 
46.11 	(b), clause (8).
46.12 	(e) For purposes of this subdivision, a provisional license is a license to teach issued 
46.13 	by the Board of Teaching under a waiver or variance.

46.14 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment and 
46.15 	applies to negotiated plans for unrequested leave of absence agreed to on or after that date.

46.16 	Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.40, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
46.17 		Subd. 11.Unrequested leave of absence. (a) The board may place on unrequested 
46.18 	leave of absence, without pay or fringe benefits, as many teachers as may be necessary 
46.19 	because of discontinuance of position, lack of pupils, financial limitations, or merger of 
46.20 	classes caused by consolidation or reorganization of districts under chapter 123A. The 
46.21 	unrequested leave is effective at the close of the school year.
46.22 	(b) In placing teachers on unrequested leave in the 2014-2015 through 2016-2017 
46.23 	school years only, the board is governed by the following provisions: in this subdivision.
46.24 	(a) (c) The board may place probationary teachers on unrequested leave first in the 
46.25 	inverse order of their employment. A teacher who has acquired continuing contract rights 
46.26 	must not be placed on unrequested leave of absence while probationary teachers are retained 
46.27 	in positions for which the teacher who has acquired continuing contract rights is licensed;.
46.28 	(b) (d) Teachers who have acquired continuing contract rights shall be placed on 
46.29 	unrequested leave of absence in fields in which they are licensed in the inverse order 
46.30 	in which they were employed by the school district. In the case of equal seniority, the 
46.31 	order in which teachers who have acquired continuing contract rights shall be placed on 
46.32 	unrequested leave of absence in fields in which they are licensed is negotiable;.
46.33 	(c) (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (b) (d), a teacher is not entitled 
46.34 	to exercise any seniority when that exercise results in that teacher being retained by the 
46.35 	district in a field for which the teacher holds only a provisional license, as defined by the 
47.1 	board of teaching, unless that exercise of seniority results in the placement on unrequested 
47.2 	leave of absence of another teacher who also holds a provisional license in the same field. 
47.3 	The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to vocational education licenses; required 
47.4 	for the available positions.
47.5 	(d) (f) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), (d), and (e), if the placing of a 
47.6 	probationary teacher on unrequested leave before a teacher who has acquired continuing 
47.7 	rights, the placing of a teacher who has acquired continuing contract rights on unrequested 
47.8 	leave before another teacher who has acquired continuing contract rights but who has 
47.9 	greater seniority, or the restriction imposed by the provisions of paragraph (c) (e) would 
47.10 	place the district in violation of its affirmative action program, the district may retain the 
47.11 	probationary teacher, the teacher with less seniority, or the provisionally licensed teacher;.
47.12 	(e) (g) For purposes of placing a teacher on unrequested leave of absence or 
47.13 	recalling a teacher from unrequested leave of absence, nothing in this subdivision requires 
47.14 	a school board to reassign a teacher to accommodate the seniority claims of a teacher who 
47.15 	is similarly licensed and effective but with less seniority. 
47.16 	(h) Teachers placed on unrequested leave of absence must be reinstated to the 
47.17 	positions from which they have been given leaves of absence or, if not available, to 
47.18 	other available positions in the school district in fields in which they are licensed. 
47.19 	Reinstatement must be in the inverse order of placement on leave of absence. A teacher 
47.20 	must not be reinstated to a position in a field in which the teacher holds only a provisional 
47.21 	license, other than a vocational education license, while another teacher who holds a 
47.22 	nonprovisional license in the same field remains on unrequested leave. The order of 
47.23 	reinstatement of teachers who have equal seniority and who are placed on unrequested 
47.24 	leave in the same school year is negotiable;.
47.25 	(f) (i) Appointment of a new teacher must not be made while there is available, on 
47.26 	unrequested leave, a teacher who is properly licensed to fill such vacancy, unless the 
47.27 	teacher fails to advise the school board within 30 days of the date of notification that a 
47.28 	position is available to that teacher who may return to employment and assume the duties 
47.29 	of the position to which appointed on a future date determined by the board;.
47.30 	(g) (j) A teacher placed on unrequested leave of absence may engage in teaching 
47.31 	or any other occupation during the period of this leave;.
47.32 	(h) (k) The unrequested leave of absence must not impair the continuing contract 
47.33 	rights of a teacher or result in a loss of credit for previous years of service;.
47.34 	(i) (l) Consistent with subdivision 10, the unrequested leave of absence of a teacher 
47.35 	who is categorized as effective or better under subdivision 8, who is placed on unrequested 
47.36 	leave of absence, and who is not reinstated shall continue for a period of five years, 
48.1 	after which the right to reinstatement shall terminate terminates. The teacher's right to 
48.2 	reinstatement shall also terminate terminates if the teacher fails to file with the board by 
48.3 	April 1 of any each year a written statement requesting reinstatement;.
48.4 	(m) Consistent with subdivision 10, the unrequested leave of absence of a teacher 
48.5 	who is categorized as ineffective or less under subdivision 8, who is placed on unrequested 
48.6 	leave of absence, and who is not reinstated continues for the following school year 
48.7 	only, after which the teacher's right to reinstatement terminates. The teacher's right to 
48.8 	reinstatement also terminates if the teacher fails to file with the board by April 1 in that 
48.9 	following school year a written statement requesting reinstatement.
48.10 	(j) (n) The same provisions applicable to terminations of probationary or continuing 
48.11 	contracts in subdivisions 5 and 7 must apply to placement on unrequested leave of absence;.
48.12 	(k) (o) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to impair the rights of teachers 
48.13 	placed on unrequested leave of absence to receive unemployment benefits if otherwise 
48.14 	eligible.

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

48.16 	Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.40, subdivision 13, is amended to read:
48.17 		Subd. 13.Immediate discharge. (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph 
48.18 	(b), a board may discharge a continuing-contract teacher, effective immediately, upon any 
48.19 	of the following grounds:
48.20 	(1) immoral conduct, insubordination, or conviction of a felony;
48.21 	(2) conduct unbecoming a teacher which requires the immediate removal of the 
48.22 	teacher from classroom or other duties;
48.23 	(3) failure without justifiable cause to teach without first securing the written release 
48.24 	of the school board;
48.25 	(4) gross inefficiency which the teacher has failed to correct after reasonable written 
48.26 	notice;
48.27 	(5) willful neglect of duty; or
48.28 	(6) continuing physical or mental disability subsequent to a 12 months leave of 
48.29 	absence and inability to qualify for reinstatement in accordance with subdivision 12.
48.30 	For purposes of this paragraph, conduct unbecoming a teacher includes an unfair 
48.31 	discriminatory practice described in section 363A.13.
48.32 	Prior to discharging a teacher under this paragraph, the board must notify the teacher 
48.33 	in writing and state its ground for the proposed discharge in reasonable detail. Within 
48.34 	ten days after receipt of this notification the teacher may make a written request for a 
48.35 	hearing before the board and it shall be granted before final action is taken. The board 
49.1 	may suspend a teacher with pay pending the conclusion of the hearing and determination 
49.2 	of the issues raised in the hearing after charges have been filed which constitute ground for 
49.3 	discharge. If a teacher has been charged with a felony and the underlying conduct that 
49.4 	is the subject of the felony charge is a ground for a proposed immediate discharge, the 
49.5 	suspension pending the conclusion of the hearing and determination of the issues may be 
49.6 	without pay. If a hearing under this paragraph is held, the board must reimburse the teacher 
49.7 	for any salary or compensation withheld if the final decision of the board or the arbitrator 
49.8 	does not result in a penalty to or suspension, termination, or discharge of the teacher.
49.9 	(b) A board must discharge a continuing-contract teacher, effective immediately, 
49.10 	upon receipt of notice under section 122A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), that the 
49.11 	teacher's license has been revoked due to a conviction for child abuse or, as defined in 
49.12 	section 609.185; sex trafficking in the first degree under section 609.322, subdivision 1; 
49.13 	sex trafficking in the second degree under section 609.322, subdivision 1a; engaging 
49.14 	in hiring or agreeing to hire a minor to engage in prostitution under section 609.324, 
49.15 	subdivision 1; sexual abuse under section 609.342, 609.343, 609.344, 609.345, 609.3451, 
49.16 	subdivision 3, or 617.23, subdivision 3; solicitation of children to engage in sexual 
49.17 	conduct or communication of sexually explicit materials to children under section 
49.18 	609.352; interference with privacy under section 609.746 or stalking under section 
49.19 	609.749 and the victim was a minor; using minors in a sexual performance under section 
49.20 	617.246; possessing pornographic works involving a minor under section 617.247; or 
49.21 	any other offense not listed in this paragraph that requires the person to register as a 
49.22 	predatory offender under section 243.166, or a crime under a similar law of another state 
49.23 	or the United States.
49.24 	(c) When a teacher is discharged under paragraph (b) or when the commissioner 
49.25 	makes a final determination of child maltreatment involving a teacher under section 
49.26 	626.556, subdivision 11, the school principal or other person having administrative 
49.27 	control of the school must include in the teacher's employment record the information 
49.28 	contained in the record of the disciplinary action or the final maltreatment determination, 
49.29 	consistent with the definition of public data under section 13.41, subdivision 5, and must 
49.30 	provide the Board of Teaching and the licensing division at the department with the 
49.31 	necessary and relevant information to enable the Board of Teaching and the department's 
49.32 	licensing division to fulfill their statutory and administrative duties related to issuing, 
49.33 	renewing, suspending, or revoking a teacher's license. Information received by the Board 
49.34 	of Teaching or the licensing division at the department under this paragraph is governed 
49.35 	by section 13.41 or other applicable law governing data of the receiving entity. In addition 
49.36 	to the background check required under section 123B.03, a school board or other school 
50.1 	hiring authority must contact the Board of Teaching and the department to determine 
50.2 	whether the teacher's license has been suspended or revoked, consistent with the discharge 
50.3 	and final maltreatment determinations identified in this paragraph. Unless restricted by 
50.4 	federal or state data practices law or by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, 
50.5 	the responsible authority for a school district must disseminate to another school district 
50.6 	private personnel data on a current or former teacher employee or contractor of the district, 
50.7 	including the results of background investigations, if the requesting school district seeks 
50.8 	the information because the subject of the data has applied for employment with the 
50.9 	requesting school district.

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

50.11 	Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.41, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
50.12 		Subd. 2.Probationary period; discharge or demotion. (a) All teachers in 
50.13 	the public schools in cities of the first class during the first three years of consecutive 
50.14 	employment shall be deemed to be in a probationary period of employment during which 
50.15 	period any annual contract with any teacher may, or may not, be renewed (1) as the school 
50.16 	board, after consulting with the peer review committee charged with evaluating the 
50.17 	probationary teachers under subdivision 3, shall see fit, or (2) consistent with the negotiated 
50.18 	plan for discontinuing or terminating teachers in effect under subdivision 14. The school 
50.19 	site management team or the school board if there is no school site management team, shall 
50.20 	adopt a plan for a written evaluation of teachers during the probationary period according 
50.21 	to subdivisions 3 and 5. Evaluation by the peer review committee charged with evaluating 
50.22 	probationary teachers under subdivision 3 shall occur at least three times periodically 
50.23 	throughout each school year for a teacher performing services during that school year; the 
50.24 	first evaluation must occur within the first 90 days of teaching service. Days devoted to 
50.25 	parent-teacher conferences, teachers' workshops, and other staff development opportunities 
50.26 	and days on which a teacher is absent from school shall not be included in determining the 
50.27 	number of school days on which a teacher performs services. The school board may, during 
50.28 	such probationary period, discharge or demote a teacher for any of the causes as specified 
50.29 	in this code. A written statement of the cause of such discharge or demotion shall be given 
50.30 	to the teacher by the school board at least 30 days before such removal or demotion shall 
50.31 	become effective, and the teacher so notified shall have no right of appeal therefrom.
50.32 	(b) A probationary teacher whose first three years of consecutive employment are 
50.33 	interrupted for active military service and who promptly resumes teaching consistent with 
50.34 	federal reemployment timelines for uniformed service personnel under United States 
51.1 	Code, title 38, section 4312(e), is considered to have a consecutive teaching experience 
51.2 	for purposes of paragraph (a).
51.3 	(c) A probationary teacher whose first three years of consecutive employment are 
51.4 	interrupted for maternity, paternity, or medical leave and who resumes teaching within 12 
51.5 	months of when the leave began is considered to have a consecutive teaching experience 
51.6 	for purposes of paragraph (a) if the probationary teacher completes a combined total of 
51.7 	three years of teaching service immediately before and after the leave.
51.8 	(d) A probationary teacher must complete at least 120 days of teaching service each 
51.9 	year during the probationary period. Days devoted to parent-teacher conferences, teachers' 
51.10 	workshops, and other staff development opportunities and days on which a teacher is 
51.11 	absent from school do not count as days of teaching service under this paragraph.

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

51.13 	Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.41, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
51.14 		Subd. 5.Development, evaluation, and peer coaching for continuing contract 
51.15 	teachers. (a) To improve student learning and success, a school board and an exclusive 
51.16 	representative of the teachers in the district, consistent with paragraph (b), may develop an 
51.17 	annual teacher evaluation and peer review process for probationary and nonprobationary 
51.18 	teachers through joint agreement. If a school board and the exclusive representative of 
51.19 	the teachers in the district do not agree to an annual teacher evaluation and peer review 
51.20 	process, then the school board and the exclusive representative of the teachers must 
51.21 	implement the state teacher evaluation plan developed under paragraph (c). The process 
51.22 	must include having trained observers serve as peer coaches or having teachers participate 
51.23 	in professional learning communities, consistent with paragraph (b).
51.24 	(b) To develop, improve, and support qualified teachers and effective teaching 
51.25 	practices and improve student learning and success, the annual evaluation process for 
51.26 	teachers:
51.27 	(1) must, for probationary teachers, provide for all evaluations required under 
51.28 	subdivision 2;
51.29 	(2) must establish a three-year professional review cycle for each teacher that 
51.30 	includes an individual growth and development plan, a peer review process, and at least 
51.31 	one summative evaluation performed by a qualified and trained evaluator such as a school 
51.32 	administrator;
51.33 	(3) must be based on professional teaching standards established in rule;
51.34 	(4) must coordinate staff development activities under sections 122A.60 and 
51.35 	122A.61 with this evaluation process and teachers' evaluation outcomes;
52.1 	(5) may provide time during the school day and school year for peer coaching and 
52.2 	teacher collaboration;
52.3 	(6) may include job-embedded learning opportunities such as professional learning 
52.4 	communities;
52.5 	(7) may include mentoring and induction programs;
52.6 	(8) must include an option for teachers to develop and present a portfolio 
52.7 	demonstrating evidence of reflection and professional growth, consistent with section 
52.8 	122A.18, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), and include teachers' own performance assessment 
52.9 	based on student work samples and examples of teachers' work, which may include video 
52.10 	among other activities for the summative evaluation;
52.11 	(9) must use data from valid and reliable assessments aligned to state and local 
52.12 	academic standards and must use state and local measures of student growth and literacy 
52.13 	that may include value-added models or student learning goals to determine 35 percent of 
52.14 	teacher evaluation results;
52.15 	(10) must use longitudinal data on student engagement and connection and other 
52.16 	student outcome measures explicitly aligned with the elements of curriculum for which 
52.17 	teachers are responsible, including academic literacy, oral academic language, and 
52.18 	achievement of English learners;
52.19 	(11) must require qualified and trained evaluators such as school administrators to 
52.20 	perform summative evaluations and ensure school districts and charter schools provide for 
52.21 	effective evaluator training specific to teacher development and evaluation;
52.22 	(12) must give teachers not meeting professional teaching standards under clauses 
52.23 	(3) through (11) support to improve through a teacher improvement process that includes 
52.24 	established goals and timelines; and
52.25 	(13) must discipline a teacher for not making adequate progress in the teacher 
52.26 	improvement process under clause (12) that may include a last chance warning, 
52.27 	termination, discharge, nonrenewal, transfer to a different position, a leave of absence, or 
52.28 	other discipline a school administrator determines is appropriate.
52.29 	Data on individual teachers generated under this subdivision are personnel data 
52.30 	under section 13.43. The observation and interview notes of peer coaches may only be 
52.31 	disclosed to other school officials with the consent of the teacher being coached.
52.32 	(c) The department, in consultation with parents who may represent parent 
52.33 	organizations and teacher and administrator representatives appointed by their respective 
52.34 	organizations, representing the Board of Teaching, the Minnesota Association of School 
52.35 	Administrators, the Minnesota School Boards Association, the Minnesota Elementary 
52.36 	and Secondary Principals Associations, Education Minnesota, and representatives of 
53.1 	the Minnesota Assessment Group, the Minnesota Business Partnership, the Minnesota 
53.2 	Chamber of Commerce, and Minnesota postsecondary institutions with research expertise 
53.3 	in teacher evaluation, must create and publish a teacher evaluation process that complies 
53.4 	with the requirements in paragraph (b) and applies to all teachers under this section and 
53.5 	section 122A.40 for whom no agreement exists under paragraph (a) for an annual teacher 
53.6 	evaluation and peer review process. The teacher evaluation process created under this 
53.7 	subdivision does not create additional due process rights for probationary teachers under 
53.8 	subdivision 2.
53.9 	(d) Consistent with the measures of teacher effectiveness under this subdivision:
53.10 	(1) for students in kindergarten through grade 4, a school administrator must not 
53.11 	place a student in consecutive school years in the classroom of a teacher with the lowest 
53.12 	evaluation rating in the previous school year unless no other teacher at the school teaches 
53.13 	that grade; and
53.14 	(2) for students in grades 5 through 12, a school administrator must not place 
53.15 	students in consecutive school years in the classroom of a teacher with the lowest 
53.16 	evaluation rating in the previous school year unless no other teacher at the school teaches 
53.17 	that subject area and grade.

53.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2017-2018 school year and 
53.19 	later, except paragraph (b), clause (7), is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and later.

53.20 	Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.41, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
53.21 		Subd. 6.Grounds for discharge or demotion. (a) Except as otherwise provided 
53.22 	in paragraph (b), causes for the discharge or demotion of a teacher either during or after 
53.23 	the probationary period must be:
53.24 	(1) immoral character, conduct unbecoming a teacher, or insubordination;
53.25 	(2) failure without justifiable cause to teach without first securing the written release 
53.26 	of the school board having the care, management, or control of the school in which the 
53.27 	teacher is employed;
53.28 	(3) inefficiency in teaching or in the management of a school, consistent with 
53.29 	subdivision 5, paragraph (b);
53.30 	(4) affliction with a communicable disease must be considered as cause for removal 
53.31 	or suspension while the teacher is suffering from such disability; or
53.32 	(5) discontinuance of position or lack of pupils.
53.33 	For purposes of this paragraph, conduct unbecoming a teacher includes an unfair 
53.34 	discriminatory practice described in section 363A.13.
54.1 	(b) A probationary or continuing-contract teacher must be discharged immediately 
54.2 	upon receipt of notice under section 122A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), that the 
54.3 	teacher's license has been revoked due to a conviction for child abuse or, as defined in 
54.4 	section 609.185; sex trafficking in the first degree under section 609.322, subdivision 1; 
54.5 	sex trafficking in the second degree under section 609.322, subdivision 1a; engaging 
54.6 	in hiring or agreeing to hire a minor to engage in prostitution under section 609.324, 
54.7 	subdivision 1; sexual abuse under section 609.342, 609.343, 609.344, 609.345, 609.3451, 
54.8 	subdivision 3, or 617.23, subdivision 3; solicitation of children to engage in sexual 
54.9 	conduct or communication of sexually explicit materials to children under section 
54.10 	609.352; interference with privacy under section 609.746 or stalking under section 
54.11 	609.749 and the victim was a minor; using minors in a sexual performance under section 
54.12 	617.246; possessing pornographic works involving a minor under section 617.247; or 
54.13 	any other offense not listed in this paragraph that requires the person to register as a 
54.14 	predatory offender under section 243.166, or a crime under a similar law of another state 
54.15 	or the United States.
54.16 	(c) When a teacher is discharged under paragraph (b) or when the commissioner 
54.17 	makes a final determination of child maltreatment involving a teacher under section 
54.18 	626.556, subdivision 11, the school principal or other person having administrative 
54.19 	control of the school must include in the teacher's employment record the information 
54.20 	contained in the record of the disciplinary action or the final maltreatment determination, 
54.21 	consistent with the definition of public data under section 13.41, subdivision 5, and must 
54.22 	provide the Board of Teaching and the licensing division at the department with the 
54.23 	necessary and relevant information to enable the Board of Teaching and the department's 
54.24 	licensing division to fulfill their statutory and administrative duties related to issuing, 
54.25 	renewing, suspending, or revoking a teacher's license. Information received by the Board 
54.26 	of Teaching or the licensing division at the department under this paragraph is governed 
54.27 	by section 13.41 or other applicable law governing data of the receiving entity. In addition 
54.28 	to the background check required under section 123B.03, a school board or other school 
54.29 	hiring authority must contact the Board of Teaching and the department to determine 
54.30 	whether the teacher's license has been suspended or revoked, consistent with the discharge 
54.31 	and final maltreatment determinations identified in this paragraph. Unless restricted by 
54.32 	federal or state data practices law or by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, 
54.33 	the responsible authority for a school district must disseminate to another school district 
54.34 	private personnel data on a current or former teacher employee or contractor of the district, 
54.35 	including the results of background investigations, if the requesting school district seeks 
55.1 	the information because the subject of the data has applied for employment with the 
55.2 	requesting school district.

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

55.4 	Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.41, subdivision 14, is amended to read:
55.5 		Subd. 14.Services terminated by discontinuance or lack of pupils; preference 
55.6 	given. (a) A teacher whose services are terminated on account of discontinuance of 
55.7 	position or lack of pupils must receive first consideration for other positions in the district 
55.8 	for which that teacher is qualified. In the event it becomes necessary to discontinue one 
55.9 	or more positions in the 2014-2015 through the 2016-2017 school years, in making such 
55.10 	discontinuance, teachers must receive first consideration for other positions in the district 
55.11 	for which that teacher is qualified and must be discontinued in any department in the 
55.12 	inverse order in which they were employed, unless.
55.13 	(b) Beginning in the 2017-2018 school year and later, a board and the exclusive 
55.14 	representative of teachers in the district must negotiate a plan providing otherwise., 
55.15 	consistent with subdivision 5, for discontinuing and terminating teachers under this 
55.16 	subdivision based on their subject matter licensure fields, most recent evaluation outcomes 
55.17 	and effectiveness category or rating under subdivision 5, and other, locally determined 
55.18 	criteria such as teacher seniority, and may include both probationary teachers and 
55.19 	continuing contract teachers within an effectiveness category or rating. For purposes 
55.20 	of discharging, demoting, or recalling a teacher whose services are discontinued or 
55.21 	terminated under this subdivision, a school board is not required to reassign a teacher with 
55.22 	more seniority to accommodate the seniority claims of a teacher who is similarly licensed 
55.23 	and effective but with less seniority. Nothing in this paragraph permits a school board to 
55.24 	use a teacher's remuneration as a basis for discontinuing or terminating a teacher. Any 
55.25 	executed employment contract between the school board and the exclusive representative 
55.26 	of the teachers must contain the negotiated plan for discontinuing or terminating teachers. 
55.27 	The school board must publish in a readily accessible format any plan it negotiates for 
55.28 	discontinuing or terminating teachers under this paragraph.
55.29 	(c) A teacher who receives notice of discontinuance or termination under paragraph 
55.30 	(b) may submit to the board, within 14 days of receiving the notice, a written request 
55.31 	for a hearing before a neutral hearing officer to establish whether the district met the 
55.32 	following teacher evaluation requirements under subdivision 5: if the teacher is a 
55.33 	probationary teacher, all evaluations required under subdivision 2 were provided; a 
55.34 	three-year professional review cycle was established for the teacher; any summative 
55.35 	evaluation of the teacher was performed by a qualified and trained evaluator; a peer review 
56.1 	evaluation occurred in any year when the teacher was not evaluated by a qualified and 
56.2 	trained evaluator; and if the teacher did not meet professional teaching standards, a teacher 
56.3 	improvement process with goals and timelines was established. The school board and the 
56.4 	exclusive representative of the teachers must agree on a panel of people and a process to 
56.5 	select the person to hear the matter. The hearing officer must issue a decision within 14 days 
56.6 	of the request for the hearing. Nothing in this subdivision prevents a school board and the 
56.7 	exclusive representative of the teachers from negotiating a different process for determining 
56.8 	whether the teacher evaluation requirements listed in this subdivision were met.
56.9 	(b) (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause paragraph (a), for the 2014-2015 
56.10 	through 2016-2017 school years, a teacher is not entitled to exercise any seniority when 
56.11 	that exercise results in that teacher being retained by the district in a field for which the 
56.12 	teacher holds only a provisional license, as defined by the Board of Teaching, unless that 
56.13 	exercise of seniority results in the termination of terminating the services, on account 
56.14 	of discontinuance of position or lack of pupils, of another teacher who also holds a 
56.15 	provisional license in the same field. The provisions of this clause paragraph do not apply 
56.16 	to vocational education licenses.
56.17 	(c) (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause paragraph (a), for the 2014-2015 
56.18 	through 2016-2017 school years, a teacher must not be reinstated to a position in a field 
56.19 	in which the teacher holds only a provisional license, other than a vocational education 
56.20 	license, while another teacher who holds a nonprovisional license in the same field is 
56.21 	available for reinstatement.
56.22 	(f) Evaluation outcomes and effectiveness categories under paragraph (b) must not 
56.23 	be used to place a teacher on unrequested leave of absence if the principal evaluating the 
56.24 	teacher is on an improvement plan under section 123B.147, subdivision 3, paragraph 
56.25 	(b), clause (8).

56.26 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
56.27 	and applies to negotiated plans for discontinuing or terminating teachers agreed to on or 
56.28 	after that date.

56.29 	Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.414, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
56.30 		Subd. 2.Alternative teacher professional pay system. (a) To participate in this 
56.31 	program, a school district, intermediate school district, school site, or charter school must 
56.32 	have an educational improvement plan under section 122A.413 and an alternative teacher 
56.33 	professional pay system agreement under paragraph (b). A charter school participant also 
56.34 	must comply with subdivision 2a.
56.35 	(b) The alternative teacher professional pay system agreement must:
57.1 	(1) describe how teachers can achieve career advancement and additional 
57.2 	compensation;
57.3 	(2) describe how the school district, intermediate school district, school site, or 
57.4 	charter school will provide teachers with career advancement options that allow teachers 
57.5 	to retain primary roles in student instruction and facilitate site-focused professional 
57.6 	development that helps other teachers improve their skills;
57.7 	(3) reform the "steps and lanes" salary schedule, prevent any teacher's compensation 
57.8 	paid before implementing the pay system from being reduced as a result of participating in 
57.9 	this system, base at least 60 percent of any compensation increase on teacher performance 
57.10 	using:
57.11 	(i) schoolwide student achievement gains under section 120B.35 or locally selected 
57.12 	standardized assessment outcomes, or both;
57.13 	(ii) measures of student growth and literacy that may include value-added models 
57.14 	or student learning goals, consistent with section 122A.40, subdivision 8, clause (9), or 
57.15 	122A.41, subdivision 5, clause (9), and other measures that include the academic literacy, 
57.16 	oral academic language, and achievement of English learners under section 122A.40, 
57.17 	subdivision 8, clause (10), or 122A.41, subdivision 5, clause (10); and
57.18 	(iii) an objective evaluation program under section 122A.40, subdivision 8, 
57.19 	paragraph (b), clause (2), or 122A.41, subdivision 5, paragraph (b), clause (2);
57.20 	(4) provide for participation in job-embedded learning opportunities such as 
57.21 	professional learning communities to improve instructional skills and learning that are 
57.22 	aligned with student needs under section 122A.413, consistent with the staff development 
57.23 	plan under section 122A.60 and led during the school day by trained teacher leaders 
57.24 	such as master or mentor teachers;
57.25 	(5) allow any teacher in a participating school district, intermediate school district, 
57.26 	school site, or charter school that implements an alternative pay system to participate in 
57.27 	that system without any quota or other limit; and
57.28 	(6) encourage collaboration rather than competition among teachers.
57.29 	(c) The alternative teacher professional pay system may:
57.30 	(1) include a hiring bonus or other added compensation for teachers who are 
57.31 	identified as effective or highly effective under the local teacher professional review 
57.32 	cycle and work in a hard-to-fill position or in a hard-to-staff school such as a school with 
57.33 	a majority of students whose families meet federal poverty guidelines, a geographically 
57.34 	isolated school, or a school identified by the state as eligible for targeted programs or 
57.35 	services for its students;
58.1 	(2) include incentives for teachers to obtain a master's degree or other advanced 
58.2 	certification in their content field of licensure, pursue the training or education necessary 
58.3 	to obtain an additional licensure in shortage areas identified by the district or charter 
58.4 	school, or help fund a "grow your own" new teacher initiative; and
58.5 	(3) be structured around teacher-powered site-governed schools allowed under 
58.6 	section 123B.045.

58.7 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
58.8 	and applies to agreements approved or renegotiated after that date.

58.9 	Sec. 34. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.60, is amended to read:
58.10 	122A.60 STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
58.11 		Subdivision 1.Staff development committee. (a) A school board must use the 
58.12 	revenue authorized in section 122A.61 for in-service education for programs under section 
58.13 	120B.22, subdivision 2, or for staff development:
58.14 	(1) teacher development and evaluation  plans under this section 122A.40, 
58.15 	subdivision 8, or 122A.41, subdivision 5;
58.16 	(2) principal development and evaluation under section 123B.147, subdivision 3;
58.17 	(3) in-service education programs under section 120B.22, subdivision 2; and
58.18 	(4) other staff development needs. 
58.19 	(b) The board must establish an advisory staff development committee to develop 
58.20 	the plan, assist site professional development teams in developing a site plan consistent 
58.21 	with the goals of the plan, and evaluate staff development efforts at the site level. A 
58.22 	majority of the advisory committee and the site professional development team must be 
58.23 	teachers representing various grade levels, subject areas, and special education. The 
58.24 	advisory committee must also include nonteaching staff, parents, and administrators.
58.25 		Subd. 1a.Effective staff development activities. (a) Staff development activities 
58.26 	must:
58.27 	(1) focus on the school classroom and research-based strategies that improve student 
58.28 	learning;
58.29 	(2) provide opportunities for teachers to practice and improve their instructional 
58.30 	skills over time;
58.31 	(3) provide opportunities for teachers to use student data as part of their daily work 
58.32 	to increase student achievement;
59.1 	(4) enhance teacher content knowledge and instructional skills, including to 
59.2 	accommodate the delivery of digital and blended learning and curriculum and engage 
59.3 	students with technology;
59.4 	(5) align with state and local academic standards;
59.5 	(6) provide opportunities to build professional relationships, foster collaboration 
59.6 	among principals and staff who provide instruction, and provide opportunities for 
59.7 	teacher-to-teacher mentoring;
59.8 	(7) align with the plan of the district or site for an alternative teacher professional 
59.9 	pay system;
59.10 	(8) provide teachers of English learners, including English as a second language and 
59.11 	content teachers, with differentiated instructional strategies critical for ensuring students' 
59.12 	long-term academic success; the means to effectively use assessment data on the academic 
59.13 	literacy, oral academic language, and English language development of English learners; 
59.14 	and skills to support native and English language development across the curriculum; and
59.15 	(9) provide opportunities for staff to learn about current workforce trends, the 
59.16 	connections between workforce trends and postsecondary education, and training options, 
59.17 	including career and technical education options.
59.18 	Staff development activities may include curriculum development and curriculum training 
59.19 	programs, and activities that provide teachers and other members of site-based teams 
59.20 	training to enhance team performance. The school district also may implement other 
59.21 	staff development activities required by law and activities associated with professional 
59.22 	teacher compensation models.
59.23 	(b) Release time provided for teachers to supervise students on field trips and school 
59.24 	activities, or independent tasks not associated with enhancing the teacher's knowledge 
59.25 	and instructional skills, such as preparing report cards, calculating grades, or organizing 
59.26 	classroom materials, may not be counted as staff development time that is financed with 
59.27 	staff development reserved revenue under section 122A.61.
59.28 		Subd. 2.Contents of plan. The plan must include the staff development outcomes 
59.29 	under section 122A.40, subdivision 8, or 122A.41, subdivision 5, and section 123B.147, 
59.30 	subdivision 3, the means to achieve the outcomes, and procedures for evaluating progress 
59.31 	at each school site toward meeting education and staff development outcomes, consistent 
59.32 	with relicensure requirements under section 122A.18, subdivision 4. The plan also must:
59.33 	(1) support stable and productive professional communities achieved through 
59.34 	ongoing and schoolwide progress and growth in teaching practice;
59.35 	(2) emphasize coaching, professional learning communities, classroom action 
59.36 	research, and other job-embedded models;
60.1 	(3) maintain a strong subject matter focus premised on students' learning goals, 
60.2 	consistent with section 120B.125;
60.3 	(4) ensure specialized preparation and learning about issues related to teaching 
60.4 	English learners and students with special needs by focusing on long-term systemic efforts 
60.5 	to improve educational services and opportunities and raise student achievement; and
60.6 	(5) reinforce national and state standards of effective teaching practice.
60.7 		Subd. 3.Staff development outcomes. The advisory staff development committee 
60.8 	must adopt a staff development plan, consistent with section 122A.40, subdivision 8, or 
60.9 	122A.41, subdivision 5, for developing and evaluating teachers and for improving student 
60.10 	achievement outcomes and with section 123B.147, subdivision 3, for strengthening 
60.11 	principals' capacity in areas of instruction, supervision, evaluation, and teacher 
60.12 	development. The plan must be consistent with education outcomes that the school board 
60.13 	determines. The plan must include ongoing staff development activities that contribute 
60.14 	toward continuous improvement in achievement of achieving the following goals:
60.15 	(1) improve student achievement of state and local education standards in all areas of 
60.16 	the curriculum, including areas of regular academic and applied and experiential learning, 
60.17 	by using research-based best practices methods;
60.18 	(2) effectively meet the needs of a diverse student population, including at-risk 
60.19 	children, children with disabilities, English learners, and gifted children, within the regular 
60.20 	classroom, applied and experiential learning settings, and other settings;
60.21 	(3) provide an inclusive curriculum for a racially, ethnically, linguistically, and 
60.22 	culturally diverse student population that is consistent with the state education diversity 
60.23 	rule and the district's education diversity plan;
60.24 	(4) improve staff collaboration and develop mentoring and peer coaching programs 
60.25 	for teachers new to the school or district;
60.26 	(5) effectively teach and model violence prevention policy and curriculum that 
60.27 	address early intervention alternatives, issues of harassment, and teach nonviolent 
60.28 	alternatives for conflict resolution;
60.29 	(6) effectively deliver digital and blended learning and curriculum and engage 
60.30 	students with technology; and
60.31 	(7) provide teachers and other members of site-based management teams with 
60.32 	appropriate management and financial management skills.
60.33 		Subd. 4.Staff development report. (a) By October 15 of each year, the district and 
60.34 	site staff development committees shall write and submit a report of staff development 
60.35 	activities and expenditures for the previous year, in the form and manner determined by 
60.36 	the commissioner. The report, signed by the district superintendent and staff development 
61.1 	chair, must include assessment and evaluation data indicating progress toward district and 
61.2 	site staff development goals based on teaching and learning outcomes, including the 
61.3 	percentage of teachers and other staff involved in instruction who participate in effective 
61.4 	staff development activities under subdivision 3.
61.5 	(b) The report must break down expenditures for:
61.6 	(1) curriculum development and curriculum training programs; and
61.7 	(2) staff development training models, workshops, and conferences, and the cost of 
61.8 	releasing teachers or providing substitute teachers for staff development purposes.
61.9 	The report also must indicate whether the expenditures were incurred at the district 
61.10 	level or the school site level, and whether the school site expenditures were made possible 
61.11 	by grants to school sites that demonstrate exemplary use of allocated staff development 
61.12 	revenue. These expenditures must be reported using the uniform financial and accounting 
61.13 	and reporting standards.
61.14 	(c) The commissioner shall report the staff development progress and expenditure 
61.15 	data to the house of representatives and senate committees having jurisdiction over 
61.16 	education by February 15 each year.

61.17 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2016-2017 school year and 
61.18 	later.

61.19 	Sec. 35. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.61, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
61.20 		Subdivision 1.Staff development revenue. A district is required to reserve 
61.21 	an amount equal to at least two percent of the basic revenue under section 126C.10, 
61.22 	subdivision 2, for:
61.23 	(1) teacher development and evaluation under sections 122A.40, subdivision 8, or 
61.24 	122A.41, subdivision 5;
61.25 	(2) principal development and evaluation under section 123B.147, subdivision 3;
61.26 	(3) professional development under section 122A.60; and
61.27 	(4)  in-service education for programs under section 120B.22, subdivision 2,.
61.28 	To the extent extra funds remain, staff development revenue may be used for 
61.29 	staff development plans, including plans for challenging instructional activities and 
61.30 	experiences under section 122A.60, and for curriculum development and programs, 
61.31 	other in-service education, teachers' mentoring under section 122A.70 and evaluation, 
61.32 	teachers' workshops, teacher conferences, the cost of substitute teachers staff development 
61.33 	purposes, preservice and in-service education for special education professionals and 
61.34 	paraprofessionals, and other related costs for staff development efforts. A district may 
61.35 	annually waive the requirement to reserve their basic revenue under this section if a 
62.1 	majority vote of the licensed teachers in the district and a majority vote of the school board 
62.2 	agree to a resolution to waive the requirement. A district in statutory operating debt is 
62.3 	exempt from reserving basic revenue according to this section. Districts may expend an 
62.4 	additional amount of unreserved revenue for staff development based on their needs.

62.5 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2016-2017 school year and 
62.6 	later.

62.7 	Sec. 36. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.69, is amended to read:
62.8 	122A.69 PRACTICE OR STUDENT TEACHERS.
62.9 	The Board of Teaching may, by agreements with teacher preparingpreparation 
62.10 	institutions, arrange for classroom experience in the district for practice or student 
62.11 	teachers who have completed not less thanat least two years of an approved teacher 
62.12 	educationpreparation program. Such practice and student teachers must be provided with 
62.13 	appropriate supervisionappropriately supervised by a fully qualified teacher under rules 
62.14 	promulgated adopted by the board. A practice or student teacher must be placed with a 
62.15 	cooperating licensed teacher who has at least three years of teaching experience and is 
62.16 	not in the improvement process under section 122A.40, subdivision 8, paragraph (b), 
62.17 	clause (12), or 122A.41, subdivision 5, paragraph (b), clause (12). Practice and student 
62.18 	teachers are deemed employees of the school district in which they are rendering services 
62.19 	for purposes of workers' compensation; liability insurance, if provided for other district 
62.20 	employees in accordance withunder section 123B.23; and legal counsel in accordance 
62.21 	with the provisions of under section 123B.25.

62.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and 
62.23 	later.

62.24 	Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.70, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
62.25 		Subdivision 1.Teacher mentoring programs. (a) School districts are encouraged 
62.26 	to may develop teacher mentoring and implement programs for mentoring teachers new 
62.27 	to the profession or district, includingand may, at a minimum, include in the mentoring 
62.28 	program teaching residents, teachers of color, teachers with special needs, or and 
62.29 	experienced teachers under section 122A.40, subdivision 8, paragraph (b), clause (12), or 
62.30 	122A.41, subdivision 5, paragraph (b), clause (12), in need of peer coaching.
62.31 	(b) Teacher mentoring programs must support districts' teacher evaluation and 
62.32 	peer review processes under section 122A.40, subdivision 8, or 122A.41, subdivision 
62.33 	5. A district may use staff development revenue under sections 122A.60 and 122A.61 
63.1 	or another funding source, including achievement gap elimination revenue, alternative 
63.2 	teacher pay, or compensatory revenue, to pay a stipend to a mentor who may be a district 
63.3 	employee or a third-party contractor.

63.4 	Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 123A.75, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
63.5 		Subdivision 1.Teacher assignment. (a) As of the effective date of a consolidation 
63.6 	in which a district is divided or the dissolution of a district and its attachment to two or 
63.7 	more existing districts, each teacher employed by an affected district shall be assigned to 
63.8 	the newly created or enlarged district on the basis of a ratio of the pupils assigned to each 
63.9 	district according to the new district boundaries. The district receiving the greatest number 
63.10 	of pupils must be assigned the most effective teacher under section 122A.40, subdivision 8, 
63.11 	with the greatest seniority, and the remaining teachers must be alternately assigned to each 
63.12 	district from most to least effective and with most to least seniority within each category or 
63.13 	rating of effectiveness until the district receiving the fewest pupils has received its ratio of 
63.14 	teachers who will not be retiring before the effective date of the consolidation or dissolution.
63.15 	(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the board and the exclusive representative of 
63.16 	teachers in each district involved in the consolidation or dissolution and attachment may 
63.17 	negotiate a plan for assigning teachers to each newly created or enlarged district.
63.18 	(c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the provisions of this section apply 
63.19 	only to the extent they are consistent with section 122A.40, subdivisions 8, 10, and 11.

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

63.21 	Sec. 39. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 123B.045, is amended to read:
63.22 	123B.045 DISTRICT-CREATED SITE-GOVERNED, TEACHER-POWERED 
63.23 	SCHOOLS.
63.24 		Subdivision 1.Authority. (a) A school board may approve site-governed, 
63.25 	teacher-powered schools under this section by requesting site-governing, teacher-powered 
63.26 	school proposals. The request for proposals must include what types of schools or 
63.27 	education innovations the board intends to create. A current site may submit a proposal to 
63.28 	create a different model for the site if 60 percent or more of the teachers at the site support 
63.29 	the proposal. A group of licensed district professionals from one or multiple district 
63.30 	sites may submit a proposal. The group submitting the proposal must include parents or 
63.31 	other community members in the development of the proposal. A proposal may request 
63.32 	approval for a model of a school not included in the request for proposal of the board.
64.1 	(b) The school board and the applicable bargaining unit representing district 
64.2 	employees must enter into memoranda of understanding specifying how applicable 
64.3 	sections of current contracts will enable the provisions of subdivision 2, paragraph (a), 
64.4 	clauses (7) and (8), to be implemented.
64.5 	(c) Within 60 days of receipt of the application, the school board shall determine 
64.6 	whether to approve, deny, or return the application to the applicants for further information 
64.7 	or development.
64.8 	(d) Upon approval of the proposal, an agreement between the district and the site 
64.9 	council shall be developed identifying the powers and duties delegated to the site and 
64.10 	outlining the details of the proposal including the provisions of subdivisions 2, 3, and 
64.11 	5. Any powers or duties not specifically delegated to the school site in the agreement 
64.12 	remains with the school board.
64.13 		Subd. 2.Roles and responsibilities of site-governed, teacher-powered schools.
 64.14 	(a) Site-governed, teacher-powered schools approved by the school board have the 
64.15 	following autonomy and responsibilities at the discretion of the site:
64.16 	(1) to create the site-governing, teacher-powered council of the school. The council 
64.17 	shall include teachers, administrators, parents, students if appropriate, community 
64.18 	members, and other representatives of the community as determined by the site-governing, 
64.19 	teacher-powered council. Teachers may comprise a majority of the site-governing, 
64.20 	teacher-powered council at the option of a majority of the teachers at the site. The number 
64.21 	of members on the site-governing, teacher-powered council and the composition shall be 
64.22 	included in the proposal approved by the school board;
64.23 	(2) to determine the leadership model for the site including: selecting a principal, 
64.24 	operating as a teacher professional practices model with school leadership functions 
64.25 	performed by one or more teachers or administrators at the school or other model 
64.26 	determined by the site;
64.27 	(3) to determine the budget for the site and the allocation and expenditure of the 
64.28 	revenue based on provisions of subdivision 3;
64.29 	(4) to determine the learning model and organization of the school consistent with 
64.30 	the application approved by the school board;
64.31 	(5) to select and develop its curriculum and determine formative and summative 
64.32 	assessment practices;
64.33 	(6) to set policies for the site including student promotion, attendance, discipline, 
64.34 	graduation requirements which may exceed the school board standards, and other such 
64.35 	rules as approved by the school board consistent with the mission, goals, and learning 
64.36 	program of the school site;
65.1 	(7) to determine the length of the school day and year and employee work rules 
65.2 	covered by the terms and conditions of the employment contract;
65.3 	(8) to select teachers and other staff consistent with current law and collective 
65.4 	bargaining agreements and memoranda of understanding provided for in subdivision 1, 
65.5 	paragraph (b). At least 70 percent of the teachers must be selected by the site prior to final 
65.6 	approval of the agreement. Prior to requesting the district to employ staff not currently 
65.7 	employed by the district, the site must first select current district staff including those on 
65.8 	requested and unrequested leave as provided for in sections 122A.40 and 122A.41. The 
65.9 	school board shall be the legal employer of all staff at the site and all teachers and other 
65.10 	staff members of the applicable bargaining units. Teachers and other employees may be 
65.11 	required to sign an individual work agreement with the site-governing, teacher-powered 
65.12 	council committing themselves to the mission and learning program of the school and the 
65.13 	requirements of the site-governing, teacher-powered council; and
65.14 	(9) to fulfill other provisions as agreed to by the district and site-governing, 
65.15 	teacher-powered council.
65.16 	(b) If a self-governed, teacher-powered school created under this section is 
65.17 	supervised by a principal, that principal must be licensed, consistent with section 
65.18 	123B.147, subdivision 2.
65.19 		Subd. 3.Revenue to self-governed school. (a) The revenue that shall be allocated 
65.20 	by the site includes the general education revenue generated by the students at the site from 
65.21 	state, local, and private sources, referendum revenue, federal revenue from the Elementary 
65.22 	and Secondary Education Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Carl Perkins 
65.23 	Act, and other federal programs as agreed to by the school board and site council.
65.24 	(b) The district may retain an administrative fee for managing the federal 
65.25 	programs, private revenues, and general administrative functions including school board, 
65.26 	superintendent, district legal counsel, finance, accountability and self-governed school 
65.27 	contract oversight, facilities maintenance, districtwide special education programs, and 
65.28 	other such services as agreed to by the site and school board. The administrative fee 
65.29 	shall be included in the agreement.
65.30 	(c) As part of the agreement, the district may provide specific services for the site 
65.31 	and may specify the amount to be paid for each service and retain the revenues for that 
65.32 	amount. The formula or procedures for determining the amount of revenue to be allocated 
65.33 	to the site each year shall be consistent with this subdivision and incorporated in the site 
65.34 	budget annually following a timeline and process that is included in the agreement with 
65.35 	the school board. The site is responsible for allocating revenue for all staff at the site and 
65.36 	for the other provisions of the agreement with the district board.
66.1 	(d) All unspent revenue shall be carried over to following years for the sole use 
66.2 	of the site.
66.3 		Subd. 4.Exemption from statutes and rules. Except as outlined in this section, 
66.4 	site-governed, teacher-powered schools established under this section are exempt from 
66.5 	and subject to the same laws and rules as are chartered schools under section 124D.10, 
66.6 	except that the schools shall be subject to chapters 13, 13D, and 179A, and sections 
66.7 	122A.40, 122A.41, 122A.50, and 122A.51.
66.8 		Subd. 5.Performance standards. (a) The school board and the site council shall 
66.9 	include in the agreement performance standards and expectations that shall include at 
66.10 	least the following:
66.11 	(1) student achievement targets on multiple indicators including either a growth 
66.12 	model or value-added growth model;
66.13 	(2) the criteria and process to be followed if it is determined that the site failed 
66.14 	to comply with district oversight and accountability requirements as outlined in the 
66.15 	agreement; and
66.16 	(3) other performance provisions as agreed to.
66.17 	(b) All agreements shall be filed with the commissioner. The initial agreement shall 
66.18 	be for up to three years, shall be reviewed annually, and may be renewed by the district 
66.19 	board for additional terms of up to five years based on the performance of the school.
66.20 		Subd. 6.Board termination of self-governed, teacher-powered school authority.
 66.21 	(a) The district board may terminate the agreement for one or more of the following reasons:
66.22 	(1) failure of the site to meet the provisions specified in the agreement in subdivision 
66.23 	5;
66.24 	(2) violations of law; or
66.25 	(3) other good cause shown.
66.26 	(b) Site-governed, teacher-powered schools that are terminated or not renewed for 
66.27 	reasons other than cause may request to convert to charter school status as provided for in 
66.28 	section 124D.10 and, if chartered by the board, shall become the owner of all materials, 
66.29 	supplies, and equipment purchased during the period the school was a site-governed, 
66.30 	teacher-powered school.

66.31 	Sec. 40. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.09, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
66.32 		Subd. 5.Authorization; notification. Notwithstanding any other law to the 
66.33 	contrary, an 11th or 12th grade pupil enrolled in a school or an American Indian-controlled 
66.34 	tribal contract or grant school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, except a foreign 
66.35 	exchange pupil enrolled in a district under a cultural exchange program, may apply to an 
67.1 	eligible institution, as defined in subdivision 3, to enroll in nonsectarian courses offered by 
67.2 	that postsecondary institution. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a 9th or 10th 
67.3 	grade pupil enrolled in a district or an American Indian-controlled tribal contract or grant 
67.4 	school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, except a foreign exchange pupil enrolled in 
67.5 	a district under a cultural exchange program, may apply to enroll in nonsectarian courses 
67.6 	offered under subdivision 10, if (1) after all 11th and 12th grade students have applied 
67.7 	for a course, additional students are necessary to offer the course and the school district 
67.8 	and the eligible postsecondary institution providing the course agree to the student's 
67.9 	enrollment or (2) the course is a world language course currently available to 11th and 
67.10 	12th grade students, and consistent with section 120B.022 governing world language 
67.11 	standards, certificates, and seals. If an institution accepts a secondary pupil for enrollment 
67.12 	under this section, the institution shall send written notice to the pupil, the pupil's school 
67.13 	or school district, and the commissioner within ten days of acceptance. The notice must 
67.14 	indicate the course and hours of enrollment of that pupil. If the pupil enrolls in a course for 
67.15 	postsecondary credit, the institution must notify the pupil about payment in the customary 
67.16 	manner used by the institution.

67.17 	Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.09, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:
67.18 		Subd. 5a.Authorization; career or technical education. A 10th, 11th, or 12th 
67.19 	grade pupil enrolled in a district or an American Indian-controlled tribal contract or grant 
67.20 	school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, except a foreign exchange pupil enrolled in 
67.21 	a district under a cultural exchange program, may enroll in a career or technical education 
67.22 	course offered by a Minnesota state college or university. A 10th grade pupil applying 
67.23 	for enrollment in a career or technical education course under this subdivision must have 
67.24 	received a passing score on the 8th grade Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment in 
67.25 	reading as a condition of enrollment. A current 10th grade pupil who did not take the 8th 
67.26 	grade Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment in reading may substitute another reading 
67.27 	assessment accepted by the enrolling postsecondary institution. A secondary pupil may 
67.28 	enroll in the pupil's first postsecondary options enrollment course under this subdivision. 
67.29 	A student who is refused enrollment by a Minnesota state college or university under this 
67.30 	subdivision may apply to an eligible institution offering a career or technical education 
67.31 	course. The postsecondary institution must give priority to its students according to 
67.32 	subdivision 9. If a secondary student receives a grade of "C" or better in the career or 
67.33 	technical education course taken under this subdivision, the postsecondary institution 
67.34 	must allow the student to take additional postsecondary courses for secondary credit at 
67.35 	that institution, not to exceed the limits in subdivision 8. A "career or technical course" is 
68.1 	a course that is part of a career and technical education program that provides individuals 
68.2 	with coherent, rigorous content aligned with academic standards and relevant technical 
68.3 	knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in current and 
68.4 	emerging professions and provide technical skill proficiency, an industry recognized 
68.5 	credential, and a certificate, a diploma, or an associate degree.

68.6 	Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.09, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
68.7 		Subd. 8.Limit on participation. A pupil who first enrolls in grade 9 may not 
68.8 	enroll in postsecondary courses under this section for secondary credit for more than 
68.9 	the equivalent of four academic years. A pupil who first enrolls in grade 10 may not 
68.10 	enroll in postsecondary courses under this section for secondary credit for more than 
68.11 	the equivalent of three academic years. A pupil who first enrolls in grade 11 may not 
68.12 	enroll in postsecondary courses under this section for secondary credit for more than the 
68.13 	equivalent of two academic years. A pupil who first enrolls in grade 12 may not enroll in 
68.14 	postsecondary courses under this section for secondary credit for more than the equivalent 
68.15 	of one academic year. If a pupil in grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 first enrolls in a postsecondary 
68.16 	course for secondary credit during the school year, the time of participation shall be 
68.17 	reduced proportionately. If a pupil is in a learning year or other year-round program and 
68.18 	begins each grade in the summer session, summer sessions shall not be counted against 
68.19 	the time of participation. If a school district determines a pupil is not on track to graduate, 
68.20 	the limit on participation does not apply to that pupil. A pupil who has graduated from 
68.21 	high school cannot participate in a program under this section. A pupil who has completed 
68.22 	course requirements for graduation but who has not received a diploma may participate in 
68.23 	the program under this section.

68.24 	Sec. 43. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.09, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
68.25 		Subd. 9.Enrollment priority. (a) A postsecondary institution shall give priority to 
68.26 	its postsecondary students when enrolling 10th, 11th, and 12th grade pupils in its courses. 
68.27 	A postsecondary institution may provide information about its programs to a secondary 
68.28 	school or to a pupil or parent and it may advertise or otherwise recruit or solicit a secondary 
68.29 	pupil to enroll in its programs on educational and programmatic grounds only except, 
68.30 	notwithstanding other law to the contrary, and for the 2014-2015 through 2019-2020 
68.31 	school years only, an eligible postsecondary institution may advertise or otherwise recruit 
68.32 	or solicit a secondary pupil residing in a school district with 700 students or more in grades 
68.33 	10, 11, and 12, to enroll in its programs on educational, programmatic, or financial grounds. 
69.1 	(b) An institution must not enroll secondary pupils, for postsecondary enrollment 
69.2 	options purposes, in remedial, developmental, or other courses that are not college level 
69.3 	except when a student eligible to participate and enrolled in the graduation incentives 
69.4 	program under section 124D.68 enrolls full time in a middle or early college program. A 
69.5 	middle or early college program must be specifically designed to allow the student to earn 
69.6 	dual high school and college credit with a well-defined pathway to allow the student to earn 
69.7 	a postsecondary degree or credential. In this case, the student shall receive developmental 
69.8 	college credit and not college credit for completing remedial or developmental courses. 
69.9 	(c) Once a pupil has been enrolled in any postsecondary course under this section, 
69.10 	the pupil shall not be displaced by another student.
69.11 	(b) (d) If a postsecondary institution enrolls a secondary school pupil in a course 
69.12 	under this section, the postsecondary institution also must enroll in the same course an 
69.13 	otherwise enrolled and qualified postsecondary student who qualifies as a veteran under 
69.14 	section 197.447, and demonstrates to the postsecondary institution's satisfaction that the 
69.15 	institution's established enrollment timelines were not practicable for that student.

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

69.17 	Sec. 44. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.09, subdivision 12, is amended to read:
69.18 		Subd. 12.Credits.  A pupil must not audit a course under this section.
69.19 	A district shall grant academic credit to a pupil enrolled in a course for secondary 
69.20 	credit if the pupil successfully completes the course. Seven quarter or four semester 
69.21 	college credits equal at least one full year of high school credit. Fewer college credits may 
69.22 	be prorated. A district must also grant academic credit to a pupil enrolled in a course for 
69.23 	postsecondary credit if secondary credit is requested by a pupil. If no comparable course is 
69.24 	offered by the district, the district must, as soon as possible, notify the commissioner, who 
69.25 	shall determine the number of credits that shall be granted to a pupil who successfully 
69.26 	completes a course. If a comparable course is offered by the district, the school board 
69.27 	shall grant a comparable number of credits to the pupil. If there is a dispute between the 
69.28 	district and the pupil regarding the number of credits granted for a particular course, the 
69.29 	pupil may appeal the board's decision to the commissioner. The commissioner's decision 
69.30 	regarding the number of credits shall be final.
69.31 	The secondary credits granted to a pupil must be counted toward the graduation 
69.32 	requirements and subject area requirements of the district. Evidence of successful 
69.33 	completion of each course and secondary credits granted must be included in the pupil's 
69.34 	secondary school record. A pupil shall provide the school with a copy of the pupil's grade 
69.35 	in each course taken for secondary credit under this section. Upon the request of a pupil, 
70.1 	the pupil's secondary school record must also include evidence of successful completion 
70.2 	and credits granted for a course taken for postsecondary credit. In either case, the record 
70.3 	must indicate that the credits were earned at a postsecondary institution.
70.4 	If a pupil enrolls in a postsecondary institution after leaving secondary school, the 
70.5 	postsecondary institution must award postsecondary credit for any course successfully 
70.6 	completed for secondary credit at that institution. Other postsecondary institutions may 
70.7 	award, after a pupil leaves secondary school, postsecondary credit for any courses 
70.8 	successfully completed under this section. An institution may not charge a pupil for 
70.9 	the award of credit.
70.10 	The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and 
70.11 	the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota must, and private nonprofit and 
70.12 	proprietary postsecondary institutions should, award postsecondary credit for any 
70.13 	successfully completed courses in a program certified by the National Alliance of 
70.14 	Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships offered according to an agreement under subdivision 
70.15 	10. Consistent with section 135A.101, subdivision 3, all MnSCU institutions must give 
70.16 	full credit to a secondary pupil who completes for postsecondary credit a postsecondary 
70.17 	course or program that is part or all of a goal area or a transfer curriculum at a MnSCU 
70.18 	institution when the pupil enrolls in a MnSCU institution after leaving secondary school. 
70.19 	Once one MnSCU institution certifies as completed a secondary student's postsecondary 
70.20 	course or program that is part or all of a goal area or a transfer curriculum, every MnSCU 
70.21 	institution must consider the student's course or program for that goal area or the transfer 
70.22 	curriculum as completed.

70.23 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and 
70.24 	later.

70.25 	Sec. 45. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.091, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
70.26 		Subdivision 1.Accreditation. To establish a uniform standard by which 
70.27 	concurrent enrollment courses and professional development activities may be measured, 
70.28 	postsecondary institutions are encouraged to apply for accreditation by must adopt and 
70.29 	implement the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnership Partnership's 
70.30 	program standards and required evidence for accreditation by the 2020-2021 school year 
70.31 	and later.

70.32 	Sec. 46. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.73, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
70.33 		Subd. 3.Advisory task force Tribal Nations Education Committee. "Advisory 
70.34 	task force" "Tribal Nations Education Committee" means the state advisory task force 
71.1 	committee established through tribal directive that the commissioner consults with 
71.2 	on American Indian education programs, policy, and all matters related to educating 
71.3 	Minnesota's American Indian students.

71.4 	Sec. 47. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.73, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
71.5 		Subd. 4.Participating school; American Indian school. "Participating school" 
71.6 	and "American Indian school" mean a school that:
71.7 	(1) is not operated by a school district; and
71.8 	(2) is eligible for a grant under federal Title IV of the Indian VII of the Elementary 
71.9 	and Secondary Education Act for the education of American Indian children.

71.10 	Sec. 48. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.74, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
71.11 		Subdivision 1.Program described. American Indian education programs are 
71.12 	programs in public elementary and secondary schools, nonsectarian nonpublic, community, 
71.13 	tribal, charter, or alternative schools enrolling American Indian children designed to:
71.14 	(1) support postsecondary preparation for pupils;
71.15 	(2) support the academic achievement of American Indian students with identified 
71.16 	focus to improve reading and mathematic skills;
71.17 	(3) make the curriculum more relevant to the needs, interests, and cultural heritage 
71.18 	of American Indian pupils;
71.19 	(4) provide positive reinforcement of the self-image of American Indian pupils;
71.20 	(5) develop intercultural awareness among pupils, parents, and staff; and
71.21 	(6) supplement, not supplant, state and federal educational and cocurricular programs.
71.22 	Program components may include: development of support components for students in 
71.23 	the areas of services designed to increase completion and graduation rates of American 
71.24 	Indian students must emphasize academic achievement, retention, and attendance; 
71.25 	development of support components services for staff, including in-service training and 
71.26 	technical assistance in methods of teaching American Indian pupils; research projects, 
71.27 	including experimentation with innovative teaching approaches and evaluation of 
71.28 	methods of relating to American Indian pupils; provision of personal and vocational 
71.29 	career counseling to American Indian pupils; modification of curriculum, instructional 
71.30 	methods, and administrative procedures to meet the needs of American Indian pupils; and 
71.31 	supplemental instruction in American Indian language, literature, history, and culture. 
71.32 	Districts offering programs may make contracts for the provision of program components 
71.33 	services by establishing cooperative liaisons with tribal programs and American Indian 
72.1 	social service agencies. These programs may also be provided as components of early 
72.2 	childhood and family education programs.

72.3 	Sec. 49. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.74, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
72.4 		Subd. 3.Enrollment of other children; shared time enrollment. To the extent 
72.5 	it is economically feasible, a district or participating school may make provision for the 
72.6 	voluntary enrollment of non-American Indian children in the instructional components of 
72.7 	an American Indian education program in order that they may acquire an understanding of 
72.8 	the cultural heritage of the American Indian children for whom that particular program is 
72.9 	designed. However, in determining eligibility to participate in a program, priority must be 
72.10 	given to American Indian children. American Indian children and other children enrolled 
72.11 	in an existing nonpublic school system may be enrolled on a shared time basis in all 
72.12 	academic, targeted services, and American Indian education programs.

72.13 	Sec. 50. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.74, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
72.14 		Subd. 6.Nonverbal courses and extracurricular activities. In predominantly 
72.15 	nonverbal subjects, such as art, music, and physical education, American Indian children 
72.16 	shall participate fully and on an equal basis with their contemporaries peers in school 
72.17 	classes provided for these subjects. Every school district or participating school shall 
72.18 	ensure to children enrolled in American Indian education programs an equal and 
72.19 	meaningful opportunity to participate fully with other children in all extracurricular 
72.20 	activities. This subdivision shall not be construed to prohibit instruction in nonverbal 
72.21 	subjects or extracurricular activities which relate to the cultural heritage of the American 
72.22 	Indian children, or which are otherwise necessary to accomplish the objectives described 
72.23 	in sections 124D.71 to 124D.82.

72.24 	Sec. 51. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.75, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
72.25 		Subdivision 1.American Indian language and culture education licenses. The 
72.26 	Board of Teaching, in consultation with the Tribal Nations Education Committee, must 
72.27 	grant initial and continuing teaching licenses in American Indian language and culture 
72.28 	education that bear the same duration as other initial and continuing licenses. The board 
72.29 	must grant licenses to persons who present satisfactory evidence that they:
72.30 	(1) possess competence in an American Indian language or possess unique 
72.31 	qualifications relative to or knowledge and understanding of American Indian history 
72.32 	and culture; or
73.1 	(2) possess a bachelor's degree or other academic degree approved by the board or 
73.2 	meet such requirements as to course of study and training as the board may prescribe, or 
73.3 	possess such relevant experience as the board may prescribe.
73.4 	This evidence may be presented by affidavits, tribal resolutions, or by such other 
73.5 	methods as the board may prescribe. Individuals may present applications for licensure on 
73.6 	their own behalf or these applications may be submitted by the superintendent or other 
73.7 	authorized official of a school district, participating school, or an American Indian school.

73.8 	Sec. 52. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.75, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
73.9 		Subd. 3.Resolution or letter. All persons applying for a license under this section 
73.10 	must submit to the board a resolution or letter of support signed by an American Indian 
73.11 	tribal government or its designee. All persons holding a license under this section on July 
73.12 	1, 1995, must have on file or file with the board a resolution or letter of support signed by 
73.13 	a tribal government or its designee by January 1, 1996, or the next renewal date of the 
73.14 	license thereafter.

73.15 	Sec. 53. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.75, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
73.16 		Subd. 9.Affirmative efforts in hiring. In hiring for all positions in these programs, 
73.17 	school districts and participating schools shall give preference to and make affirmative 
73.18 	efforts to seek, recruit, and employ persons who share the culture of the American Indian 
73.19 	children who are enrolled in the program. The district or participating school shall must 
73.20 	provide procedures for the involvement of the parent advisory committees in designing 
73.21 	the procedures for the recruitment, screening and selection of applicants. This subdivision 
73.22 	shall not be construed to limit the school board's authority to hire and discharge personnel.

73.23 	Sec. 54. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.76, is amended to read:
73.24 	124D.76 TEACHERS AIDES; COMMUNITY COORDINATORS, INDIAN 
73.25 	HOME/SCHOOL LIAISONS, PARAPROFESSIONALS.
73.26 	In addition to employing American Indian language and culture education teachers, 
73.27 	each district or participating school providing programs pursuant to sections 124D.71 to 
73.28 	124D.82 may employ teachers' aides paraprofessionals. Teachers' aides Paraprofessionals 
73.29 	must not be employed for the purpose of supplanting American Indian language and 
73.30 	culture education teachers.
73.31 	Any district or participating school which conducts American Indian education 
73.32 	programs pursuant to sections 124D.71 to 124D.82 must employ one or more full-time 
73.33 	or part-time community coordinators or Indian home/school liaisons if there are 100 or 
74.1 	more American Indian students enrolled in the program district. Community coordinators 
74.2 	shall promote communication understanding, and cooperation between the schools and the 
74.3 	community and shall visit the homes of children who are to be enrolled in an American 
74.4 	Indian education program in order to convey information about the program.

74.5 	Sec. 55. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.78, is amended to read:
74.6 	124D.78 PARENT AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.
74.7 		Subdivision 1.Parent committee. School boards and American Indian schools 
74.8 	must provide for the maximum involvement of parents of children enrolled in education 
74.9 	programs, programs for elementary and secondary grades, special education programs, 
74.10 	and support services. Accordingly, the board of a school district in which there are ten 
74.11 	or more American Indian children students enrolled and each American Indian school 
74.12 	must establish a an American Indian education parent advisory committee. If a committee 
74.13 	whose membership consists of a majority of parents of American Indian children has been 
74.14 	or is established according to federal, tribal, or other state law, that committee may serve 
74.15 	as the committee required by this section and is subject to, at least, the requirements of 
74.16 	this subdivision and subdivision 2.
74.17 	The American Indian education parent advisory committee must develop its 
74.18 	recommendations in consultation with the curriculum advisory committee required by 
74.19 	section 120B.11, subdivision 3. This committee must afford parents the necessary 
74.20 	information and the opportunity effectively to express their views concerning all aspects 
74.21 	of American Indian education and the educational needs of the American Indian children 
74.22 	enrolled in the school or program. The committee must also address the need for adult 
74.23 	education programs for American Indian people in the community. The school board or 
74.24 	American Indian school must ensure that programs are planned, operated, and evaluated 
74.25 	with the involvement of and in consultation with parents of children students served by 
74.26 	the programs.
74.27 		Subd. 2.Resolution of concurrence. Prior to December March 1, the school 
74.28 	board or American Indian school must submit to the department a copy of a resolution 
74.29 	adopted by the American Indian education parent advisory committee. The copy must be 
74.30 	signed by the chair of the committee and must state whether the committee concurs with 
74.31 	the educational programs for American Indian children students offered by the school 
74.32 	board or American Indian school. If the committee does not concur with the educational 
74.33 	programs, the reasons for nonconcurrence and recommendations shall be submitted with 
74.34 	the resolution. By resolution, the board must respond in writing within 60 days, in cases 
75.1 	of nonconcurrence, to each recommendation made by the committee and state its reasons 
75.2 	for not implementing the recommendations.
75.3 		Subd. 3.Membership. The American Indian education parent advisory committee 
75.4 	must be composed of parents of children eligible to be enrolled in American Indian 
75.5 	education programs; secondary students eligible to be served; American Indian language 
75.6 	and culture education teachers and aides paraprofessionals; American Indian teachers; 
75.7 	counselors; adult American Indian people enrolled in educational programs; and 
75.8 	representatives from community groups. A majority of each committee must be parents 
75.9 	of children enrolled or eligible to be enrolled in the programs. The number of parents 
75.10 	of American Indian and non-American Indian children shall reflect approximately the 
75.11 	proportion of children of those groups enrolled in the programs.
75.12 		Subd. 4.Alternate committee. If the organizational membership or the board 
75.13 	of directors of an American Indian school consists of parents of children attending the 
75.14 	school, that membership or board may serve also as the American Indian education parent 
75.15 	advisory committee.

75.16 	Sec. 56. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.79, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
75.17 		Subdivision 1.American Indian community involvement. The commissioner 
75.18 	must provide for the maximum involvement of the state committees on American Indian 
75.19 	education Tribal Nations Education Committee, parents of American Indian children, 
75.20 	secondary students eligible to be served, American Indian language and culture education 
75.21 	teachers, American Indian teachers, teachers' aides paraprofessionals, representatives of 
75.22 	community groups, and persons knowledgeable in the field of American Indian education, 
75.23 	in the formulation of policy and procedures relating to the administration of sections 
75.24 	124D.71 to 124D.82. The commissioner must annually hold a field hearing on Indian 
75.25 	education to gather input from American Indian educators, parents, and students on the 
75.26 	state of American Indian education in Minnesota. Results of the hearing must be made 
75.27 	available to all 11 tribal nations for review and comment.

75.28 	Sec. 57. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.79, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
75.29 		Subd. 2.Technical assistance. The commissioner shall provide technical assistance 
75.30 	to districts, schools and postsecondary institutions for preservice and in-service training 
75.31 	for teachers, American Indian education teachers and teacher's aides, paraprofessionals 
75.32 	specifically designed to implement culturally responsive teaching methods, culturally 
75.33 	based curriculum development, testing and testing mechanisms, and the development of 
75.34 	materials for American Indian education programs.

76.1 	Sec. 58. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.791, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
76.2 		Subd. 4.Duties; powers. The Indian education director shall:
76.3 	(1) serve as the liaison for the department with the Tribal Nations Education 
76.4 	Committee, the 11 reservations tribal communities in Minnesota, the Minnesota Chippewa 
76.5 	tribe, and the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, and the Urban Advisory Council;
76.6 	(2) evaluate the state of American Indian education in Minnesota;
76.7 	(3) engage the tribal bodies, community groups, parents of children eligible to be 
76.8 	served by American Indian education programs, American Indian administrators and 
76.9 	teachers, persons experienced in the training of teachers for American Indian education 
76.10 	programs, the tribally controlled schools, and other persons knowledgeable in the field of 
76.11 	American Indian education and seek their advice on policies that can improve the quality 
76.12 	of American Indian education;
76.13 	(4) advise the commissioner on American Indian education issues, including:
76.14 	(i) issues facing American Indian students;
76.15 	(ii) policies for American Indian education;
76.16 	(iii) awarding scholarships to eligible American Indian students and in administering 
76.17 	the commissioner's duties regarding awarding of American Indian postsecondary 
76.18 	preparationeducation grants to school districts; and
76.19 	(iv) administration of the commissioner's duties under sections 124D.71 to 124D.82 
76.20 	and other programs for the education of American Indian people;
76.21 	(5) propose to the commissioner legislative changes that will improve the quality 
76.22 	of American Indian education;
76.23 	(6) develop a strategic plan and a long-term framework for American Indian 
76.24 	education, in conjunction with the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, that is updated every 
76.25 	five years and implemented by the commissioner, with goals to:
76.26 	(i) increase American Indian student achievement, including increased levels of 
76.27 	proficiency and growth on statewide accountability assessments;
76.28 	(ii) increase the number of American Indian teachers in public schools;
76.29 	(iii) close the achievement gap between American Indian students and their more 
76.30 	advantaged peers;
76.31 	(iv) increase the statewide graduation rate for American Indian students; and
76.32 	(v) increase American Indian student placement in postsecondary programs and 
76.33 	the workforce; and
76.34 	(7) keep the American Indian community informed about the work of the department 
76.35 	by reporting to the Tribal Nations Education Committee at each committee meeting.

77.1 	Sec. 59. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.861, is amended to read:
77.2 	124D.861 ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEGRATION FOR MINNESOTA.
77.3 		Subdivision 1.Program to close the academic achievement and opportunity 
77.4 	gap; revenue uses. (a) The "Achievement and Integration for Minnesota " program is 
77.5 	established to pursueimprove academic achievement and promote racial and economic 
77.6 	integration and increase student academic achievement,to create equitable educational 
77.7 	opportunities and outcomes, and reduce academic disparities based on students' diverse 
77.8 	racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds in Minnesota public schools.
77.9 	(b) For purposes of this section and section 124D.862, "eligible district" means a 
77.10 	district required to submit a plan to the commissioner under Minnesota Rules governing 
77.11 	school desegregation and integration, or be a member of a multidistrict integration 
77.12 	collaborative that files a plan with the commissioner and "hard to staff" classroom or 
77.13 	school means a classroom or school designated as such by the school board because of the 
77.14 	difficulty of attracting or retaining qualified and effective teachers at that site.
77.15 	(c) Eligible districts must use the revenue aid under section 124D.862 to pursue 
77.16 	improve the academic achievement and racial and economic integration through: (1) 
77.17 	integrated learning environments that prepare of all students to be effective citizens and 
77.18 	enhance social cohesion; (2) policies and curricula and trained instructors, administrators, 
77.19 	school counselors, and other advocates to support and enhance integrated learning 
77.20 	environments under this section, including through magnet schools, innovative, 
77.21 	research-based instruction, differentiated instruction, and targeted interventions to improve 
77.22 	achievement; and (3) rigorous career and college readiness programs for underserved 
77.23 	student populations, consistent with section 120B.30, subdivision 1; integrated learning 
77.24 	environments to increase student academic achievement; cultural fluency, competency, 
77.25 	and interaction; graduation and educational attainment rates; and parent involvement. and 
77.26 	eliminate disparities in academic achievement among student subgroups through:
77.27 	(1) school choice programs, innovative academic instruction, and best teaching 
77.28 	practices;
77.29 	(2) opportunity programs proven to increase students' access to academic rigor and 
77.30 	focused on college and career readiness; 
77.31 	(3) family engagement programs that promote involvement in students' academic 
77.32 	life and success;
77.33 	(4) extended day and extended week programs;
77.34 	(5) summer school academies;
77.35 	(6) before and after school academic programs;
77.36 	(7) prekindergarten or other early learning programs; and
78.1 	(8) other programs proven through data to improve students' academic achievement.
78.2 	(d) Eligible districts may use the levy under section 124D.862 to promote racial 
78.3 	and academic integration through:
78.4 	(1) integrated learning environments that prepare all students to be effective citizens 
78.5 	and enhance social cohesion, cultural fluency, competency, and interaction;
78.6 	(2) policies, curricula, and trained instructors, administrators, school counselors, 
78.7 	and other advocates to support and enhance integrated learning environments under this 
78.8 	section, including, but not limited to, through magnet schools, before and after school 
78.9 	programming, and summer activities and academies; or
78.10 	(3) other locally developed, innovative programs or opportunities.
78.11 	(e) Eligible districts may use the aid and the levy under section 124D.862 to increase 
78.12 	teacher and administrator diversity through recruitment and retention policies and to 
78.13 	provide incentives for teachers to teach in hard-to-staff schools or classrooms.
78.14 	Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a cash incentive may be paid directly to a teacher 
78.15 	teaching in a hard-to-staff school or classroom.
78.16 		Subd. 2.Plan implementation; components. (a) The school board of each 
78.17 	eligible district must formally develop and implement a long-term comprehensive plan 
78.18 	under this section consistent with subdivision 1, containing specific district and school 
78.19 	goals for eliminating the disparities in students' academic achievement and promoting 
78.20 	students' academic success. The plan must may be incorporated into the district's 
78.21 	comprehensive strategic plan under section 120B.11 and may include students enrolled 
78.22 	in alternative learning centers under section 126C.05, subdivision 15, and contract 
78.23 	alternative programs under section 124D.69. Plan components may include: innovative 
78.24 	and integrated prekindergarten through grade 12 learning environments that offer students 
78.25 	school enrollment choices; family engagement initiatives that involve families in their 
78.26 	students' academic life and success; professional development opportunities for teachers 
78.27 	and administrators focused on improving the academic achievement of all students; 
78.28 	increased programmatic opportunities focused on rigor and college and career readiness 
78.29 	for underserved students, including students enrolled in alternative learning centers under 
78.30 	section 123A.05, public alternative programs under section 126C.05, subdivision 15, and 
78.31 	contract alternative programs under section 124D.69, among other underserved students; 
78.32 	or recruitment and retention of teachers and administrators with diverse racial and ethnic 
78.33 	backgrounds. The plan must contain goals for: (1) reducing the disparities in academic 
78.34 	achievement among all students and specific categories of students under section 120B.35, 
78.35 	subdivision 3, paragraph (b), excluding the student categories of gender, disability, and 
78.36 	English learners; and (2) increasing racial and economic integration in schools and 
79.1 	districts The board may also develop and implement an integration plan to increase racial 
79.2 	and economic integration in schools and districts.
79.3 	(b) Among other requirements, an eligible district must implement effective 
79.4 	cost-effective, research-based interventions that include formative assessment practices 
79.5 	to reduce eliminate the disparities in student academic performance among the specific 
79.6 	achievement between the highest and lowest performing racial and ethnic  categories of 
79.7 	students as measured by student progress and growth demonstration of proficiency and 
79.8 	growth on state reading and math assessments and as aligned with section 120B.11.
79.9 	(c) Eligible districts must create may collaborate in creating efficiencies and 
79.10 	eliminate eliminating duplicative programs and services under this section, which 
79.11 	may include forming collaborations or a single, seven-county metropolitan areawide 
79.12 	partnership of eligible districts for this purpose.
79.13 		Subd. 3.Public engagement; progress report and biennial report; budget 
79.14 	process. (a) To receive revenue aid under section 124D.862, the school board of an 
79.15 	eligible district must incorporate school and district plan components under section 
79.16 	120B.11 into the district's comprehensive integration plan.
79.17 	(b) A school board must hold at least one formal annual hearing to publicly report its 
79.18 	progress in realizing the goals identified in its plan. At the hearing, the board must provide 
79.19 	the public with longitudinal data demonstrating district and school progress in reducing 
79.20 	the disparities in studenteliminating the academic performance among the specified 
79.21 	categories of students and in realizing racial and economic integration achievement 
79.22 	gap, consistent with the district plan and the measures in paragraph (a) (b). At least 30 
79.23 	days before the formal hearing under this paragraph, the board must post its plan, its 
79.24 	preliminary analysis, relevant student performance data, and other longitudinal data on 
79.25 	the district's Web site. A district must hold one hearing to meet the hearing requirements 
79.26 	of both this section and section 120B.11. The board must also include in this hearing a 
79.27 	discussion of its integration plan.
79.28 	(c) (b) The district must submit a detailed budget to the commissioner by March 
79.29 	15 in the year before it implements its achievement gap elimination plan. If a district 
79.30 	develops an integration plan, the district must also submit a budget for its integration 
79.31 	activities at the same time. The commissioner must review, and approve or disapprove the 
79.32 	district's budget budgets by June 1 of that year.
79.33 	(d) (c) The longitudinal data required under paragraph (a) must be based on student 
79.34 	growth and progress in reading and mathematics, as defined under section 120B.30, 
79.35 	subdivision 1, and student performance data and achievement reports from fully adaptive 
79.36 	reading and mathematics assessments for grades 3 through 7 8, and high school reading 
80.1 	and math tests beginning in the 2015-2016 school year under section 120B.30, subdivision 
80.2 	1a, and either (i) school enrollment choices, (ii) the number of world language proficiency 
80.3 	or high achievement certificates awarded under section 120B.022, subdivision 1a, or 
80.4 	the number of state bilingual and multilingual seals issued under section 120B.022, 
80.5 	subdivision 1b, or (iii)school safety and students' engagement and connection at school 
80.6 	under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (d). Additional longitudinal data may be 
80.7 	based on: students' progress toward career and college readiness under section 120B.30, 
80.8 	subdivision 1; or rigorous coursework completed under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, 
80.9 	paragraph (c), clause (2).
80.10 		Subd. 4.Timeline and implementation. A board must approve its achievement 
80.11 	gap elimination plan and submit it to the department by March 15. If a district that is part 
80.12 	of a multidistrict council applies for revenue for a plan, the individual district shall not 
80.13 	receive revenue aid unless it ratifies the plan adopted by the multidistrict council. Each 
80.14 	plan has a term of three years. For the 2014-2015 school year, an eligible district under 
80.15 	this section must submit its plan to the commissioner for review by March 15, 2014. For 
80.16 	the 2013-2014 school year only, an eligible district may continue to implement its current 
80.17 	plan until the commissioner approves a new plan under this section.
80.18 		Subd. 5.Evaluation. The commissioner must evaluate the efficacy of district plans 
80.19 	in reducing eliminating the disparities in student academic performance achievement 
80.20 	among the specified categories of students within the district, and where applicable, in 
80.21 	realizing racial and economic integration. The commissioner shall report evaluation 
80.22 	results to the kindergarten through grade 12 education committees of the legislature by 
80.23 	February 1 of every odd-numbered fourth year beginning February 1, 2017.

80.24 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2016 and 
80.25 	later. A district with a plan approved during the 2014-2015 school year may modify 
80.26 	its plan during the 2015-2016 school year to conform the content of the plan to the 
80.27 	requirements of this section but must have the content of the plan conform entirely with 
80.28 	the requirements of this section beginning in the 2016-2017 school year.

80.29 	Sec. 60. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.862, is amended to read:
80.30 	124D.862 ACHIEVEMENT GAP ELIMINATION REVENUE AND 
80.31 	INTEGRATION REVENUE LEVY.
80.32 		Subdivision 1.Initial achievement and integration gap elimination revenue. (a) 
80.33 	An eligible district's initial achievement and integration gap elimination revenue equals 
80.34 	the lesser of 100.3 100.2 percent of the district's expenditures under the budget approved 
81.1 	by the commissioner under section 124D.861, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), excluding 
81.2 	expenditures used to generate incentive revenue under subdivision 2, or the sum of (1) 
81.3 	$350 times the district's adjusted pupil units for that year times the ratio of the district's 
81.4 	enrollment of protected students for the previous school year to total enrollment for the 
81.5 	previous school year and (2) the greater of zero or 66 percent of the difference between the 
81.6 	district's integration revenue for fiscal year 2013 and the district's integration revenue for 
81.7 	fiscal year 2014 under clause (1).
81.8 	(b) In each year, 0.3 percent of each district's initial achievement and integration 
81.9 	revenue is transferred to the department for the oversight and accountability activities 
81.10 	required under this section and section 124D.861.
81.11 		Subd. 2.Incentive revenue. An eligible school district's maximum incentive 
81.12 	revenue equals $10 per adjusted pupil unit. A district's incentive revenue equals the 
81.13 	lesser of the maximum incentive revenue or the district's expenditures for implementing a 
81.14 	voluntary plan to reduce racial and economic enrollment disparities through intradistrict 
81.15 	and interdistrict activities that have been approved as a part of the district's achievement 
81.16 	and integration plan under the budget approved by the commissioner under section 
81.17 	124D.861, subdivision 3, paragraph (c).
81.18 		Subd. 3.Achievement and integration gap elimination revenue. Achievement 
81.19 	and integration gap elimination revenue equals the sum of initial achievement and 
81.20 	integration gap elimination revenue and incentive revenue.
81.21 		Subd. 4.Achievement and integration gap elimination aid. For fiscal year 2015 
81.22 	and later, A district's achievement and integration gap elimination aid equals the lesser of (1) 
81.23 	$350 times the district's adjusted pupil units for that year; (2) 70 percent of its achievement 
81.24 	and integration gap elimination revenue; or (3) the district's actual expenditures under the 
81.25 	budget approved by the commissioner under section 124D.861, subdivision 3.
81.26 		Subd. 5.Achievement and Integration levy. A district's achievement and 
81.27 	integration levy equals the sum of: (1) 30 percent of its achievement and integration gap 
81.28 	elimination revenue times 30 percent under subdivision 3; and (2) the greater of zero or 
81.29 	the difference between the district's initial integration revenue under clause (1) and an 
81.30 	amount equal to $350 times the district's adjusted pupil units for that year. For Special 
81.31 	School District No. 1, Minneapolis; Independent School District No. 625, St. Paul; and 
81.32 	Independent School District No. 709, Duluth, 100 percent of the levy certified under 
81.33 	this subdivision is shifted into the prior calendar year for purposes of sections 123B.75, 
81.34 	subdivision 5, and 127A.441.
81.35 		Subd. 6.Revenue uses. (a) At least 80 90 percent of a district's achievement and 
81.36 	integration revenue gap elimination aid received under this section must be used for 
82.1 	innovative and integrated learning environments, school enrollment choices, family 
82.2 	engagement activities, academic programming consistent with the plan under section 
82.3 	124D.861, subdivision 1, and other approved programs providing direct instructional 
82.4 	services to students.
82.5 	(b) Up to 20 five percent of the revenue aid may be used for professional 
82.6 	development and staff development activities and placement services.
82.7 	(c) No more than ten five percent of the total amount of revenue aid may be spent on 
82.8 	administrative services.
82.9 		Subd. 7.Revenue reserved. Integration revenue Achievement gap elimination aid 
82.10 	received under this section must be reserved and used only for the programs authorized in 
82.11 	subdivision 2 6. The integration levy under subdivision 5, clause (1), must be reserved 
82.12 	and used only for the purposes of the district's integration plan adopted under section 
82.13 	124D.861, subdivision 1.
82.14 		Subd. 8.Commissioner authority to withhold revenue. (a) The commissioner 
82.15 	must review the results of each district's integration and achievement gap elimination 
82.16 	plan by August 1 at the end of the third year of implementing the plan and determine if 
82.17 	the district met its goals.
82.18 	(b) If a district met its goals, it may submit a new three-year plan to the commissioner 
82.19 	for review.
82.20 	(c) If a district has not met its goals, the commissioner must:
82.21 	(1) develop a district improvement plan and timeline, in consultation with the 
82.22 	affected district, that identifies strategies and practices designed to meet the district's goals 
82.23 	under this section and section 120B.11; and
82.24 	(2) use up to 20 percent of the district's integration revenue achievement gap 
82.25 	elimination aid, until the district's goals are reached, to implement the improvement plan.
82.26 		Subd. 9.Department funding. For fiscal years 2016 and later, an amount equal 
82.27 	to 0.2 percent of the total expenditures under section 124D.862 for fiscal year 2015 is 
82.28 	transferred to the department for oversight and accountability activities required under 
82.29 	this section and section 124D.861.

82.30 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2016 
82.31 	and later.

82.32 	Sec. 61. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 135A.101, is amended by adding a 
82.33 	subdivision to read:
82.34 		Subd. 3.Minnesota transfer curriculum. Notwithstanding section 135A.08 or 
82.35 	other law to the contrary, all MnSCU institutions must give full credit to a secondary pupil 
83.1 	who completes for postsecondary credit a postsecondary course or program that is part or 
83.2 	all of a goal area or a transfer curriculum at a MnSCU institution when the pupil enrolls 
83.3 	in a MnSCU institution after leaving secondary school. Once one MnSCU institution 
83.4 	certifies as completed a secondary student's postsecondary course or program that is part 
83.5 	or all of a goal area or a transfer curriculum, every MnSCU institution must consider the 
83.6 	student's course or program for that goal area or the transfer curriculum as completed. 

83.7 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2015.

83.8 	Sec. 62. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 179A.20, is amended by adding a 
83.9 	subdivision to read:
83.10 		Subd. 4a.Unrequested leave of absence for teachers. A school board and the 
83.11 	exclusive representative of the teachers may not execute a contract effective for the 
83.12 	2017-2018 school year or later unless the contract contains a plan for unrequested leave of 
83.13 	absence under section 122A.40, subdivision 10, or a plan for discontinuing or terminating 
83.14 	teachers under section 122A.41, subdivision 14.

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

83.16 	Sec. 63. Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 16, section 15, is amended to read:
83.17 	Sec. 15. TEACHER DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION REVENUE.
 83.18 	(a) For fiscal year 2015 only, teacher development and evaluation revenue for a 
83.19 	school district, intermediate school district, or charter school with any school site that does 
83.20 	not have an alternative professional pay system agreement under Minnesota Statutes, 
83.21 	section 122A.414, subdivision 2, equals $302 times the number of full-time equivalent 
83.22 	teachers employed on October 1 of the previous school year in each school site without 
83.23 	an alternative professional pay system under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.414, 
83.24 	subdivision 2. Except for charter schools, revenue under this section must be reserved for 
83.25 	teacher development and evaluation activities consistent with Minnesota Statutes, section 
83.26 	122A.40, subdivision 8, or Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.41, subdivision 5. For the 
83.27 	purposes of this section, "teacher" has the meaning given it in Minnesota Statutes, section 
83.28 	122A.40, subdivision 1, or Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.41, subdivision 1.
83.29 	(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the state total teacher development and evaluation 
83.30 	revenue entitlement must not exceed $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2015. The commissioner 
83.31 	must limit the amount of revenue under this section so as not to exceed this limit.

83.32 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2015.

84.1 	Sec. 64. TEACHER LICENSURE AGREEMENTS WITH ADJOINING STATES.
 84.2 	The Board of Teaching must prepare and submit a report to the K-12 education 
84.3 	committees of the legislature by February 15, 2016, indicating the number, contracting 
84.4 	states, and extent of the interstate agreements for teacher licensure under Minnesota 
84.5 	Statutes, section 122A.23, subdivision 3, reached between August 1 and December 31, 
84.6 	2015.

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

84.8 	Sec. 65. TRANSFER CURRICULUM REPORT.
 84.9 	By February 1, 2016, the chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and 
84.10 	Universities must prepare and submit to the K-12 and higher education committees of 
84.11 	the legislature a report describing the implementation of the transfer curriculum policy 
84.12 	for postsecondary enrollment options program students under Minnesota Statutes, 
84.13 	sections 124D.09, subdivision 12, and 135A.101, subdivision 3, and how to standardize 
84.14 	Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and college-level exam program course 
84.15 	equivalencies across all state colleges and universities.

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

84.17 	Sec. 66. INTEGRATION LEVY ADJUSTMENT.
 84.18 	Notwithstanding section 60, for fiscal year 2016 only, a school district's achievement 
84.19 	and integration levy under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.862, that is recognized 
84.20 	entirely in the previous year equals 30 percent of its achievement and integration revenue 
84.21 	for fiscal year 2016.

84.22 	Sec. 67. APPROPRIATIONS.
 84.23 		Subdivision 1.Department. The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
84.24 	from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years designated.
84.25 		Subd. 2.Achievement gap elimination aid. For gap elimination aid under 
84.26 	Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.862:

84.27		$ 
	62,622,000
	.....
	2016
	
84.28		$ 
	65,484,000
	.....
	2017
	
84.29 	The 2016 appropriation includes $6,382,000 for 2015 and $56,240,000 for 2016.
84.30 	The 2017 appropriation includes $6,249,000 for 2016 and $59,235,000 for 2017.
85.1 		Subd. 3.Literacy incentive aid. For literacy incentive aid under Minnesota 
85.2 	Statutes, section 124D.98:

85.3		$
	44,552,000
	.....
	2016
	
85.4		$
	45,508,000
	.....
	2017
	
85.5 	The 2016 appropriation includes $4,683,000 for 2015 and $39,869,000 for 2016.
85.6 	The 2017 appropriation includes $4,429,000 for 2016 and $41,079,000 for 2017.
85.7 		Subd. 4.Interdistrict desegregation or integration transportation grants. For 
85.8 	interdistrict desegregation or integration transportation grants under Minnesota Statutes, 
85.9 	section 124D.87:

85.10		$
	15,023,000
	.....
	2016
	
85.11		$
	15,825,000
	.....
	2017
	
85.12 		Subd. 5.Success for the future. For American Indian success for the future grants 
85.13 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.81:

85.14		$
	2,812,000
	.....
	2016
	
85.15		$
	2,887,000
	.....
	2017
	
85.16 	The 2016 appropriation includes $213,000 for 2015 and $2,599,000 for 2016.
85.17 	The 2017 appropriation includes $288,000 for 2016 and $2,599,000 for 2017.
85.18 		Subd. 6.American Indian teacher preparation grants. From the educator 
85.19 	licensure account in the special revenue fund, unless insufficient funds exist within the 
85.20 	educator licensure account in which case any remaining funds are from the general fund, 
85.21 	for joint grants to assist American Indian people to become teachers under Minnesota 
85.22 	Statutes, section 122A.63:

85.23		$
	190,000
	.....
	2016
	
85.24		$
	190,000
	.....
	2017
	
85.25 		Subd. 7.Tribal contract schools. For tribal contract school aid under Minnesota 
85.26 	Statutes, section 124D.83:

85.27		$ 
	2,157,000
	.....
	2016
	
85.28		$ 
	2,273,000
	.....
	2017
	
85.29 	The 2016 appropriation includes $204,000 for 2015 and $1,953,000 for 2016.
85.30 	The 2017 appropriation includes $216,000 for 2016 and $2,057,000 for 2017.
85.31 		Subd. 8.Early childhood programs at tribal schools. For early childhood family 
85.32 	education programs at tribal contract schools under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.83, 
85.33 	subdivision 4:

86.1		$
	68,000
	.....
	2016
	
86.2		$
	68,000
	.....
	2017
	
86.3 		Subd. 9.Examination fees; teacher training and support programs. (a) For 
86.4 	students' advanced placement and international baccalaureate examination fees under 
86.5 	Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.13, subdivision 3, and the training and related costs 
86.6 	for teachers and other interested educators under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.13, 
86.7 	subdivision 1:

86.8		$
	4,500,000
	.....
	2016
	
86.9		$
	4,500,000
	.....
	2017
	
86.10 	(b) The advanced placement program shall receive 75 percent of the appropriation 
86.11 	each year and the international baccalaureate program shall receive 25 percent of the 
86.12 	appropriation each year. The department, in consultation with representatives of the 
86.13 	advanced placement and international baccalaureate programs selected by the Advanced 
86.14 	Placement Advisory Council and IBMN, respectively, shall determine the amounts of 
86.15 	the expenditures each year for examination fees and training and support programs for 
86.16 	each program.
86.17 	(c) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.13, subdivision 1, at least 
86.18 	$500,000 each year is for teachers to attend subject matter summer training programs 
86.19 	and follow-up support workshops approved by the advanced placement or international 
86.20 	baccalaureate programs. The amount of the subsidy for each teacher attending an 
86.21 	advanced placement or international baccalaureate summer training program or workshop 
86.22 	shall be the same. The commissioner shall determine the payment process and the amount 
86.23 	of the subsidy.
86.24 	(d) The commissioner shall pay all examination fees for all students of low-income 
86.25 	families under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.13, subdivision 3, and, to the extent 
86.26 	of available appropriations, shall also pay examination fees for students sitting for an 
86.27 	advanced placement examination, international baccalaureate examination, or both.
86.28 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
86.29 		Subd. 10.Concurrent enrollment programs. For concurrent enrollment programs 
86.30 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.091:

86.31		$
	5,000,000
	.....
	2016
	
86.32		$
	8,000,000
	.....
	2017
	
86.33 	If the appropriation is insufficient, the commissioner must proportionately reduce 
86.34 	the aid payment to each district.
86.35 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
87.1 		Subd. 11.Collaborative urban educator. For the collaborative urban educator 
87.2 	grant program:

87.3		$
	780,000
	.....
	2016
	
87.4		$
	780,000
	.....
	2017
	
87.5 	$195,000 each year is for the Southeast Asian teacher program at Concordia 
87.6 	University, St. Paul; $195,000 each year is for the collaborative urban educator program 
87.7 	at the University of St. Thomas; $195,000 each year is for the Center for Excellence in 
87.8 	Urban Teaching at Hamline University; and $195,000 each year is for the East Africa 
87.9 	Student to Teacher program at Augsburg College.
87.10 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
87.11 	Each institution shall prepare for the legislature, by January 15 of each year, a 
87.12 	detailed report regarding the funds used. The report must include the number of teachers 
87.13 	prepared as well as the diversity for each cohort of teachers produced.
87.14 		Subd. 12.ServeMinnesota program. For funding ServeMinnesota programs under 
87.15 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 124D.37 to 124D.45:

87.16		$
	900,000
	.....
	2016
	
87.17		$
	900,000
	.....
	2017
	
87.18 	A grantee organization may provide health and child care coverage to the dependents 
87.19 	of each participant enrolled in a full-time ServeMinnesota program to the extent such 
87.20 	coverage is not otherwise available.
87.21 		Subd. 13.Student organizations. For student organizations:

87.22		$
	725,000
	.....
	2016
	
87.23		$
	725,000
	.....
	2017
	
87.24 	$46,000 each year is for student organizations serving health occupations.
87.25 	$100,000 each year is for student organizations serving trade and industry 
87.26 	occupations.
87.27 	$95,000 each year is for student organizations serving business occupations.
87.28 	$187,000 each year is for student organizations serving agriculture occupations.
87.29 	$142,000 each year is for student organizations serving family and consumer science 
87.30 	occupations.
87.31 	$109,000 each year is for student organizations serving marketing occupations.
87.32 	$46,000 each year is for the Minnesota Foundation for Student Organizations.
87.33 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
88.1 		Subd. 14.Early childhood literacy programs. For innovation grants to 
88.2 	ServeMinnesota for the Minnesota reading corps program under Minnesota Statutes, 
88.3 	section 124D.42, subdivision 8:

88.4		$
	7,375,000
	.....
	2016
	
88.5		$
	7,375,000
	.....
	2017
	
88.6 	Up to $7,375,000 each year is to help maximize federal and nonpublic funding to 
88.7 	support AmeriCorps members serving in the Minnesota reading corps program established 
88.8 	by ServeMinnesota, including costs to train and teach early literacy skills to children age 
88.9 	three to grade 3 and to evaluate the impact of the Minnesota reading corps program under 
88.10 	Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.42, subdivision 8.
88.11 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
88.12 		Subd. 15.Minnesota math corps program. For the Minnesota math corps program 
88.13 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.42, subdivision 9:

88.14		$
	250,000
	.....
	2016
	
88.15		$
	250,000
	.....
	2017
	
88.16 	Any unexpended balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the 
88.17 	second year.
88.18 		Subd. 16.Alternative compensation. For alternative teacher compensation aid 
88.19 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.415, subdivision 4:

88.20		$
	78,331,000
	.....
	2016
	
88.21		$
	77,647,000
	.....
	2017
	
88.22 	The 2016 appropriation includes $7,766,000 for 2015 and $70,565,000 for 2016.
88.23 	The 2017 appropriation includes $7,840,000 for 2016 and $69,807,000 for 2017.
88.24 		Subd. 17.Starbase MN. For a grant to Starbase MN for rigorous science, 
88.25 	technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs providing students in grades 4 to 
88.26 	6 with a multisensory learning experience and a hands-on curriculum in an aerospace 
88.27 	environment using state-of-the-art technology:

88.28		$
	924,000
	.....
	2016
	
88.29		$
	0
	.....
	2017
	
88.30 	This appropriation does not cancel but is available in the second year of the biennium.
88.31 	The base budget for this appropriation is $500,000 for fiscal year 2018 and later.
88.32 	All unspent funds, estimated at $924,000 from the Starbase MN appropriation under 
88.33 	Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 3, section 37, subdivision 22, are canceled to the general 
88.34 	fund on June 30, 2015.
89.1 		Subd. 18.Teacher development and evaluation. For teacher development and 
89.2 	evaluation revenue:

89.3		$
	1,000,000
	.....
	2016
	
89.4 	The 2016 appropriation includes $1,000,000 for 2015 and $0 for 2016. This is a 
89.5 	onetime appropriation and is available until expended.
89.6 		Subd. 19.Recovery program grants. For recovery program grants under 
89.7 	Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.695:

89.8		$
	500,000
	.....
	2016
	
89.9		$
	500,000
	.....
	2017
	
89.10 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel and is available in the second year.
89.11 		Subd. 20.Minnesota Principals' Academy. For a grant to the University of 
89.12 	Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development, for the operation of the 
89.13 	Minnesota Principals' Academy:

89.14		$
	250,000
	.....
	2016
	
89.15		$
	250,000
	.....
	2017
	
89.16 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
89.17 		Subd. 21.Cancellation; site decision-making grant. All unspent funds, estimated 
89.18 	at $200,000 for the site decision-making grant program appropriation under Laws 2013, 
89.19 	chapter 116, article 3, section 37, subdivision 19, are canceled to the general fund on 
89.20 	June 30, 2015.

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

89.22 	Sec. 68.  REPEALER.
 89.23 	Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.40, subdivision 11, is repealed.

89.24 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective beginning in the 2017-2018 school 
89.25 	year and later.

89.26 	ARTICLE 3
89.27 	STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTS

89.28 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.02, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
89.29 		Subd. 2.Graduation requirements. To graduate from high school, students must 
89.30 	demonstrate to their enrolling school district or school their satisfactory completion of 
90.1 	the credit requirements under section 120B.024 and their understanding of academic 
90.2 	standards on a nationally normed college entrance exam as required under section 
90.3 	120B.30, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (1). A school district must adopt graduation 
90.4 	requirements that meet or exceed state graduation requirements established in law or rule.

90.5 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective and applies to students entering grade 
90.6 	9 in the 2015-2016 school year and later.

90.7 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.021, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
90.8 		Subd. 4.Revisions and reviews required. (a) The commissioner of education must 
90.9 	revise and appropriately embed technology and information literacy standards consistent 
90.10 	with recommendations from school media specialists into the state's academic standards 
90.11 	and graduation requirements and implement a ten-year cycle to review and, consistent 
90.12 	with the review, revise state academic standards and related benchmarks, consistent with 
90.13 	this subdivision. During each ten-year review and revision cycle, the commissioner also 
90.14 	must examine the alignment of each required academic standard and related benchmark 
90.15 	with the knowledge and skills students need for career and college readiness and advanced 
90.16 	work in the particular subject area. The commissioner must include the contributions of 
90.17 	Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities as related to the academic standards 
90.18 	during the review and revision of the required academic standards.
90.19 	(b) The commissioner must ensure that the statewide mathematics assessments 
90.20 	administered to students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 are aligned with the state academic 
90.21 	standards in mathematics, consistent with section 120B.30, subdivision 1, paragraph 
90.22 	(b). The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and related 
90.23 	benchmarks in mathematics beginning in the 2015-2016 2020-2021 school year and 
90.24 	every ten years thereafter.
90.25 	(c) The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and related 
90.26 	benchmarks in arts beginning in the 2016-2017 school year and every ten years thereafter.
90.27 	(d) The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and 
90.28 	related benchmarks in science beginning in the 2017-2018 school year and every ten 
90.29 	years thereafter.
90.30 	(e) The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and 
90.31 	related benchmarks in language arts beginning in the 2018-2019 school year and every 
90.32 	ten years thereafter.
90.33 	(f) The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and 
90.34 	related benchmarks in social studies beginning in the 2019-2020 school year and every 
90.35 	ten years thereafter.
91.1 	(g) School districts and charter schools must revise and align local academic 
91.2 	standards and high school graduation requirements in health, world languages, and career 
91.3 	and technical education to require students to complete the revised standards beginning 
91.4 	in a school year determined by the school district or charter school. School districts and 
91.5 	charter schools must formally establish a periodic review cycle for the academic standards 
91.6 	and related benchmarks in health, world languages, and career and technical education.

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

91.8 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.022, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
91.9 		Subdivision 1.Elective standards.  A district must establish its own standards in the 
91.10 	following subject areas:
91.11 	(1) career and technical education; and.
91.12 	(2) A district must use the current world languages standards developed by the 
91.13 	American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
91.14 	A school district must offer courses in all elective subject areas.

91.15 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.024, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
91.16 		Subd. 2.Credit equivalencies. (a) A one-half credit of economics taught in a 
91.17 	school's agriculture education or business department may fulfill a one-half credit in 
91.18 	social studies under subdivision 1, clause (5), if the credit is sufficient to satisfy all of the 
91.19 	academic standards in economics.
91.20 	(b) An agriculture science or career and technical education credit may fulfill the 
91.21 	credit in chemistry or physics or the elective science credit required under subdivision 1, 
91.22 	clause (4), if the credit meets the state chemistry or physics, or district biology physical 
91.23 	science, life science, earth and space science, chemistry, or physics academic standards or 
91.24 	a combination of these academic standards as approved by the district. An agriculture or 
91.25 	career and technical education credit may fulfill the credit in chemistry or physics required 
91.26 	under subdivision 1, clause (4), if the credit meets the state chemistry or physics academic 
91.27 	standards as approved by the district. A student must satisfy either all of the chemistry 
91.28 	academic standards or all of the physics academic standards prior to graduation. An 
91.29 	agriculture science or career and technical education credit may not fulfill the required 
91.30 	biology credit under subdivision 1, clause (4).
91.31 	(c) A career and technical education credit may fulfill a mathematics or arts credit 
91.32 	requirement under subdivision 1, clause (2) or (6).
92.1 	(d) An agriculture education teacher is not required to meet the requirements of 
92.2 	Minnesota Rules, part 3505.1150, subpart 1, item B, to meet the credit equivalency 
92.3 	requirements of paragraph (b) above.
92.4 	(e) A computer science credit may fulfill a mathematics credit requirement under 
92.5 	subdivision 1, clause (2), if the credit meets state academic standards in mathematics.

92.6 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and 
92.7 	later.

92.8 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.11, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
92.9 		Subd. 1a.Performance measures. Measures to determine school district and 
92.10 	school site progress in striving to create the world's best workforce must include at least:
92.11 	(1) student performance on the National Assessment of Education Progress where 
92.12 	applicable;
92.13 	(2) the size of the academic achievement gap, rigorous course taking under section 
92.14 	120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (2), and enrichment experiences by student 
92.15 	subgroup;
92.16 	(3) student performance on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments including 
92.17 	attainment of readiness score guidelines identified under section 120B.30, subdivision 1, 
92.18 	paragraph (j);
92.19 	(4) high school graduation rates; and
92.20 	(5) career and college readiness under section 120B.30, subdivision 1, paragraph (p).

92.21 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.125, is amended to read:
92.22 	120B.125 PLANNING FOR STUDENTS' SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION 
92.23 	TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT; PERSONAL 
92.24 	LEARNING PLANS.
92.25 	(a) Consistent with sections 120B.128,120B.13, 120B.131, 120B.132, 120B.14, 
92.26 	120B.15, 120B.30, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), 125A.08, and other related sections, 
92.27 	school districts, beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, must assist all students by no 
92.28 	later than grade 9 to explore their educational, college, and career interests, aptitudes, and 
92.29 	aspirations and develop a plan for a smooth and successful transition to postsecondary 
92.30 	education or employment. All students' plans must:
92.31 	(1) provide a comprehensive plan to prepare for and complete a career and college 
92.32 	ready curriculum by meeting state and local academic standards and developing career and 
93.1 	employment-related skills such as team work, collaboration, creativity, communication, 
93.2 	critical thinking, and good work habits;
93.3 	(2) emphasize academic rigor and high expectations;
93.4 	(3) help students identify interests, aptitudes, aspirations, and personal learning 
93.5 	styles that may affect their career and college ready goals and postsecondary education 
93.6 	and employment choices;
93.7 	(4) set appropriate career and college ready goals with timelines that identify 
93.8 	effective means for achieving those goals;
93.9 	(5) help students access education and career options;
93.10 	(6) integrate strong academic content into career-focused courses and applied and 
93.11 	experiential learning opportunities and integrate relevant career-focused courses and 
93.12 	applied and experiential learning opportunities into strong academic content;
93.13 	(7) help identify and access appropriate counseling and other supports and assistance 
93.14 	that enable students to complete required coursework, prepare for postsecondary education 
93.15 	and careers, and obtain information about postsecondary education costs and eligibility 
93.16 	for financial aid and scholarship;
93.17 	(8) help identify collaborative partnerships among prekindergarten through grade 
93.18 	12 schools, postsecondary institutions, economic development agencies, and local and 
93.19 	regional employers that support students' transition to postsecondary education and 
93.20 	employment and provide students with applied and experiential learning opportunities; and
93.21 	(9) be reviewed and revised at least annually by the student, the student's parent or 
93.22 	guardian, and the school or district to ensure that the student's course-taking schedule keeps 
93.23 	the student making adequate progress to meet state and local academic standards and high 
93.24 	school graduation requirements and with a reasonable chance to succeed with employment 
93.25 	or postsecondary education without the need to first complete remedial course work.
93.26 	(b) A school district may develop grade-level curricula or provide instruction that 
93.27 	introduces students to various careers, but must not require any curriculum, instruction, 
93.28 	or employment-related activity that obligates an elementary or secondary student to 
93.29 	involuntarily select or pursue a career, career interest, employment goals, or related job 
93.30 	training.
93.31 	(c) Educators must possess the knowledge and skills to effectively teach all English 
93.32 	learners in their classrooms. School districts must provide appropriate curriculum, 
93.33 	targeted materials, professional development opportunities for educators, and sufficient 
93.34 	resources to enable English learners to become career and college ready.
93.35 	(d) When assisting students in developing a plan for a smooth and successful 
93.36 	transition to postsecondary education and employment, districts must recognize the unique 
94.1 	possibilities of each student and ensure that the contents of each student's plan reflect the 
94.2 	student's unique talents, skills, and abilities as the student grows, develops, and learns.

94.3 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.30, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
94.4 		Subdivision 1.Statewide testing.  (a) The commissioner, with advice from experts 
94.5 	with appropriate technical qualifications and experience and stakeholders, consistent 
94.6 	with subdivision 1a, shall include in the comprehensive assessment system, for each 
94.7 	grade level to be tested, state-constructed tests developed as computer-adaptive reading 
94.8 	and mathematics assessments for students that are aligned with the state's required 
94.9 	academic standards under section 120B.021, include multiple choice questions, and are 
94.10 	administered annually to all students in grades 3 through 7 8. Reading and mathematics 
94.11 	assessments for all students in grade 8 must be aligned with the state's required reading and 
94.12 	mathematics standards, be administered annually, and include multiple choice questions. 
94.13 	State-developed high school tests aligned with the state's required academic standards 
94.14 	under section 120B.021 and administered to all high school students in a subject other than 
94.15 	writing must include multiple choice questions. The commissioner shall establish one or 
94.16 	more months during which schools shall administer the tests to students each school year.
94.17 	(1) Students enrolled in grade 8 through the 2009-2010 school year are eligible 
94.18 	to be assessed under (i) the graduation-required assessment for diploma in reading, 
94.19 	mathematics, or writing under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.30, subdivision 1, 
94.20 	paragraphs (c), clauses (1) and (2), and (d), (ii) the WorkKeys job skills assessment, (iii) 
94.21 	the Compass college placement test, (iv) the ACT assessment for college admission, or (v) 
94.22 	a nationally recognized armed services vocational aptitude test, or (vi) the high school 
94.23 	assessments required under subdivision 1a.
94.24 	(2) Students enrolled in grade 8 in the 2010-2011 or 2011-2012 school year are 
94.25 	eligible to be assessed under (i) the graduation-required assessment for diploma in reading, 
94.26 	mathematics, or writing under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.30, subdivision 
94.27 	1, paragraph (c), clauses (1) and (2), (ii) the WorkKeys job skills assessment, (iii) the 
94.28 	Compass college placement test, (iv) the ACT assessment for college admission, or (v) 
94.29 	a nationally recognized armed services vocational aptitude test, or (vi) the high school 
94.30 	assessments required under subdivision 1a.
94.31 	(3) Students enrolled in grade 8 in the 2012-2013 or 2013-2014 school year are 
94.32 	eligible to be assessed under the ACT assessment for college admission or the high school 
94.33 	assessments required under subdivision 1a.
95.1 	(3) (4) For students under clause (1) or, (2), or (3), a school district may substitute 
95.2 	a score from an alternative, equivalent assessment to satisfy the requirements of this 
95.3 	paragraph.
95.4 	(b) The state assessment system must be aligned to the most recent revision of 
95.5 	academic standards as described in section 120B.023 in the following manner:
95.6 	(1) mathematics;
95.7 	(i) grades 3 through 8 beginning in the 2010-2011 school year; and
95.8 	(ii) high school level beginning in the 2013-2014 school year;
95.9 	(2) science; grades 5 and 8 and at the high school level beginning in the 2011-2012 
95.10 	school year; and
95.11 	(3) language arts and reading; grades 3 through 8 and high school level beginning in 
95.12 	the 2012-2013 school year.
95.13 	(c) For students enrolled in grade 8 in the 2012-2013 2014-2015 school year 
95.14 	and later, students' state graduation requirements, based on a longitudinal, systematic 
95.15 	approach to student education and career planning, assessment, instructional support, and 
95.16 	evaluation, include the following:
95.17 	(1) demonstrate understanding of required academic standards on a nationally 
95.18 	normed college entrance exam high school assessments required under subdivision 1a;
95.19 	(2) achievement and career and college readiness tests in mathematics, reading, and 
95.20 	writing, consistent with paragraph (e) (j) and to the extent available, to monitor students' 
95.21 	continuous development of and growth in requisite knowledge and skills; analyze 
95.22 	students' progress and performance levels, identifying students' academic strengths and 
95.23 	diagnosing areas where students require curriculum or instructional adjustments, targeted 
95.24 	interventions, or remediation; and, based on analysis of students' progress and performance 
95.25 	data, determine students' learning and instructional needs and the instructional tools and 
95.26 	best practices that support academic rigor for the student; and
95.27 	(3) consistent with this paragraph and section 120B.125, age-appropriate exploration 
95.28 	and planning activities and career assessments to encourage students to identify personally 
95.29 	relevant career interests and aptitudes and help students and their families develop a 
95.30 	regularly reexamined transition plan for postsecondary education or employment without 
95.31 	need for postsecondary remediation.
95.32 	Based on appropriate state guidelines, students with an individualized education program 
95.33 	may satisfy state graduation requirements by achieving an individual score on the 
95.34 	state-identified alternative assessments.
95.35 	(d) Expectations of schools, districts, and the state for career or college readiness 
95.36 	under this subdivision must be comparable in rigor, clarity of purpose, and rates of student 
96.1 	completion. A student under paragraph (c), clause (2), must receive targeted, relevant, 
96.2 	academically rigorous, and resourced instruction, which may include a targeted instruction 
96.3 	and intervention plan focused on improving the student's knowledge and skills in core 
96.4 	subjects so that the student has a reasonable chance to succeed in a career or college 
96.5 	without need for postsecondary remediation. Consistent with sections 120B.13, 124D.09, 
96.6 	124D.091, 124D.49, and related sections, an enrolling school or district must actively 
96.7 	encourage a student in grade 11 or 12 who is identified as academically ready for a career 
96.8 	or college to participate in courses and programs awarding college credit to high school 
96.9 	students. Students are not required to achieve a specified score or level of proficiency on 
96.10 	an assessment under this subdivision to graduate from high school.
96.11 	(d) To improve the secondary and postsecondary outcomes of all students, the 
96.12 	alignment between secondary and postsecondary education programs and Minnesota's 
96.13 	workforce needs, and the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of secondary and postsecondary 
96.14 	programs, the commissioner, after consulting with the chancellor of the Minnesota State 
96.15 	Colleges and Universities and using a request for proposal process, shall contract for a 
96.16 	series of assessments that are consistent with this subdivision, aligned with state academic 
96.17 	standards, and include career and college readiness benchmarks. Mathematics, reading, 
96.18 	and writing assessments for students in grades 8 and 10 must be predictive of a nationally 
96.19 	normed assessment for career and college readiness. This
96.20 	(e) Though not a high school graduation requirement, students are encouraged to 
96.21 	participate in a nationally recognized college entrance exam. With funding provided by 
96.22 	the state, a district must pay the cost, one time, for an interested student in grade 11 or 12 
96.23 	who is eligible for a meal benefit to take a nationally recognized assessment must be a 
96.24 	college entrance exam and given to students in grade 11 before graduating. This series 
96.25 	of assessments must include a college placement diagnostic exam and contain career 
96.26 	exploration elements.
96.27 	(f) The commissioner and the chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and 
96.28 	Universities must collaborate in aligning instruction and assessments for adult basic 
96.29 	education students and English learners to provide the students with diagnostic information 
96.30 	about any targeted interventions, accommodations, modifications, and supports they 
96.31 	need so that assessments and other performance measures are accessible to them and 
96.32 	they may seek postsecondary education or employment without need for postsecondary 
96.33 	remediation. When administering formative or summative assessments used to measure 
96.34 	the academic progress, including the oral academic development, of English learners 
96.35 	and inform their instruction, schools must ensure that the assessments are accessible to 
97.1 	the students and students have the modifications and supports they need to sufficiently 
97.2 	understand the assessments.
97.3 	(1) (g) Districts and schools, on an annual basis, must use the career exploration 
97.4 	elements in these assessments to help students, beginning no later than grade 9, and their 
97.5 	families explore and plan for postsecondary education or careers based on the students' 
97.6 	interests, aptitudes, and aspirations. Districts and schools must use timely regional labor 
97.7 	market information and partnerships, among other resources, to help students and their 
97.8 	families successfully develop, pursue, review, and revise an individualized plan for 
97.9 	postsecondary education or a career. This process must help increase students' engagement 
97.10 	in and connection to school, improve students' knowledge and skills, and deepen students' 
97.11 	understanding of career pathways as a sequence of academic and career courses that lead 
97.12 	to an industry-recognized credential, an associate's degree, or a bachelor's degree and are 
97.13 	available to all students, whatever their interests and career goals.
97.14 	(2) Students in grade 10 or 11 not yet academically ready for a career or college based 
97.15 	on their growth in academic achievement between grades 8 and 10 must take the college 
97.16 	placement diagnostic exam before taking the college entrance exam under clause (3). 
97.17 	Students, their families, the school, and the district can then use the results of the college 
97.18 	placement diagnostic exam for targeted instruction, intervention, or remediation and 
97.19 	improve students' knowledge and skills in core subjects sufficient for a student to graduate 
97.20 	and have a reasonable chance to succeed in a career or college without remediation.
97.21 	(3) All students except those eligible for alternative assessments must be given the 
97.22 	college entrance part of these assessments in grade 11. (h) A student under this clause 
97.23 	who demonstrates attainment of required state academic standards, which include career 
97.24 	and college readiness benchmarks, on these high school assessments under subdivision 1a 
97.25 	is academically ready for a career or college and is encouraged to participate in courses 
97.26 	awarding college credit to high school students. Such courses and programs may include 
97.27 	sequential courses of study within broad career areas and technical skill assessments 
97.28 	that extend beyond course grades.
97.29 	(4) (i) As appropriate, students through grade 12 must continue to participate in 
97.30 	targeted instruction, intervention, or remediation and be encouraged to participate in 
97.31 	courses awarding college credit to high school students.
97.32 	(5) A study to determine the alignment between these assessments and state 
97.33 	academic standards under this chapter must be conducted. Where alignment exists, the 
97.34 	commissioner must seek federal approval to, and immediately upon receiving approval, 
97.35 	replace the federally required assessments referenced under subdivision 1a and section 
97.36 	120B.35, subdivision 2, with assessments under this paragraph.
98.1 	(e) (j) In developing, supporting, and improving students' academic readiness for a 
98.2 	career or college, schools, districts, and the state must have a continuum of empirically 
98.3 	derived, clearly defined benchmarks focused on students' attainment of knowledge 
98.4 	and skills so that students, their parents, and teachers know how well students must 
98.5 	perform to have a reasonable chance to succeed in a career or college without need for 
98.6 	postsecondary remediation. The commissioner, in consultation with local school officials 
98.7 	and educators, and Minnesota's public postsecondary institutions must ensure that the 
98.8 	foundational knowledge and skills for students' successful performance in postsecondary 
98.9 	employment or education and an articulated series of possible targeted interventions are 
98.10 	clearly identified and satisfy Minnesota's postsecondary admissions requirements. The 
98.11 	commissioner of education, in consultation with the chancellor of the Minnesota State 
98.12 	Colleges and Universities, shall identify the minimum score guidelines on the high 
98.13 	school reading, writing, and mathematics Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments that 
98.14 	demonstrate readiness for:
98.15 	(1) a certificate level program;
98.16 	(2) a two-year college program; and
98.17 	(3) a four-year college program.
98.18 	(f) (k) For students in grade 8 in the 2012-2013 school year and later, a school, 
98.19 	district, or charter school must record on the high school transcript a student's progress 
98.20 	toward career and college readiness, and for other students as soon as practicable.
98.21 	(g) (l) The school board granting students their diplomas may formally decide to 
98.22 	include a notation of high achievement on the high school diplomas of those graduating 
98.23 	seniors who, according to established school board criteria, demonstrate exemplary 
98.24 	academic achievement during high school.
98.25 	(h) (m) The 3rd through 7th 8th grade computer-adaptive assessment results and grade 
98.26 	8 and high school test results shall be available to districts for diagnostic purposes affecting 
98.27 	student learning and district instruction and curriculum, and for establishing educational 
98.28 	accountability. The commissioner must establish empirically derived benchmarks on 
98.29 	adaptive assessments in grades 3 through 7 8 that reveal a trajectory toward career and 
98.30 	college readiness. The commissioner must disseminate to the public the computer-adaptive 
98.31 	assessments, grade 8, and high school test results upon receiving those results.
98.32 	(i) (n) The grades 3 through 7 8 computer-adaptive assessments and grade 8 and 
98.33 	high school tests must be aligned with state academic standards. The commissioner shall 
98.34 	determine the testing process and the order of administration. The statewide results shall 
98.35 	be aggregated at the site and district level, consistent with subdivision 1a.
99.1 	(j) (o) The commissioner shall include the following components in the statewide 
99.2 	public reporting system:
99.3 	(1) uniform statewide computer-adaptive assessments of all students in grades 3 
99.4 	through 7 8 and testing at the grade 8 and high school levels that provides appropriate, 
99.5 	technically sound accommodations or alternate assessments;
99.6 	(2) educational indicators that can be aggregated and compared across school 
99.7 	districts and across time on a statewide basis, including average daily attendance, high 
99.8 	school graduation rates, and high school drop-out rates by age and grade level;
99.9 	(3) state results on the American College Test; and
99.10 	(4) state results from participation in the National Assessment of Educational 
99.11 	Progress so that the state can benchmark its performance against the nation and other 
99.12 	states, and, where possible, against other countries, and contribute to the national effort 
99.13 	to monitor achievement.
99.14 	(k) (p) For purposes of statewide accountability, "career and college ready" means a 
99.15 	high school graduate has the knowledge, skills, and competencies to successfully pursue a 
99.16 	career pathway, including postsecondary credit leading to a degree, diploma, certificate, or 
99.17 	industry-recognized credential and employment. Students who are career and college ready 
99.18 	are able to successfully complete credit-bearing coursework at a two- or four-year college 
99.19 	or university or other credit-bearing postsecondary program without need for remediation.
99.20 	(l) (q) For purposes of statewide accountability, "cultural competence," "cultural 
99.21 	competency," or "culturally competent" means the ability and will to interact effectively 
99.22 	with people of different cultures, native languages, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

99.23 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and 
99.24 	later.

99.25 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.30, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
99.26 		Subd. 1a.Statewide and local assessments; results. (a) For purposes of this 
99.27 	section, the following definitions have the meanings given them.
99.28 	(1) "Computer-adaptive assessments" means fully adaptive assessments.
99.29 	(2) "Fully adaptive assessments" include test items that are on-grade level and items 
99.30 	that may be above or below a student's grade level.
99.31 	(3) "On-grade level" test items contain subject area content that is aligned to state 
99.32 	academic standards for the grade level of the student taking the assessment.
99.33 	(4) "Above-grade level" test items contain subject area content that is above the 
99.34 	grade level of the student taking the assessment and is considered aligned with state 
99.35 	academic standards to the extent it is aligned with content represented in state academic 
100.1 	standards above the grade level of the student taking the assessment. Notwithstanding 
100.2 	the student's grade level, administering above-grade level test items to a student does not 
100.3 	violate the requirement that state assessments must be aligned with state standards.
100.4 	(5) "Below-grade level" test items contain subject area content that is below the 
100.5 	grade level of the student taking the test and is considered aligned with state academic 
100.6 	standards to the extent it is aligned with content represented in state academic standards 
100.7 	below the student's current grade level. Notwithstanding the student's grade level, 
100.8 	administering below-grade level test items to a student does not violate the requirement 
100.9 	that state assessments must be aligned with state standards.
100.10 	(b) The commissioner must use fully adaptive mathematics and reading assessments 
100.11 	for grades 3 through 7 beginning in the 2015-2016 school year and later 8.
100.12 	(c) For purposes of conforming with existing federal educational accountability 
100.13 	requirements, the commissioner must develop and implement computer-adaptive reading 
100.14 	and mathematics assessments for grades 3 through 7 8, state-developed grade 8 and high 
100.15 	school reading, writing, and mathematics tests aligned with state academic standards, and 
100.16 	science assessments under clause (2) that districts and sites must use to monitor student 
100.17 	growth toward achieving those standards. The commissioner must not develop statewide 
100.18 	assessments for academic standards in social studies, health and physical education, and 
100.19 	the arts. The commissioner must require:
100.20 	(1) annual computer-adaptive reading and mathematics assessments in grades 3 
100.21 	through 7 8, and grade 8 and high school reading, writing, and mathematics tests; and
100.22 	(2) annual science assessments in one grade in the grades 3 through 5 span, the 
100.23 	grades 6 through 8 span, and a life sciences assessment in the grades 9 through 12 span, 
100.24 	and the commissioner must not require students to achieve a passing score on high school 
100.25 	science assessments as a condition of receiving a high school diploma.
100.26 	(d) The commissioner must ensure that for annual computer-adaptive assessments:
100.27 	(1) individual student performance data and achievement reports are available 
100.28 	within three school days of when students take an assessment except in a year when an 
100.29 	assessment reflects new performance standards;
100.30 	(2) growth information is available for each student from the student's first 
100.31 	assessment to each proximate assessment using a constant measurement scale;
100.32 	(3) parents, teachers, and school administrators are able to use elementary and 
100.33 	middle school student performance data to project students' secondary and postsecondary 
100.34 	achievement; and
100.35 	(4) useful diagnostic information about areas of students' academic strengths and 
100.36 	weaknesses is available to teachers and school administrators for improving student 
101.1 	instruction and indicating the specific skills and concepts that should be introduced and 
101.2 	developed for students at given performance levels, organized by strands within subject 
101.3 	areas, and aligned to state academic standards.
101.4 	(e) The commissioner must ensure that all state tests administered to elementary and 
101.5 	secondary students measure students' academic knowledge and skills and not students' 
101.6 	values, attitudes, and beliefs.
101.7 	(f) Reporting of state assessment results must:
101.8 	(1) provide timely, useful, and understandable information on the performance of 
101.9 	individual students, schools, school districts, and the state;
101.10 	(2) include a growth indicator of student achievement; and
101.11 	(3) determine whether students have met the state's academic standards.
101.12 	(g) Consistent with applicable federal law, the commissioner must include 
101.13 	appropriate, technically sound accommodations or alternative assessments for the very 
101.14 	few students with disabilities for whom statewide assessments are inappropriate and 
101.15 	for English learners.
101.16 	(h) A school, school district, and charter school must administer statewide 
101.17 	assessments under this section, as the assessments become available, to evaluate student 
101.18 	progress toward career and college readiness in the context of the state's academic 
101.19 	standards. A school, school district, or charter school may use a student's performance 
101.20 	on a statewide assessment as one of multiple criteria to determine grade promotion or 
101.21 	retention. A school, school district, or charter school may use a high school student's 
101.22 	performance on a statewide assessment as a percentage of the student's final grade in a 
101.23 	course, or place a student's assessment score on the student's transcript.

101.24 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2016-2017 school year and 
101.25 	later.

101.26 	Sec. 9. APPROPRIATIONS.
 101.27 		Subdivision 1.Department. The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
101.28 	from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years designated.
101.29 		Subd. 2.Statewide testing and reporting system. For the statewide testing and 
101.30 	reporting system under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.30:

101.31		$
	11,176,000
	.....
	2016
	
101.32		$
	10,864,000
	.....
	2017
	
101.33 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
102.1 		Subd. 3.ACT test reimbursement. To reimburse districts for students who qualify 
102.2 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.30, subdivision 1, paragraph (e), for onetime 
102.3 	payment of their ACT examination fee:

102.4		$
	1,750,000
	.....
	2016
	
102.5		$
	1,750,000
	.....
	2017
	
102.6 	The Department of Education must reimburse districts for their onetime payments 
102.7 	on behalf of students eligible for a meal benefit who take the college entrance exam in 
102.8 	grade 11 or 12.
102.9 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.

102.10 	Sec. 10.  REPEALER.
 102.11 	Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.128, is repealed.

102.12 	ARTICLE 4
102.13 	CHARTER SCHOOLS

102.14 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 123B.88, is amended by adding a 
102.15 	subdivision to read:
102.16 		Subd. 10a.Nonresident charter school pupil transportation. If a school district is 
102.17 	providing transportation for a charter school under section 124D.10, subdivision 16, the 
102.18 	school district must allow a nonresident pupil attending the charter school to be transported 
102.19 	on a district-operated or contracted route from any scheduled stop to any other scheduled 
102.20 	stop on that route. The district providing the pupil transportation services may charge a 
102.21 	fee to the nonresident pupil. The fee for each nonresident pupil must not exceed the lesser 
102.22 	of 15 cents per mile or the district's actual cost of transportation per mile traveled.

102.23 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.

102.24 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.10, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
102.25 		Subdivision 1.Purposes. (a) The primary purpose of this section is to improve all 
102.26 	pupil learning and all student achievement. Additional purposes include to:
102.27 	(1) increase learning opportunities for all pupils;
102.28 	(2) encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods;
102.29 	(3) measure learning outcomes and create different and innovative forms of 
102.30 	measuring outcomes;
102.31 	(4) establish new forms of accountability for schools; or
103.1 	(5) create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to 
103.2 	be responsible for the learning program at the school site.
103.3 	(b) This section does not provide a means to keep open a school that a school board 
103.4 	decides to close. However, a school board may endorse or authorize the establishing of 
103.5 	a charter school to replace the school the board decided to close. Applicants seeking a 
103.6 	charter under this circumstance must demonstrate to the authorizer that the charter sought 
103.7 	is substantially different in purpose and program from the school the board closed and 
103.8 	that the proposed charter satisfies the requirements of this subdivision. If the school 
103.9 	board that closed the school authorizes the charter, it must document in its affidavit to the 
103.10 	commissioner that the charter is substantially different in program and purpose from 
103.11 	the school it closed.
103.12 	(c) An authorizer shall not approve an application submitted by a charter school 
103.13 	developer under subdivision 4, paragraph (a), if the application does not comply with this 
103.14 	subdivision. The commissioner shall not approve an affidavit submitted by an authorizer 
103.15 	under subdivision 4, paragraph (b), if the affidavit does not comply with this subdivision.

103.16 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.10, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
103.17 		Subd. 3.Authorizer. (a) For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this 
103.18 	subdivision have the meanings given them.
103.19 	"Application" to receive approval as an authorizer means the proposal an eligible 
103.20 	authorizer submits to the commissioner under paragraph (c) (d) before that authorizer is 
103.21 	able to submit any affidavit to charter to a school.
103.22 	"Application" under subdivision 4 means the charter school business plan a 
103.23 	school developer submits to an authorizer for approval to establish a charter school that 
103.24 	documents the school developer's mission statement, school purposes, program design, 
103.25 	financial plan, governance and management structure, and background and experience, 
103.26 	plus any other information the authorizer requests. The application also shall include a 
103.27 	"statement of assurances" of legal compliance prescribed by the commissioner.
103.28 	"Affidavit" means a written statement the authorizer submits to the commissioner 
103.29 	for approval to establish a charter school under subdivision 4 attesting to its review and 
103.30 	approval process before chartering a school.
103.31 	(b) The following organizations may authorize one or more charter schools:
103.32 	(1) a school board, intermediate school district school board, or education district 
103.33 	organized under sections 123A.15 to 123A.19;
103.34 	(2) a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 
103.35 	of 1986, excluding a nonpublic sectarian or religious institution; any person other than a 
104.1 	natural person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, 
104.2 	is controlled by, or is under common control with the nonpublic sectarian or religious 
104.3 	institution; and any other charitable organization under this clause that in the federal IRS 
104.4 	Form 1023, Part IV, describes activities indicating a religious purpose, that:
104.5 	(i) is a member of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits or the Minnesota Council on 
104.6 	Foundations;
104.7 	(ii) is registered with the attorney general's office; and
104.8 	(iii) is incorporated in the state of Minnesota and has been operating continuously 
104.9 	for at least five years but does not operate a charter school;
104.10 	(3) a Minnesota private college, notwithstanding clause (2), that grants two- or 
104.11 	four-year degrees and is registered with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education under 
104.12 	chapter 136A; community college, state university, or technical college governed by the 
104.13 	Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; or the University 
104.14 	of Minnesota;
104.15 	(4) a nonprofit corporation subject to chapter 317A, described in section 317A.905, 
104.16 	and exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code 
104.17 	of 1986, may authorize one or more charter schools if the charter school has operated 
104.18 	for at least three years under a different authorizer and if the nonprofit corporation has 
104.19 	existed for at least 25 years; or
104.20 	(5) single-purpose authorizers formed as charitable, nonsectarian organizations 
104.21 	under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and incorporated in the state 
104.22 	of Minnesota under chapter 317A as a corporation with no members or under section 
104.23 	322B.975 as a nonprofit limited liability company for the sole purpose of chartering schools.
104.24 	(c) Eligible organizations interested in being approved as an authorizer under this 
104.25 	paragraph must submit a proposal to the commissioner that includes the provisions 
104.26 	of paragraph (c) (d) and a five-year financial plan. Such authorizers shall consider and 
104.27 	approve charter school applications using the criteria provided in subdivision 4 and shall 
104.28 	not limit the applications it solicits, considers, or approves to any single curriculum, 
104.29 	learning program, or method.
104.30 	(c) (d) An eligible authorizer under this subdivision must apply to the commissioner 
104.31 	for approval as an authorizer before submitting any affidavit to the commissioner to charter 
104.32 	a school. The application for approval as a charter school authorizer must demonstrate 
104.33 	the applicant's ability to implement the procedures and satisfy the criteria for chartering a 
104.34 	school under this section. The commissioner must approve or disapprove an application 
104.35 	within 45 business days of the application deadline. If the commissioner disapproves 
104.36 	the application, the commissioner must notify the applicant of the specific deficiencies 
105.1 	in writing and the applicant then has 20 business days to address the deficiencies to the 
105.2 	commissioner's satisfaction. After the 20 business days expire, the commissioner has 15 
105.3 	business days to make a final decision to approve or disapprove the application. Failing to 
105.4 	address the deficiencies to the commissioner's satisfaction makes an applicant ineligible to 
105.5 	be an authorizer. The commissioner, in establishing criteria for approval, must consider 
105.6 	the applicant's:
105.7 	(1) capacity and infrastructure;
105.8 	(2) application criteria and process;
105.9 	(3) contracting process;
105.10 	(4) ongoing oversight and evaluation processes; and
105.11 	(5) renewal criteria and processes.
105.12 	(d) (e) An applicant must include in its application to the commissioner to be an 
105.13 	approved authorizer at least the following:
105.14 	(1) how chartering schools is a way for the organization to carry out its mission;
105.15 	(2) a description of the capacity of the organization to serve as an authorizer, 
105.16 	including the personnel who will perform the authorizing duties, their qualifications, the 
105.17 	amount of time they will be assigned to this responsibility, and the financial resources 
105.18 	allocated by the organization to this responsibility;
105.19 	(3) a description of the application and review process the authorizer will use to 
105.20 	make decisions regarding the granting of charters;
105.21 	(4) a description of the type of contract it will arrange with the schools it charters 
105.22 	that meets the provisions of subdivision 6;
105.23 	(5) the process to be used for providing ongoing oversight of the school consistent 
105.24 	with the contract expectations specified in clause (4) that assures that the schools chartered 
105.25 	are complying with both the provisions of applicable law and rules, and with the contract;
105.26 	(6) a description of the criteria and process the authorizer will use to grant expanded 
105.27 	applications under subdivision 4, paragraph (j) (s);
105.28 	(7) the process for making decisions regarding the renewal or termination of 
105.29 	the school's charter based on evidence that demonstrates the academic, organizational, 
105.30 	and financial competency of the school, including its success in increasing student 
105.31 	achievement and meeting the goals of the charter school agreement; and
105.32 	(8) an assurance specifying that the organization is committed to serving as an 
105.33 	authorizer for the full five-year term.
105.34 	(e) (f) A disapproved applicant under this section may resubmit an application 
105.35 	during a future application period.
106.1 	(f) (g) If the governing board of an approved authorizer votes to withdraw as 
106.2 	an approved authorizer for a reason unrelated to any cause under subdivision 23, the 
106.3 	authorizer must notify all its chartered schools and the commissioner in writing by July 15 
106.4 	of its intent to withdraw as an authorizer on June 30 in the next calendar year, regardless 
106.5 	of when the authorizer's five-year term of approval ends. The commissioner may approve 
106.6 	the transfer of a charter school to a new authorizer under this paragraph after the new 
106.7 	authorizer submits an affidavit to the commissioner.
106.8 	(g) (h) The authorizer must participate in department-approved training.
106.9 	(h) (i) The commissioner shall review an authorizer's performance every five years 
106.10 	in a manner and form determined by the commissioner and may review an authorizer's 
106.11 	performance more frequently at the commissioner's own initiative or at the request of a 
106.12 	charter school operator, charter school board member, or other interested party. The 
106.13 	commissioner, after completing the review, shall transmit a report with findings to the 
106.14 	authorizer.
106.15 	(j) If, consistent with this section, the commissioner finds that an authorizer has not 
106.16 	fulfilled the requirements of this section, the commissioner may subject the authorizer 
106.17 	to corrective action, which may include terminating the contract with the charter school 
106.18 	board of directors of a school it chartered. The commissioner must notify the authorizer 
106.19 	in writing of any findings that may subject the authorizer to corrective action and 
106.20 	the authorizer then has 15 business days to request an informal hearing before the 
106.21 	commissioner takes corrective action. If the commissioner terminates a contract between 
106.22 	an authorizer and a charter school under this paragraph, the commissioner may assist the 
106.23 	charter school in acquiring a new authorizer.
106.24 	(i) (k) The commissioner may at any time take corrective action against an 
106.25 	authorizer, including terminating an authorizer's ability to charter a school for:
106.26 	(1) failing to demonstrate the criteria under paragraph (c) (d) under which the 
106.27 	commissioner approved the authorizer;
106.28 	(2) violating a term of the chartering contract between the authorizer and the charter 
106.29 	school board of directors;
106.30 	(3) unsatisfactory performance as an approved authorizer; or
106.31 	(4) any good cause shown that provides the commissioner a legally sufficient reason 
106.32 	to take corrective action against an authorizer.

106.33 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.10, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
106.34 		Subd. 4.Formation of school. (a) An authorizer, after receiving an application from 
106.35 	a school developer, may charter a licensed teacher under section 122A.18, subdivision 
107.1 	1, or a group of individuals that includes one or more licensed teachers under section 
107.2 	122A.18, subdivision 1, to operate a school subject to the commissioner's approval of the 
107.3 	authorizer's affidavit under paragraph (b) (d).
107.4 	(b) The school must be organized and operated as a nonprofit corporation under 
107.5 	chapter 317A and the provisions under the applicable chapter shall apply to the school 
107.6 	except as provided in this section.
107.7 	(c) Notwithstanding sections 465.717 and 465.719, a school district, subject to this 
107.8 	section and section 124D.11, may create a corporation for the purpose of establishing a 
107.9 	charter school.
107.10 	(b) (d) Before the operators may establish and operate a school, the authorizer must 
107.11 	file an affidavit with the commissioner stating its intent to charter a school. An authorizer 
107.12 	must file a separate affidavit for each school it intends to charter. An authorizer must file 
107.13 	an affidavit by May 1 to be able to charter a new school in the next school year after the 
107.14 	commissioner approves the authorizer's affidavit at least 14 months before July 1 of the 
107.15 	year the new charter school plans to serve students. The affidavit must state the terms and 
107.16 	conditions under which the authorizer would charter a school and how the authorizer 
107.17 	intends to oversee the fiscal and student performance of the charter school and to comply 
107.18 	with the terms of the written contract between the authorizer and the charter school 
107.19 	board of directors under subdivision 6. The commissioner must approve or disapprove 
107.20 	the authorizer's affidavit within 60 business days of receipt of the affidavit. If the 
107.21 	commissioner disapproves the affidavit, the commissioner shall notify the authorizer of 
107.22 	the deficiencies in the affidavit and the authorizer then has 20 business days to address the 
107.23 	deficiencies. The commissioner must notify the authorizer of final approval or disapproval 
107.24 	within 15 business days after receiving the authorizer's response to the deficiencies in the 
107.25 	affidavit. If the authorizer does not address deficiencies to the commissioner's satisfaction, 
107.26 	the commissioner's disapproval is final. Failure to obtain commissioner approval precludes 
107.27 	an authorizer from chartering the school that is the subject of this affidavit.
107.28 	(c) (e) The authorizer may prevent an approved charter school from opening for 
107.29 	operation if, among other grounds, the charter school violates this section or does not meet 
107.30 	the ready-to-open standards that are part of the authorizer's oversight and evaluation 
107.31 	process or are stipulated in the charter school contract.
107.32 	(d) (f) The operators authorized to organize and operate a school, before entering 
107.33 	into a contract or other agreement for professional or other services, goods, or facilities, 
107.34 	must incorporate as a nonprofit corporation under chapter 317A and.
107.35 	(g) The operators authorized to organize and operate a school, before entering into a 
107.36 	contract or other agreement for professional or other services, goods, or facilities, must 
108.1 	establish a board of directors composed of at least five members who are not related parties 
108.2 	until a timely election for members of the ongoing charter school board of directors is 
108.3 	held according to the school's articles and bylaws under paragraph (f) (l). A charter school 
108.4 	board of directors must be composed of at least five members who are not related parties.
108.5 	(h) Staff members employed at the school, including teachers providing instruction 
108.6 	under a contract with a cooperative, members of the board of directors, and all parents 
108.7 	or legal guardians of children enrolled in the school are the voters eligible to elect the 
108.8 	members of the school's board of directors. A charter school must notify eligible voters of 
108.9 	the school board election dates at least 30 days before the election.
108.10 	(i) Board of director meetings must comply with chapter 13D.
108.11 	(e) (j) A charter school shall publish and maintain on the school's official Web site: 
108.12 	(1) the minutes of meetings of the board of directors, and of members and committees 
108.13 	having any board-delegated authority, for at least one calendar year from the date 
108.14 	of publication; (2) directory information for members of the board of directors and 
108.15 	committees having board-delegated authority; and (3) identifying and contact information 
108.16 	for the school's authorizer. Identifying and contact information for the school's authorizer 
108.17 	must be included in other school materials made available to the public.
108.18 	(k) Upon request of an individual, the charter school must also make available in 
108.19 	a timely fashion financial statements showing all operations and transactions affecting 
108.20 	income, surplus, and deficit during the school's last annual accounting period; and a 
108.21 	balance sheet summarizing assets and liabilities on the closing date of the accounting 
108.22 	period. A charter school also must include that same information about its authorizer in 
108.23 	other school materials that it makes available to the public.
108.24 	(f) (l) Every charter school board member shall attend annual training throughout 
108.25 	the member's term on the board. All new board members shall attend initial training on 
108.26 	the board's role and responsibilities, employment policies and practices, and financial 
108.27 	management. A new board member who does not begin the required initial training within 
108.28 	six months after being seated and complete that training within 12 months of being seated 
108.29 	on the board is automatically ineligible to continue to serve as a board member. The 
108.30 	school shall include in its annual report the training attended by each board member 
108.31 	during the previous year.
108.32 	(g) (m) The ongoing board must be elected before the school completes its third 
108.33 	year of operation. Board elections must be held during the school year but may not be 
108.34 	conducted on days when the school is closed for holidays, breaks, or vacations.
108.35 	(n) The charter school board of directors shall be composed of at least five nonrelated 
108.36 	members and include: (i) at least one licensed teacher employed as a teacher at the school 
109.1 	or providing instruction under contract between the charter school and a cooperative; (ii) 
109.2 	at least one parent or legal guardian of a student enrolled in the charter school who is not 
109.3 	an employee of the charter school; and (iii) at least one interested community member 
109.4 	who resides in Minnesota and is not employed by the charter school and does not have a 
109.5 	child enrolled in the school. The board may include a majority of teachers described in 
109.6 	this paragraph or parents or community members, or it may have no clear majority. The 
109.7 	chief financial officer and the chief administrator may only serve as ex-officio nonvoting 
109.8 	board members. No charter school employees shall serve on the board other than teachers 
109.9 	under item (i). Contractors providing facilities, goods, or services to a charter school shall 
109.10 	not serve on the board of directors of the charter school.
109.11 	(o) Board bylaws shall outline the process and procedures for changing the board's 
109.12 	governance structure, consistent with chapter 317A. A board may change its governance 
109.13 	structure only:
109.14 	(1) by a majority vote of the board of directors and a majority vote of the licensed 
109.15 	teachers employed by the school as teachers, including licensed teachers providing 
109.16 	instruction under a contract between the school and a cooperative; and
109.17 	(2) with the authorizer's approval.
109.18 	Any change in board governance structure must conform with the composition of 
109.19 	the board established under this paragraph.
109.20 	(h) (p) The granting or renewal of a charter by an authorizer must not be conditioned 
109.21 	upon the bargaining unit status of the employees of the school.
109.22 	(i) (q) The granting or renewal of a charter school by an authorizer must not be 
109.23 	contingent on the charter school being required to contract, lease, or purchase services 
109.24 	from the authorizer.
109.25 	(r) Any potential contract, lease, or purchase of service from an authorizer must 
109.26 	be disclosed to the commissioner, accepted through an open bidding process, and be a 
109.27 	separate contract from the charter contract. The school must document the open bidding 
109.28 	process. An authorizer must not enter into a contract to provide management and financial 
109.29 	services for a school that it authorizes, unless the school documents that it received at 
109.30 	least two competitive bids.
109.31 	(j) (s) A charter school may apply to the authorizer to amend the school charter to 
109.32 	expand the operation of the school to additional grades or sites that would be students' 
109.33 	primary enrollment site beyond those defined in the original affidavit approved by the 
109.34 	commissioner. After approving the school's application, the authorizer shall submit a 
109.35 	supplementary affidavit in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner. The 
109.36 	authorizer must file a supplement affidavit by October 1 to be eligible to expand in the next 
110.1 	school year. The supplementary affidavit must document that the school has demonstrated 
110.2 	to the satisfaction of the authorizer the following:
110.3 	(1) the need for the expansion with supporting long-range enrollment projections;
110.4 	(2) a longitudinal record of demonstrated student academic performance and growth 
110.5 	on statewide assessments under chapter 120B or on other academic assessments that 
110.6 	measure longitudinal student performance and growth approved by the charter school's 
110.7 	board of directors and agreed upon with the authorizer;
110.8 	(3) a history of sound school finances and a finance plan to implement the expansion 
110.9 	in a manner to promote the school's financial sustainability; and
110.10 	(4) board capacity and an administrative and management plan to implement its 
110.11 	expansion.
110.12 	(k) (t) The commissioner shall have 30 business days to review and comment on the 
110.13 	supplemental affidavit. The commissioner shall notify the authorizer in writing of any 
110.14 	deficiencies in the supplemental affidavit and the authorizer then has 20 business days to 
110.15 	address, to the commissioner's satisfaction, any deficiencies in the supplemental affidavit. 
110.16 	The commissioner must notify the authorizer of final approval or disapproval within 15 
110.17 	business days after receiving the authorizer's response to the deficiencies in the affidavit. 
110.18 	The school may not expand grades or add sites until the commissioner has approved the 
110.19 	supplemental affidavit. The commissioner's approval or disapproval of a supplemental 
110.20 	affidavit is final.

110.21 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.10, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
110.22 		Subd. 8.Federal, state, and local requirements. (a) A charter school shall meet all 
110.23 	federal, state, and local health and safety requirements applicable to school districts.
110.24 	(b) A school must comply with statewide accountability requirements governing 
110.25 	standards and assessments in chapter 120B.
110.26 	(c) A school authorized by a school board may be located in any district, unless the 
110.27 	school board of the district of the proposed location disapproves by written resolution.
110.28 	(d) A charter school must be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, 
110.29 	employment practices, and all other operations. An authorizer may not authorize a charter 
110.30 	school or program that is affiliated with a nonpublic sectarian school or a religious 
110.31 	institution. 
110.32 	(e) A charter school student must be released for religious instruction, consistent 
110.33 	with section 120A.22, subdivision 12, clause (3).
111.1 	(e) (f) Charter schools must not be used as a method of providing education or 
111.2 	generating revenue for students who are being home-schooled. This paragraph does not 
111.3 	apply to shared time aid under section 126C.19.
111.4 	(f) (g) The primary focus of a charter school must be to provide a comprehensive 
111.5 	program of instruction for at least one grade or age group from five through 18 years of 
111.6 	age. Instruction may be provided to people older than 18 years of age. A charter school 
111.7 	may offer a free or fee-based preschool or prekindergarten that meets high-quality early 
111.8 	learning instructional program standards that are aligned with Minnesota's early learning 
111.9 	standards for children. The hours a student is enrolled in a fee-based prekindergarten 
111.10 	program do not generate pupil units under section 126C.05 and must not be used to 
111.11 	calculate general education revenue under section 126C.10. A charter school with at least 
111.12 	90 percent of enrolled students who are eligible for special education services and have 
111.13 	a primary disability of deaf or hard-of-hearing may enroll prekindergarten pupils with a 
111.14 	disability under section 126C.05, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), and must comply with the 
111.15 	federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act under Code of Federal Regulations, 
111.16 	title 34, section 300.324, subsection (2), clause (iv).
111.17 	(g) (h) Except as provided in paragraph (g), a charter school may not charge tuition.
111.18 	(h) (i) A charter school is subject to and must comply with chapter 363A and section 
111.19 	121A.04.
111.20 	(i) (j) Once a student is enrolled in the school, the student is considered enrolled 
111.21 	in the school until the student formally withdraws or is expelled under the Pupil Fair 
111.22 	Dismissal Act in sections 121A.40 to 121A.56. A charter school is subject to and must 
111.23 	comply with the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, sections 121A.40 to 121A.56, and.
111.24 	(k) A charter school is subject to and must comply with the Minnesota Public School 
111.25 	Fee Law, sections 123B.34 to 123B.39.
111.26 	(j) (l) A charter school is subject to the same financial audits, audit procedures, and 
111.27 	audit requirements as a district, except as required under subdivision 6a. Audits must be 
111.28 	conducted in compliance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards, the 
111.29 	federal Single Audit Act, if applicable, and section 6.65. A charter school is subject 
111.30 	to and must comply with sections 15.054; 118A.01; 118A.02; 118A.03; 118A.04; 
111.31 	118A.05; 118A.06; 471.38; 471.391; 471.392; and 471.425. The audit must comply with 
111.32 	the requirements of sections 123B.75 to 123B.83, except to the extent deviations are 
111.33 	necessary because of the program at the school. Deviations must be approved by the 
111.34 	commissioner and authorizer. The Department of Education, state auditor, legislative 
111.35 	auditor, or authorizer may conduct financial, program, or compliance audits. A charter 
112.1 	school determined to be in statutory operating debt under sections 123B.81 to 123B.83 
112.2 	must submit a plan under section 123B.81, subdivision 4.
112.3 	(k) (m) A charter school is a district for the purposes of tort liability under chapter 466.
112.4 	(l) (n) A charter school must comply with chapters 13 and 13D; and sections 
112.5 	120A.22, subdivision 7; 121A.75; and 260B.171, subdivisions 3 and 5.
112.6 	(m) (o) A charter school is subject to the Pledge of Allegiance requirement under 
112.7 	section 121A.11, subdivision 3.
112.8 	(n) (p) A charter school offering online courses or programs must comply with 
112.9 	section 124D.095.
112.10 	(o) (q) A charter school and charter school board of directors are subject to chapter 
112.11 	181.
112.12 	(p) (r) A charter school must comply with section 120A.22, subdivision 7, governing 
112.13 	the transfer of students' educational records and sections 138.163 and 138.17 governing 
112.14 	the management of local records.
112.15 	(q) (s) A charter school that provides early childhood health and developmental 
112.16 	screening must comply with sections 121A.16 to 121A.19.
112.17 	(r) (t) A charter school that provides school-sponsored youth athletic activities 
112.18 	must comply with section 121A.38.
112.19 	(s) (u) A charter school is subject to and must comply with continuing truant 
112.20 	notification under section 260A.03.
112.21 	(t) (v) A charter school must develop and implement a teacher evaluation and 
112.22 	peer review process under section 122A.40, subdivision 8, paragraph (b), clauses (2) to 
112.23 	(13). The teacher evaluation process in this paragraph does not create any additional 
112.24 	employment rights for teachers.
112.25 	(u) (w) A charter school must adopt a policy, plan, budget, and process, consistent 
112.26 	with section 120B.11, to review curriculum, instruction, and student achievement and 
112.27 	strive for the world's best workforce.
112.28 	(v) (x) A charter school must comply with section 121A.031 governing policies on 
112.29 	prohibited conduct.
112.30 	(w) (y) A charter school must comply with all pupil transportation requirements in 
112.31 	section 123B.88, subdivision 1. A charter school must not require parents to surrender 
112.32 	their rights to pupil transportation under section 123B.88, subdivision 2.

112.33 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.10, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
112.34 		Subd. 9.Admission requirements. (a) A charter school may limit admission to:
112.35 	(1) pupils within an age group or grade level;
113.1 	(2) pupils who are eligible to participate in the graduation incentives program under 
113.2 	section 124D.68; or
113.3 	(3) residents of a specific geographic area in which the school is located when the 
113.4 	majority of students served by the school are members of underserved populations.
113.5 	(b) A charter school shall enroll an eligible pupil who submits a timely application, 
113.6 	unless the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or 
113.7 	building. In this case, pupils must be accepted by lot. The charter school must develop 
113.8 	and publish, including on its Web site, a lottery policy and process that it must use when 
113.9 	accepting pupils by lot.
113.10 	(c) A charter school shall give enrollment preference to a sibling of an enrolled pupil 
113.11 	and to a foster child of that pupil's parents and may give preference for enrolling children 
113.12 	of the school's staff before accepting other pupils by lot. A charter school that is located in 
113.13 	Duluth township in St. Louis County and admits students in kindergarten through grade 
113.14 	6 must give enrollment preference to students residing within a five-mile radius of the 
113.15 	school and to the siblings of enrolled children. A If a charter school has a preschool or 
113.16 	prekindergarten program under subdivision 8, paragraph (g), that is free to all participants, 
113.17 	the charter school may give enrollment preference to children currently enrolled in the 
113.18 	school's free preschool or prekindergarten program under subdivision 8, paragraph (f), 
113.19 	who are eligible to enroll in kindergarten in the next school year.
113.20 	(d) A person shall not be admitted to a charter school (1) as a kindergarten pupil, 
113.21 	unless the pupil is at least five years of age on September 1 of the calendar year in which 
113.22 	the school year for which the pupil seeks admission commences; or (2) as a first grade 
113.23 	student, unless the pupil is at least six years of age on September 1 of the calendar year in 
113.24 	which the school year for which the pupil seeks admission commences or has completed 
113.25 	kindergarten; except that a charter school may establish and publish on its Web site a 
113.26 	policy for admission of selected pupils at an earlier age, consistent with the enrollment 
113.27 	process in paragraphs (b) and (c).
113.28 	(e) Except as permitted in paragraph (d), a charter school may not limit admission 
113.29 	to pupils on the basis of intellectual ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, or 
113.30 	athletic ability and may not establish any criteria or requirements for admission that are 
113.31 	inconsistent with this subdivision.
113.32 	(f) The charter school shall not distribute any services or goods of value to students, 
113.33 	parents, or guardians as an inducement, term, or condition of enrolling a student in a 
113.34 	charter school.

113.35 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and 
113.36 	later.

114.1 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.10, subdivision 12, is amended to read:
114.2 		Subd. 12.Pupils with a disability. A charter school must comply with sections 
114.3 	125A.02, 125A.03 to 125A.24, and125A.65, and 125A.75 and rules relating to the 
114.4 	education of pupils with a disability as though it were a district. A charter school enrolling 
114.5 	prekindergarten pupils with a disability under subdivision 8, paragraph (g), must comply 
114.6 	with sections 125A.259 to 125A.48 and rules relating to the Interagency Early Intervention 
114.7 	System as though it were a school district.

114.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2016 and later.

114.9 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.10, subdivision 14, is amended to read:
114.10 		Subd. 14.Annual public reports. (a) A charter school must publish an annual 
114.11 	report approved by the board of directors. The annual report must at least include 
114.12 	information on school enrollment, student attrition, governance and management, staffing, 
114.13 	finances, academic performance, innovative practices and implementation, and future 
114.14 	plans. A charter school may combine this report with the reporting required under section 
114.15 	120B.11. A charter school must post the annual report on the school's official Web site. A 
114.16 	charter school must also distribute the annual report by publication, mail, or electronic 
114.17 	means to its authorizer, school employees, and parents and legal guardians of students 
114.18 	enrolled in the charter school. The reports are public data under chapter 13.
114.19 	(b) The commissioner shall establish specifications for an authorizer's annual public 
114.20 	report that is part of the system to evaluate authorizer performance under subdivision 
114.21 	3, paragraph (h). The report shall at least include key indicators of school academic, 
114.22 	operational, and financial performance.

114.23 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.10, subdivision 16, is amended to read:
114.24 		Subd. 16.Transportation. (a) A charter school after its first fiscal year of operation 
114.25 	by March 1 of each fiscal year and a charter school by July 1 of its first fiscal year of 
114.26 	operation must notify the district in which the school is located and the Department of 
114.27 	Education if it will provide its own transportation or use the transportation services of the 
114.28 	district in which it is located for the fiscal year.
114.29 	(b) If a charter school elects to provide transportation for pupils, the transportation 
114.30 	must be provided by the charter school within the district in which the charter school is 
114.31 	located. The state must pay transportation aid to the charter school according to section 
114.32 	124D.11, subdivision 2.
114.33 	For pupils who reside outside the district in which the charter school is located, the 
114.34 	charter school is not required to provide or pay for transportation between the pupil's 
115.1 	residence and the border of the district in which the charter school is located. A parent 
115.2 	may be reimbursed by the charter school for costs of transportation from the pupil's 
115.3 	residence to the border of the district in which the charter school is located if the pupil is 
115.4 	from a family whose income is at or below the poverty level, as determined by the federal 
115.5 	government. The reimbursement may not exceed the pupil's actual cost of transportation 
115.6 	or 15 cents per mile traveled, whichever is less. Reimbursement may not be paid for 
115.7 	more than 250 miles per week.
115.8 	At the time a pupil enrolls in a charter school, the charter school must provide the 
115.9 	parent or guardian with information regarding the transportation.
115.10 	(c) If a charter school does not elect to provide transportation, transportation for 
115.11 	pupils enrolled at the school must be provided by the district in which the school is located, 
115.12 	according to sections 123B.88, subdivision 6, and 124D.03, subdivision 8, for a pupil 
115.13 	residing in the same district in which the charter school is located. Transportation may 
115.14 	be provided by the district in which the school is located, according to sections 123B.88, 
115.15 	subdivision 6, and 124D.03, subdivision 8, for a pupil residing in a different district and 
115.16 	must be provided according to section 123B.88, subdivision 10a. If the district provides the 
115.17 	transportation, the scheduling of routes, manner and method of transportation, control and 
115.18 	discipline of the pupils, and any other matter relating to the transportation of pupils under 
115.19 	this paragraph shall be within the sole discretion, control, and management of the district.

115.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.

115.21 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.10, subdivision 23, is amended to read:
115.22 		Subd. 23.Causes for nonrenewal or termination of charter school contract. (a) 
115.23 	The duration of the contract with an authorizer must be for the term contained in the 
115.24 	contract according to subdivision 6. The authorizer may or may not renew a contract at 
115.25 	the end of the term for any ground listed in paragraph (b). An authorizer may unilaterally 
115.26 	terminate a contract during the term of the contract for any ground listed in paragraph (b). 
115.27 	At least 60 business days before not renewing or terminating a contract, the authorizer 
115.28 	shall notify the board of directors of the charter school of the proposed action in writing. 
115.29 	The notice shall state the grounds for the proposed action in reasonable detail and that the 
115.30 	charter school's board of directors may request in writing an informal hearing before the 
115.31 	authorizer within 15 business days of receiving notice of nonrenewal or termination of 
115.32 	the contract. Failure by the board of directors to make a written request for an informal 
115.33 	hearing within the 15-business-day period shall be treated as acquiescence to the proposed 
115.34 	action. Upon receiving a timely written request for a hearing, the authorizer shall give ten 
115.35 	business days' notice to the charter school's board of directors of the hearing date. The 
116.1 	authorizer shall conduct an informal hearing before taking final action. The authorizer 
116.2 	shall take final action to renew or not renew a contract no later than 20 business days 
116.3 	before the proposed date for terminating the contract or the end date of the contract.
116.4 	(b) A contract may be terminated or not renewed upon any of the following grounds:
116.5 	(1) failure to demonstrate satisfactory academic achievement for all students, 
116.6 	including the requirements for pupil performance contained in the contract;
116.7 	(2) failure to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management;
116.8 	(3) violations of law; or
116.9 	(4) other good cause shown.
116.10 	If a contract is terminated or not renewed under this paragraph, the school must be 
116.11 	dissolved according to the applicable provisions of chapter 317A.
116.12 	(c) If the authorizer and the charter school board of directors mutually agree not to 
116.13 	renew the contract, a change in authorizers is allowed. The authorizer and the school 
116.14 	board must jointly submit a written and signed letter of their intent to the commissioner 
116.15 	to mutually not renew the contract. The authorizer that is a party to the existing contract 
116.16 	must inform the proposed authorizer about the fiscal, operational, and student performance 
116.17 	status of the school, as well as any outstanding contractual obligations that exist. The 
116.18 	charter contract between the proposed authorizer and the school must identify and provide 
116.19 	a plan to address any outstanding obligations from the previous contract. The proposed 
116.20 	contract must be submitted at least 105 business days before the end of the existing 
116.21 	charter contract. The commissioner shall have 30 business days to review and make a 
116.22 	determination. The proposed authorizer and the school shall have 15 business days to 
116.23 	respond to the determination and address any issues identified by the commissioner. A 
116.24 	final determination by the commissioner shall be made no later than 45 business days 
116.25 	before the end of the current charter contract. If no change in authorizer is approved, the 
116.26 	school and the current authorizer may withdraw their letter of nonrenewal and enter into a 
116.27 	new contract. If the transfer of authorizers is not approved and the current authorizer and 
116.28 	the school do not withdraw their letter and enter into a new contract, the school must be 
116.29 	dissolved according to applicable law and the terms of the contract.
116.30 	(d) The commissioner, after providing reasonable notice to the board of directors of 
116.31 	a charter school and the existing authorizer, and after providing an opportunity for a public 
116.32 	hearing, may terminate the existing contract between the authorizer and the charter school 
116.33 	board if the charter school has a history of:
116.34 	(1) failure to meet pupil performance requirements consistent with state law;
116.35 	(2) financial mismanagement or failure to meet generally accepted standards of 
116.36 	fiscal management; or
117.1 	(3) repeated or major violations of the law.
117.2 	(e) Notwithstanding other provisions of this subdivision, the authorizer of a charter 
117.3 	school may terminate an existing contract between the authorizer and the charter school at 
117.4 	the end of the current school year, after notifying the charter school board of directors by 
117.5 	December 1, if in each of the previous three consecutive school years the performance of 
117.6 	the charter school based on federal school accountability measures and on state measures 
117.7 	of student performance and growth would place the school in the bottom ten percent of all 
117.8 	public schools as determined by the commissioner. If an authorizer chooses to terminate 
117.9 	the contract, the school must be closed according to applicable law and the terms of the 
117.10 	contract. The authorizer must work with the charter school's board of directors to ensure 
117.11 	parents of children currently enrolled at the school are aware of school choice options 
117.12 	and receive assistance in selecting an appropriate choice for their children for the next 
117.13 	school year. If the authorizer chooses not to terminate the existing contract under these 
117.14 	conditions, the authorizer must submit a public, written justification of its decision to the 
117.15 	commissioner by December 1. The federal and state measures identified in this paragraph 
117.16 	do not prevent an authorizer from closing schools under other conditions, consistent with 
117.17 	applicable law and contract terms.

117.18 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.10, is amended by adding a 
117.19 	subdivision to read:
117.20 		Subd. 24a.Merger. (a) Two or more charter schools may merge under chapter 
117.21 	317A. The effective date of a merger must be July 1. The merged school must continue 
117.22 	under the identity of one of the merging schools. A new charter contract under subdivision 
117.23 	6 must be executed by July 1. The authorizer must submit to the commissioner a copy of 
117.24 	the new signed charter contract within ten business days of its execution.
117.25 	(b) Each merging school must submit a separate year-end report for the previous year 
117.26 	for that school only. After the final fiscal year of the premerger schools is closed out, the 
117.27 	fund balances and debts from the merging schools must be transferred to the merged school.
117.28 	(c) For its first year of operation, the merged school is eligible to receive aid from 
117.29 	programs requiring approved applications equal to the sum of the aid of all of the merging 
117.30 	schools. For aids based on prior year data, the merged school is eligible to receive aid for 
117.31 	its first year of operation based on the combined data of all of the merging schools.

117.32 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.11, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
117.33 		Subd. 9.Payment of aids to charter schools. (a) Notwithstanding section 
117.34 	127A.45, subdivision 3, if the current year aid payment percentage under section 
118.1 	127A.45, subdivision 2, paragraph (d), is 90 or greater, aid payments for the current 
118.2 	fiscal year to a charter school shall be of an equal amount on each of the 24 payment 
118.3 	dates. Notwithstanding section 127A.45, subdivision 3, if the current year aid payment 
118.4 	percentage under section 127A.45, subdivision 2, paragraph (d), is less than 90, aid 
118.5 	payments for the current fiscal year to a charter school shall be of an equal amount on 
118.6 	each of the 16 payment dates in July through February.
118.7 	(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) and section 127A.45, for a charter school ceasing 
118.8 	operation on or prior to June 30 of a school year, for the payment periods occurring after 
118.9 	the school ceases serving students, the commissioner shall withhold the estimated state aid 
118.10 	owed the school. The charter school board of directors and authorizer must submit to the 
118.11 	commissioner a closure plan under chapter 308A or 317A, and financial information about 
118.12 	the school's liabilities and assets. After receiving the closure plan, financial information, 
118.13 	an audit of pupil counts, documentation of lease expenditures, and monitoring of special 
118.14 	education expenditures, the commissioner may release cash withheld and may continue 
118.15 	regular payments up to the current year payment percentages if further amounts are 
118.16 	owed. If, based on audits and monitoring, the school received state aid in excess of the 
118.17 	amount owed, the commissioner shall retain aid withheld sufficient to eliminate the aid 
118.18 	overpayment. For a charter school ceasing operations prior to, or at the end of, a school 
118.19 	year, notwithstanding section 127A.45, subdivision 3, preliminary final payments may 
118.20 	be made after receiving the closure plan, audit of pupil counts, monitoring of special 
118.21 	education expenditures, documentation of lease expenditures, and school submission of 
118.22 	Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards (UFARS) financial data for the 
118.23 	final year of operation. Final payment may be made upon receipt of audited financial 
118.24 	statements under section 123B.77, subdivision 3.
118.25 	(c) If a charter school fails to comply with the commissioner's directive to return, 
118.26 	for cause, federal or state funds administered by the department, the commissioner may 
118.27 	withhold an amount of state aid sufficient to satisfy the directive.
118.28 	(d) If, within the timeline under section 471.425, a charter school fails to pay the state 
118.29 	of Minnesota, a school district, intermediate school district, or service cooperative after 
118.30 	receiving an undisputed invoice for goods and services, the commissioner may withhold 
118.31 	an amount of state aid sufficient to satisfy the claim and shall distribute the withheld 
118.32 	aid to the interested state agency, school district, intermediate school district, or service 
118.33 	cooperative. An interested state agency, school district, intermediate school district, or 
118.34 	education cooperative shall notify the commissioner when a charter school fails to pay an 
118.35 	undisputed invoice within 75 business days of when it received the original invoice.
119.1 	(e) Notwithstanding section 127A.45, subdivision 3, and paragraph (a), 80 percent 
119.2 	of the start-up cost aid under subdivision 8 shall be paid within 45 days after the first day 
119.3 	of student attendance for that school year.
119.4 	(f) (e) In order to receive state aid payments under this subdivision, a charter school 
119.5 	in its first three years of operation must submit a school calendar in the form and manner 
119.6 	requested by the department and a quarterly report to the Department of Education. The 
119.7 	report must list each student by grade, show the student's start and end dates, if any, 
119.8 	with the charter school, and for any student participating in a learning year program, 
119.9 	the report must list the hours and times of learning year activities. The report must be 
119.10 	submitted not more than two weeks after the end of the calendar quarter to the department. 
119.11 	The department must develop a Web-based reporting form for charter schools to use 
119.12 	when submitting enrollment reports. A charter school in its fourth and subsequent year of 
119.13 	operation must submit a school calendar and enrollment information to the department in 
119.14 	the form and manner requested by the department.
119.15 	(g) (f) Notwithstanding sections 317A.701 to 317A.791, upon closure of a charter 
119.16 	school and satisfaction of creditors, cash and investment balances remaining shall be 
119.17 	returned to the state.
119.18 	(h) (g) A charter school must have a valid, signed contract under section 124D.10, 
119.19 	subdivision 6, on file at the Department of Education at least 15 days prior to the date of 
119.20 	first payment of state aid for the fiscal year.
119.21 	(i) (h) State aid entitlements shall be computed for a charter school only for the 
119.22 	portion of a school year for which it has a valid, signed contract under section 124D.10, 
119.23 	subdivision 6.

119.24 	Sec. 13. REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.
 119.25 	The revisor of statutes shall renumber the provisions of Minnesota Statutes listed 
119.26 	in column A to the references listed in column B. The revisor of statutes may alter the 
119.27 	renumbering to incorporate statutory changes made during the 2015 regular legislative 
119.28 	session. The revisor shall also make necessary cross-reference changes in Minnesota 
119.29 	Statutes and Minnesota Rules consistent with the renumbering in this instruction and the 
119.30 	relettering of paragraphs in sections 1 to 12.

119.31		Column A
	Column B
	
119.32		124D.10, subd. 1, paragraph (a)
	124E.01, subd. 1
	
119.33		124D.10, subd. 1, paragraph (b)
	124E.06, subd. 3, paragraph (d)
	
119.34		124D.10, subd. 1, paragraph (c)
	124E.06, subd. 1, paragraph (b)
	
119.35		124D.10, subd. 2
	124E.01, subd. 2
	
119.36		124D.10, subd. 3, paragraph (a)
	124E.02, paragraph (a)
	
120.1		124D.10, subd. 3, paragraph (b)
	124E.05, subd. 1
	
120.2		124D.10, subd. 3, paragraph (c)
	124E.05, subd. 2, paragraph (a)
	
120.3		124D.10, subd. 3, paragraph (d)
	124E.05, subd. 3, paragraph (a)
	
120.4		124D.10, subd. 3, paragraph (e)
	124E.05, subd. 4
	
120.5		124D.10, subd. 3, paragraph (f)
	124E.05, subd. 3, paragraph (b)
	
120.6		124D.10, subd. 3, paragraph (g)
	124E.05, subd. 7
	
120.7		124D.10, subd. 3, paragraph (h)
	124E.05, subd. 2, paragraph (b)
	
120.8		124D.10, subd. 3, paragraph (i)
	124E.05, subd. 5
	
120.9		124D.10, subd. 3, paragraph (j)
	124E.05, subd. 6, paragraph (a)
	
120.10		124D.10, subd. 3, paragraph (k)
	124E.05, subd. 6, paragraph (b)
	
120.11		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (a)
	124E.06, subd. 1, paragraph (a)
	
120.12		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (b)
	124E.06, subd. 2, paragraph (a)
	
120.13		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (c)
	124E.06, subd. 2, paragraph (c)
	
120.14		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (d)
	124E.06, subd. 4
	
120.15		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (e)
	124E.06, subd. 3, paragraph (g)
	
120.16		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (f)
	124E.06, subd. 2, paragraph (b)
	
120.17		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (g)
	124E.07, subd. 1
	
120.18		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (h)
	124E.07, subd. 5
	
120.19		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (i)
	124E.07, subd. 8, paragraph (a)
	
120.20		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (j)
	124E.07, subd. 8, paragraph (b)
	
120.21		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (k)
	124E.17, subd. 2
	
120.22		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (l)
	124E.07, subd. 7
	
120.23		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (m)
	124E.07, subd. 2
	
120.24		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (n)
	124E.07, subd. 3, paragraph (a)
	
120.25		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (o)
	124E.07, subd. 4
	
120.26		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (p)
	124E.10, subd. 2, paragraph (c)
	
120.27		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (q)
	124E.10, subd. 2, paragraph (b)
	
120.28		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (r)
	124E.10, subd. 2, paragraph (a)
	
120.29		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (s)
	124E.06, subd. 5, paragraph (a)
	
120.30		124D.10, subd. 4, paragraph (t)
	124E.06, subd. 5, paragraph (b)
	
120.31		124D.10, subd. 4a, paragraph (a)
	124E.07, subd. 3, paragraph (b)
	
120.32		124D.10, subd. 4a, paragraph (b)
	124E.14, paragraph (a)
	
120.33		124D.10, subd. 4a, paragraph (c)
	124E.07, subd. 3, paragraph (c)
	
120.34		124D.10, subd. 4a, paragraph (d)
	124E.07, subd. 3, paragraph (d)
	
120.35		124D.10, subd. 4a, paragraph (e)
	124E.14, paragraph (b)
	
120.36		124D.10, subd. 4a, paragraph (f)
	124E.14, paragraph (c)
	
120.37		124D.10, subd. 5
	124E.06, subd. 6
	
120.38		124D.10, subd. 6
	124E.10, subd. 1, paragraph (a)
	
120.39
120.40		124D.10, subd. 6a
	124E.16, subd. 1, paragraphs (b) to 
(e)
	
120.41		124D.10, subd. 7
	124E.03, subd. 1
	
120.42		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (a)
	124E.03, subd. 2, paragraph (a)
	
120.43		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (b)
	124E.03, subd. 2, paragraph (b)
	
120.44		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (c)
	124E.06, subd. 3, paragraph (e)
	
121.1		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (d)
	124E.06, subd. 3, paragraph (b)
	
121.2		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (e)
	124E.03, subd. 4, paragraph (a)
	
121.3		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (f)
	124E.06, subd. 3, paragraph (c)
	
121.4		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (g)
	124E.06, subd. 3, paragraph (a)
	
121.5		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (h)
	124E.06, subd. 3, paragraph (f)
	
121.6		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (i)
	124E.03, subd. 4, paragraph (b)
	
121.7		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (j)
	124E.11, paragraph (g)
	
121.8		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (k)
	124E.03, subd. 2, paragraph (c)
	
121.9		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (l)
	124E.16, subd. 1, paragraph (a)
	
121.10		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (m)
	124E.03, subd. 2, paragraph (d)
	
121.11		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (n)
	124E.03, subd. 5, paragraph (a)
	
121.12		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (o)
	124E.03, subd. 2, paragraph (e)
	
121.13		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (p)
	124E.03, subd. 7, paragraph (a)
	
121.14		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (q)
	124E.03, subd. 2, paragraph (f)
	
121.15		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (r)
	124E.03, subd. 5, paragraph (b)
	
121.16		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (s)
	124E.03, subd. 7, paragraph (b)
	
121.17		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (t)
	124E.03, subd. 7, paragraph (c)
	
121.18		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (u)
	124E.03, subd. 2, paragraph (g)
	
121.19		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (v)
	124E.03, subd. 2, paragraph (h)
	
121.20		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (w)
	124E.03, subd. 2, paragraph (i)
	
121.21		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (x)
	124E.03, subd. 4, paragraph (c)
	
121.22		124D.10, subd. 8, paragraph (y)
	124E.15, paragraph (a)
	
121.23		124D.10, subd. 8a
	124E.25, subd. 3, paragraph (a)
	
121.24		124D.10, subd. 8b
	124E.25, subd. 3, paragraph (b)
	
121.25		124D.10, subd. 9
	124E.11, paragraphs (a) to (f)
	
121.26		124D.10, subd. 10
	124E.10, subd. 1, paragraph (b)
	
121.27		124D.10, subd. 11, paragraph (a)
	124E.12, subd. 1
	
121.28		124D.10, subd. 11, paragraph (b)
	124E.12, subd. 2
	
121.29		124D.10, subd. 11, paragraph (c)
	124E.07, subd. 6
	
121.30		124D.10, subd. 11, paragraph (d)
	124E.12, subd. 5
	
121.31		124D.10, subd. 12
	124E.03, subd. 3
	
121.32		124D.10, subd. 13
	124E.03, subd. 6
	
121.33		124D.10, subd. 14
	124E.16, subd. 2
	
121.34
121.35		124D.10, subd. 15, paragraphs (a) 
to (e)
	124E.10, subd. 3, paragraphs (a) to 
(e)
	
121.36		124D.10, subd. 15, paragraph (f)
	124E.05, subd. 8
	
121.37		124D.10, subd. 16
	124E.15, paragraphs (b) to (d)
	
121.38		124D.10, subd. 17
	124E.13, subd. 1
	
121.39		124D.10, subd. 17a
	124E.13, subd. 3
	
121.40		124D.10, subd. 17b
	124E.13, subd. 4
	
121.41		124D.10, subd. 19
	124E.17, subd. 1
	
121.42		124D.10, subd. 20
	124E.12, subd. 6
	
121.43		124D.10, subd. 21
	124E.12, subd. 3
	
121.44		124D.10, subd. 22
	124E.12, subd. 4
	
122.1
122.2		124D.10, subd. 23, paragraphs (a) 
and (b)
	124E.10, subd. 4, paragraphs (a) and 
(b)
	
122.3		124D.10, subd. 23, paragraph (c)
	124E.10, subd. 5
	
122.4		124D.10, subd. 23, paragraph (d)
	124E.10, subd. 4, paragraph (c)
	
122.5		124D.10, subd. 23a, paragraph (a)
	124E.13, subd. 2, paragraph (a)
	
122.6		124D.10, subd. 23a, paragraph (b)
	124E.02, paragraph (b)
	
122.7		124D.10, subd. 23a, paragraph (c)
	124E.13, subd. 2, paragraph (b)
	
122.8		124D.10, subd. 23a, paragraph (d)
	124E.13, subd. 2, paragraph (c)
	
122.9		124D.10, subd. 24
	124E.10, subd. 6
	
122.10		124D.10, subd. 25
	124E.09
	
122.11		124D.10, subd. 27
	124E.08
	
122.12		124D.11, subd. 1
	124E.20, subd.1
	
122.13		124D.11, subd. 2
	124E.23
	
122.14		124D.11, subd. 3
	124E.20, subd. 2
	
122.15		124D.11, subd. 4
	124E.22
	
122.16		124D.11, subd. 5
	124E.21
	
122.17		124D.11, subd. 6
	124E.24
	
122.18		124D.11, subd. 7
	124E.26
	
122.19		124D.11, subd. 9, paragraph (a)
	124E.25, subd. 1, paragraph (a)
	
122.20		124D.11, subd. 9, paragraph (b)
	124E.25, subd. 1, paragraph (b)
	
122.21		124D.11, subd. 9, paragraph (c)
	124E.25, subd. 4, paragraph (a)
	
122.22		124D.11, subd. 9, paragraph (d)
	124E.25, subd. 4, paragraph (b)
	
122.23		124D.11, subd. 9, paragraph (e)
	124E.25, subd. 2, paragraph (a)
	
122.24		124D.11, subd. 9, paragraph (f)
	124E.25, subd. 1, paragraph (c)
	
122.25		124D.11, subd. 9, paragraph (g)
	124E.25, subd. 2, paragraph (b)
	
122.26		124D.11, subd. 9, paragraph (h)
	124E.25, subd. 2, paragraph (c)

122.27 	Sec. 14. APPROPRIATIONS.
 122.28 		Subdivision 1.Department. The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
122.29 	from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years designated.
122.30 		Subd. 2.Charter school building lease aid. For building lease aid under Minnesota 
122.31 	Statutes, section 124D.11, subdivision 4: 

122.32		$
	66,787,000
	.....
	2016
	
122.33		$
	73,603,000
	.....
	2017
	
122.34 	The 2016 appropriation includes $6,032,000 for 2015 and $60,755,000 for 2016.
122.35 	The 2017 appropriation includes $6,750,000 for 2016 and $66,853,000 for 2017.

123.1 	ARTICLE 5
123.2 	SPECIAL EDUCATION

123.3 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.31, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
123.4 		Subdivision 1.Requirements for American sign language/English interpreters.
 123.5 	(a) In addition to any other requirements that a school district establishes, any person 
123.6 	employed to provide American sign language/English interpreting or sign transliterating 
123.7 	services on a full-time or part-time basis for a school district after July 1, 2000, must:
123.8 	(1) hold current interpreter and transliterator certificates awarded by the Registry 
123.9 	of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), or the general level interpreter proficiency certificate 
123.10 	awarded by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), or a comparable state 
123.11 	certification from the commissioner of education; and
123.12 	(2) satisfactorily complete an interpreter/transliterator training program affiliated 
123.13 	with an accredited educational institution.
123.14 	(b) New graduates of an interpreter/transliterator program affiliated with an 
123.15 	accredited education institution shall be granted a two-year provisional certificate by 
123.16 	the commissioner. During the two-year provisional period, the interpreter/transliterator 
123.17 	must develop and implement an education plan in collaboration with a mentor under 
123.18 	paragraph (c).
123.19 	(c) A mentor of a provisionally certified interpreter/transliterator must be an 
123.20 	interpreter/transliterator who has either NAD level IV or V certification or RID 
123.21 	certified interpreter and certified transliterator certification and have at least three 
123.22 	years interpreting/transliterating experience in any educational setting. The mentor, in 
123.23 	collaboration with the provisionally certified interpreter/transliterator, shall develop and 
123.24 	implement an education plan designed to meet the requirements of paragraph (a), clause 
123.25 	(1), and include a weekly on-site mentoring process.
123.26 	(d) Consistent with the requirements of this paragraph, a person holding a 
123.27 	provisional certificate may apply to the commissioner for one time-limited extension. 
123.28 	The commissioner, in consultation with the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and 
123.29 	Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans, must grant the person a time-limited extension of the 
123.30 	provisional certificate based on the following documentation:
123.31 	(1) letters of support from the person's mentor, a parent of a pupil the person serves, 
123.32 	the special education director of the district in which the person is employed, and a 
123.33 	representative from the regional service center of the deaf and hard-of-hearing;
123.34 	(2) records of the person's formal education, training, experience, and progress on 
123.35 	the person's education plan; and
124.1 	(3) an explanation of why the extension is needed.
124.2 	As a condition of receiving the extension, the person must comply with a plan 
124.3 	and the accompanying time line for meeting the requirements of this subdivision. A 
124.4 	committee composed of the director of the Minnesota Resource Center Serving Deaf and 
124.5 	Hard-of-Hearing, or the director's designee deaf and hard-of-hearing state specialist, a 
124.6 	representative of the Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens, a representative of the 
124.7 	Minnesota Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf, and other appropriate persons selected 
124.8 	by the commissioner must develop the plan and time line for the person receiving the 
124.9 	extension.
124.10 	(e) A school district may employ only an interpreter/transliterator who has been 
124.11 	certified under paragraph (a) or (b), or for whom a time-limited extension has been 
124.12 	granted under paragraph (d).

124.13 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.31, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
124.14 		Subd. 2.Oral or cued speech transliterators. (a) In addition to any other 
124.15 	requirements that a school district establishes, any person employed to provide oral 
124.16 	transliterating or cued speech transliterating services on a full-time or part-time basis for a 
124.17 	school district after July 1, 2000, must hold a current applicable transliterator certificate 
124.18 	awarded by the national certifying association or comparable state certification from 
124.19 	the commissioner of education.
124.20 	(b) To provide oral or cued speech transliterator services on a full-time or part-time 
124.21 	basis, a person employed in a school district must comply with paragraph (a). The 
124.22 	commissioner shall grant a nonrenewable, two-year certificate to a school district on behalf 
124.23 	of a person who has not yet attained a current applicable transliterator certificate under 
124.24 	paragraph (a). A person for whom a nonrenewable, two-year certificate is issued must 
124.25 	work under the direction of a licensed teacher who is skilled in language development 
124.26 	of individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. A person for whom a nonrenewable, 
124.27 	two-year certificate is issued also must enroll in a state-approved training program and 
124.28 	demonstrate progress towards the certification required under paragraph (a) sufficient for 
124.29 	the person to be certified at the end of the two-year period.
124.30 	(c) Consistent with the requirements of this paragraph, a person holding a 
124.31 	provisional certificate may apply to the commissioner for one time-limited extension. The 
124.32 	commissioner, in consultation with the Commission Serving Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing 
124.33 	People, must grant the person a time-limited extension of the provisional certificate based 
124.34 	on the following documentation:
125.1 	(1) letters of support from the person's mentor, a parent of a pupil the person serves, 
125.2 	the special education director of the district in which the person is employed, and a 
125.3 	representative from the regional service center of the deaf and hard-of-hearing;
125.4 	(2) records of the person's formal education, training, experience, and progress on 
125.5 	the person's education plan; and
125.6 	(3) an explanation of why the extension is needed.
125.7 	As a condition of receiving the extension, the person must comply with a plan 
125.8 	and the accompanying time line for meeting the requirements of this subdivision. A 
125.9 	committee composed of the director of the Minnesota Resource Center Serving Deaf and 
125.10 	Hard-of-Hearing, or the director's designee deaf and hard-of-hearing state specialist, a 
125.11 	representative of the Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens, a representative of the 
125.12 	Minnesota Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf, and other appropriate persons selected 
125.13 	by the commissioner must develop the plan and time line for the person receiving the 
125.14 	extension.

125.15 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 123B.88, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
125.16 		Subdivision 1.Providing transportation. The board may provide for the 
125.17 	transportation of pupils to and from school and for any other purpose. The board may 
125.18 	also provide for the transportation of pupils to schools in other districts for grades and 
125.19 	departments not maintained in the district, including high school, at the expense of the 
125.20 	district, when funds are available therefor and if agreeable to the district to which it is 
125.21 	proposed to transport the pupils, for the whole or a part of the school year, as it may 
125.22 	deem advisable, and subject to its rules. In any district, the board must arrange for the 
125.23 	attendance of all pupils living two miles or more from the school, except pupils whose 
125.24 	transportation privileges have been voluntarily surrendered under subdivision 2, or 
125.25 	whose privileges have been revoked under section 123B.91, subdivision 1, clause (6), or 
125.26 	123B.90, subdivision 2. The district may provide for the transportation of or the boarding 
125.27 	and rooming of the pupils who may be more economically and conveniently provided for 
125.28 	by that means. Arrangements for attendance may include a requirement that parents or 
125.29 	guardians request transportation before it is provided. The board must provide necessary 
125.30 	transportation to and from the home of, consistent with section 123B.92, subdivision 1, 
125.31 	paragraph (b), clause (4), for a child with a disability not yet enrolled in kindergarten 
125.32 	when for the provision of special instruction and services under sections 125A.03 to 
125.33 	125A.24, 125A.26 to 125A.48, and 125A.65are provided in a location other than in 
125.34 	the child's home. Special instruction and services for a child with a disability not yet 
125.35 	enrolled in kindergarten include an individualized education program team placement 
126.1 	in an early childhood program when that placement is necessary to address the child's 
126.2 	level of functioning and needs. When transportation is provided, scheduling of routes, 
126.3 	establishment of the location of bus stops, manner and method of transportation, control 
126.4 	and discipline of school children, the determination of fees, and any other matter relating 
126.5 	thereto must be within the sole discretion, control, and management of the board. The 
126.6 	district may provide for the transportation of pupils or expend a reasonable amount 
126.7 	for room and board of pupils whose attendance at school can more economically and 
126.8 	conveniently be provided for by that means or who attend school in a building rented or 
126.9 	leased by a district within the confines of an adjacent district.

126.10 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.01, is amended to read:
126.11 	125A.01 DEFINITIONS.
126.12 		Subdivision 1.General application. For purposes of this chapter, the words defined 
126.13 	in section 120A.05 have the same meaning.
126.14 		Subd. 2.Dyslexia. "Dyslexia" means a specific learning disability that is 
126.15 	neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate or fluent recognition 
126.16 	of words and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result 
126.17 	from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in 
126.18 	relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. 
126.19 	Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced 
126.20 	reading experience that can impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
126.21 	Students who have a dyslexia diagnosis must meet the state and federal eligibility 
126.22 	criteria in order to qualify for special education services.

126.23 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.023, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
126.24 		Subd. 3.Definitions. For purposes of this section and section 125A.027, the 
126.25 	following terms have the meanings given them:
126.26 	(a) "Health plan" means:
126.27 	(1) a health plan under section 62Q.01, subdivision 3;
126.28 	(2) a county-based purchasing plan under section 256B.692;
126.29 	(3) a self-insured health plan established by a local government under section 
126.30 	471.617; or
126.31 	(4) self-insured health coverage provided by the state to its employees or retirees.
126.32 	(b) For purposes of this section, "health plan company" means an entity that issues 
126.33 	a health plan as defined in paragraph (a).
127.1 	(c) "Interagency intervention service system" means a system that coordinates 
127.2 	services and programs required in state and federal law to meet the needs of eligible 
127.3 	children with disabilities ages birth through 21, including:
127.4 	(1) services provided under the following programs or initiatives administered 
127.5 	by state or local agencies:
127.6 	(i) the maternal and child health program under title V of the Social Security Act;
127.7 	(ii) the Minnesota children with special health needs program under sections 144.05 
127.8 	and 144.07;
127.9 	(iii) the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B, section 619, and Part 
127.10 	C as amended;
127.11 	(iv) medical assistance under title 42, chapter 7, of the Social Security Act;
127.12 	(v) developmental disabilities services under chapter 256B;
127.13 	(vi) the Head Start Act under title 42, chapter 105, of the Social Security Act;
127.14 	(vii) vocational rehabilitation services provided under chapters 248 and 268A and 
127.15 	the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
127.16 	(viii) Juvenile Court Act services provided under sections 260.011 to 260.91; 
127.17 	260B.001 to 260B.446; and 260C.001 to 260C.451;
127.18 	(ix) Minnesota Comprehensive Children's Mental Health Act under section 245.487;
127.19 	(x) the community health services grants under sections 145.88 to 145.9266;
127.20 	(xi) the Local Public Health Act under chapter 145A; and
127.21 	(xii) the Vulnerable Children and Adults Act, sections 256M.60 to 256M.80;
127.22 	(2) service provision and funding that can be coordinated through:
127.23 	(i) the children's mental health collaborative under section 245.493;
127.24 	(ii) the family services collaborative under section 124D.23;
127.25 	(iii) the community transition interagency committees under section 125A.22; and
127.26 	(iv) the interagency early intervention committees under section 125A.259;
127.27 	(3) financial and other funding programs to be coordinated including medical 
127.28 	assistance under title 42, chapter 7, of the Social Security Act, the MinnesotaCare program 
127.29 	under chapter 256L, Supplemental Social Security Income, Developmental Disabilities 
127.30 	Assistance, and any other employment-related activities associated with the Social 
127.31 	Security Administration; and services provided under a health plan in conformity with an 
127.32 	individual family service plan or an individualized education program or an individual 
127.33 	interagency intervention plan; and
127.34 	(4) additional appropriate services that local agencies and counties provide on 
127.35 	an individual need basis upon determining eligibility and receiving a request from (i) 
128.1 	the interagency early intervention committee school board or county board and (ii) the 
128.2 	child's parent.
128.3 	(d) "Children with disabilities" has the meaning given in section 125A.02.
128.4 	(e) A "standardized written plan" means those individual services or programs, with 
128.5 	accompanying funding sources, available through the interagency intervention service 
128.6 	system to an eligible child other than the services or programs described in the child's 
128.7 	individualized education program or the child's individual family service plan.

128.8 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.023, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
128.9 		Subd. 4.State Interagency Committee. (a) The commissioner of education, on 
128.10 	behalf of the governor, shall convene an interagency committee to develop and implement 
128.11 	a coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency intervention service system for children ages 
128.12 	three to 21 with disabilities. The commissioners of commerce, education, health, human 
128.13 	rights, human services, employment and economic development, and corrections shall 
128.14 	each appoint two committee members from their departments; and the Association of 
128.15 	Minnesota Counties, Minnesota School Boards Association, the Minnesota Administrators 
128.16 	of Special Education, and the School Nurse Association of Minnesota shall each appoint 
128.17 	one committee member. The committee shall select a chair from among its members.
128.18 	(b) The committee shall:
128.19 	(1) identify and assist in removing state and federal barriers to local coordination of 
128.20 	services provided to children with disabilities;
128.21 	(2) identify adequate, equitable, and flexible funding sources to streamline these 
128.22 	services;
128.23 	(3) develop guidelines for implementing policies that ensure a comprehensive and 
128.24 	coordinated system of all state and local agency services, including multidisciplinary 
128.25 	assessment practices for children with disabilities ages three to 21, including:
128.26 	(i) develop, consistent with federal law, a standardized written plan for providing 
128.27 	services to a child with disabilities;
128.28 	(ii) identify how current systems for dispute resolution can be coordinated;
128.29 	(iii) develop an evaluation process to measure the success of state and local 
128.30 	interagency efforts in improving the quality and coordination of services to children with 
128.31 	disabilities ages three to 21; and
128.32 	(iv) develop guidelines to assist the governing boards of the interagency early 
128.33 	intervention committees in carrying out the duties assigned in section 125A.027, 
128.34 	subdivision 1, paragraph (b); and
129.1 	(4) carry out other duties necessary to develop and implement within communities 
129.2 	a coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency intervention service system for children 
129.3 	with disabilities.
129.4 	(c) The committee shall consult on an ongoing basis with the state Special Education 
129.5 	Advisory Panel and the governor's Interagency Coordinating Council in carrying out 
129.6 	its duties under this section, including assisting the governing school boards of the 
129.7 	interagency early intervention committees and county boards.

129.8 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.027, is amended to read:
129.9 	125A.027 INTERAGENCY EARLY INTERVENTION COMMITTEE 
129.10 	RESPONSIBILITIES LOCAL AGENCY COORDINATION RESPONSIBILITIES.
129.11 		Subdivision 1.Additional duties School board and county board responsibilities.
 129.12 	(a) It is the joint responsibility of school and county boards to coordinate, provide, and 
129.13 	pay for appropriate services and to facilitate payment for services from public and private 
129.14 	sources. Appropriate services for children eligible under section 125A.02 and receiving 
129.15 	services from two or more public agencies of which one is the public school must be 
129.16 	determined in consultation with parents, physicians, and other education, medical health, 
129.17 	and human services providers. The services provided must conform with a standardized 
129.18 	written plan for each eligible child ages three to 21.
129.19 	(b) Appropriate services include those services listed on a child's standardized 
129.20 	written plan. These services are those that are required to be documented on a plan under 
129.21 	federal and state law or rule.
129.22 	(c) School and county boards shall coordinate interagency services. Service 
129.23 	responsibilities for eligible children, ages three to 21, may be established in interagency 
129.24 	agreements or joint powers board agreements. In addition, interagency agreements or 
129.25 	joint powers board agreements may be developed to establish agency responsibility that 
129.26 	ensures that coordinated interagency services are coordinated, provided, and paid for and 
129.27 	that payment is facilitated from public and private sources. School boards must provide, 
129.28 	pay for, and facilitate payment for special education services as required under sections 
129.29 	125A.03 and 125A.06. County boards must provide, pay for, and facilitate payment for 
129.30 	those programs over which they have service and fiscal responsibility as referenced in 
129.31 	section 125A.023, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (1).
129.32 		Subd. 1a.Local governance structure. (a) The governing school boards of 
129.33 	the interagency early intervention committees and county boards are responsible for 
129.34 	developing and implementing interagency policies and procedures to coordinate services 
129.35 	at the local level for children with disabilities ages three to 21 under guidelines established 
130.1 	by the state interagency committee under section 125A.023, subdivision 4. Consistent 
130.2 	with the requirements in this section and section 125A.023, the governing school boards 
130.3 	of the interagency early intervention committees and county boards may organize as a 
130.4 	joint powers board under section 471.59 or enter into an interagency agreement that 
130.5 	establishes a governance structure.
130.6 	(b) The governing board of each interagency early intervention committee as defined 
130.7 	in section 125A.30, paragraph (a), which may include a juvenile justice professional, shall:
130.8 	(1) identify state and federal barriers to local coordination of services provided to 
130.9 	children with disabilities;
130.10 	(2) implement policies that ensure a comprehensive and coordinated system of all 
130.11 	state and local agency services, including practices on multidisciplinary assessment, 
130.12 	standardized written plans, dispute resolution, and system evaluation for children with 
130.13 	disabilities ages three to 21;
130.14 	(3) coordinate services and facilitate payment for services from public and private 
130.15 	institutions, agencies, and health plan companies; and
130.16 	(4) share needed information consistent with state and federal data practices 
130.17 	requirements.
130.18 		Subd. 2.Appropriate and necessary services. (a) Parents, physicians, other health 
130.19 	care professionals including school nurses, and education and human services providers 
130.20 	jointly must determine appropriate and necessary services for eligible children with 
130.21 	disabilities ages three to 21. The services provided to the child under this section must 
130.22 	conform with the child's standardized written plan. The governing school board of an 
130.23 	interagency early intervention committee or county board must provide those services 
130.24 	contained in a child's individualized education program and those services for which 
130.25 	a legal obligation exists.
130.26 	(b) Nothing in this section or section 125A.023 increases or decreases the obligation 
130.27 	of the state, county, regional agency, local school district, or local agency or organization 
130.28 	to pay for education, health care, or social services.
130.29 	(c) A health plan may not exclude any medically necessary covered service solely 
130.30 	because the service is or could be identified in a child's individual family service plan, 
130.31 	individualized education program, a plan established under section 504 of the federal 
130.32 	Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or a student's individual health plan. This paragraph reaffirms 
130.33 	the obligation of a health plan company to provide or pay for certain medically necessary 
130.34 	covered services, and encourages a health plan company to coordinate this care with any 
130.35 	other providers of similar services. Also, a health plan company may not exclude from a 
130.36 	health plan any medically necessary covered service such as an assessment or physical 
131.1 	examination solely because the resulting information may be used for an individualized 
131.2 	education program or a standardized written plan.
131.3 		Subd. 4.Responsibilities of school and county boards. (a) It is the joint 
131.4 	responsibility of school and county boards to coordinate, provide, and pay for appropriate 
131.5 	services, and to facilitate payment for services from public and private sources. 
131.6 	Appropriate service for children eligible under section 125A.02 and receiving service 
131.7 	from two or more public agencies of which one is the public school must be determined in 
131.8 	consultation with parents, physicians, and other education, medical health, and human 
131.9 	services providers. The services provided must be in conformity with a standardized 
131.10 	written plan for each eligible child ages 3 to 21.
131.11 	(b) Appropriate services include those services listed on a child's standardized 
131.12 	written plan. These services are those that are required to be documented on a plan under 
131.13 	federal and state law or rule.
131.14 	(c) School and county boards shall coordinate interagency services. Service 
131.15 	responsibilities for eligible children, ages 3 to 21, may be established in interagency 
131.16 	agreements or joint powers board agreements. In addition, interagency agreements or joint 
131.17 	powers board agreements may be developed to establish agency responsibility that assures 
131.18 	that coordinated interagency services are coordinated, provided, and paid for, and that 
131.19 	payment is facilitated from public and private sources. School boards must provide, 
131.20 	pay for, and facilitate payment for special education services as required under sections 
131.21 	125A.03 and 125A.06. County boards must provide, pay for, and facilitate payment for 
131.22 	those programs over which they have service and fiscal responsibility as referenced in 
131.23 	section 125A.023, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (1).

131.24 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.08, is amended to read:
131.25 	125A.08 INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
131.26 	(a) At the beginning of each school year, each school district shall have in effect, for 
131.27 	each child with a disability, an individualized education program.
131.28 	(b) As defined in this section, every district must ensure the following:
131.29 	(1) all students with disabilities are provided the special instruction and services 
131.30 	which are appropriate to their needs. Where the individualized education program team 
131.31 	has determined appropriate goals and objectives based on the student's needs, including 
131.32 	the extent to which the student can be included in the least restrictive environment, 
131.33 	and where there are essentially equivalent and effective instruction, related services, or 
131.34 	assistive technology devices available to meet the student's needs, cost to the district may 
131.35 	be among the factors considered by the team in choosing how to provide the appropriate 
132.1 	services, instruction, or devices that are to be made part of the student's individualized 
132.2 	education program. The individualized education program team shall consider and 
132.3 	may authorize services covered by medical assistance according to section 256B.0625, 
132.4 	subdivision 26. The student's needs and the special education instruction and services to 
132.5 	be provided must be agreed upon through the development of an individualized education 
132.6 	program. The program must address the student's need to develop skills to live and 
132.7 	work as independently as possible within the community. The individualized education 
132.8 	program team must consider positive behavioral interventions, strategies, and supports 
132.9 	that address behavior needs for children with attention deficit disorder or attention deficit 
132.10 	hyperactivity disorder. During grade 9, the program must address the student's needs for 
132.11 	transition from secondary services to postsecondary education and training, employment, 
132.12 	community participation, recreation, and leisure and home living. In developing the 
132.13 	program, districts must inform parents of the full range of transitional goals and related 
132.14 	services that should be considered. The program must include a statement of the needed 
132.15 	transition services, including a statement of the interagency responsibilities or linkages or 
132.16 	both before secondary services are concluded;
132.17 	(2) children with a disability under age five and their families are provided special 
132.18 	instruction and services appropriate to the child's level of functioning and needs;
132.19 	(3) children with a disability and their parents or guardians are guaranteed procedural 
132.20 	safeguards and the right to participate in decisions involving identification, assessment 
132.21 	including assistive technology assessment, and educational placement of children with a 
132.22 	disability;
132.23 	(4) eligibility and needs of children with a disability are determined by an initial 
132.24 	evaluation or reevaluation, which may be completed using existing data under United 
132.25 	States Code, title 20, section 33, et seq.;
132.26 	(5) to the maximum extent appropriate, children with a disability, including those 
132.27 	in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who 
132.28 	are not disabled, and that special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children 
132.29 	with a disability from the regular educational environment occurs only when and to the 
132.30 	extent that the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes 
132.31 	with the use of supplementary services cannot be achieved satisfactorily;
132.32 	(6) in accordance with recognized professional standards, testing and evaluation 
132.33 	materials, and procedures used for the purposes of classification and placement of children 
132.34 	with a disability are selected and administered so as not to be racially or culturally 
132.35 	discriminatory; and
133.1 	(7) the rights of the child are protected when the parents or guardians are not known 
133.2 	or not available, or the child is a ward of the state.
133.3 	(c) For all paraprofessionals employed to work in programs for whose role in part 
133.4 	is to provide direct support to students with disabilities, the school board in each district 
133.5 	shall ensure that:
133.6 	(1) before or immediately uponbeginning at the time of employment, each 
133.7 	paraprofessional developsmust develop sufficient knowledge and skills in emergency 
133.8 	procedures, building orientation, roles and responsibilities, confidentiality, vulnerability, 
133.9 	and reportability, among other things, to begin meeting the needs, especially 
133.10 	disability-specific and behavioral needs, of the students with whom the paraprofessional 
133.11 	works;
133.12 	(2) annual training opportunities are available required to enable the paraprofessional 
133.13 	to continue to further develop the knowledge and skills that are specific to the students 
133.14 	with whom the paraprofessional works, including understanding disabilities, the unique 
133.15 	and individual needs of each student according to the student's disability and how the 
133.16 	disability affects the student's education and behavior, following lesson plans, and 
133.17 	implementing follow-up instructional procedures and activities; and
133.18 	(3) a districtwide process obligates each paraprofessional to work under the ongoing 
133.19 	direction of a licensed teacher and, where appropriate and possible, the supervision of a 
133.20 	school nurse.

133.21 	Sec. 9. [125A.083] STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS; TRANSFERRING 
133.22 	RECORDS.
133.23 	To efficiently and effectively meet federal and state compliance and accountability 
133.24 	requirements using an online case management reporting system, school districts may 
133.25 	contract only with a student information system vendor employing a universal filing 
133.26 	system that is compatible with the online system for compliance reporting under section 
133.27 	125A.085 beginning in the 2018-2019 school year and later. A district's universal 
133.28 	filing system under this section must facilitate the seamless transfer of student records 
133.29 	for a student with disabilities who transfers between school districts, including records 
133.30 	containing the student's evaluation report, service plan, and other due process forms and 
133.31 	information, regardless of what filing system any one district uses.

133.32 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
133.33 	and applies to all district contracts with student information system vendors entered into 
133.34 	or modified after that date.

134.1 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.085, is amended to read:
134.2 	125A.085 ONLINE REPORTING OF REQUIRED DATA.
134.3 	(a) To ensure a strong focus on outcomes for children with disabilities informs 
134.4 	federal and state compliance and accountability requirements and to increase opportunities 
134.5 	for special educators and related-services providers to focus on teaching children with 
134.6 	disabilities, the commissioner must customize a streamlined, user-friendly statewide 
134.7 	online system, with a single model online form, for effectively and efficiently collecting 
134.8 	and reporting required special education-related data to individuals with a legitimate 
134.9 	educational interest and who are authorized by law to access the data.
134.10 	(b) The commissioner must consult with qualified experts, including information 
134.11 	technology specialists, licensed special education teachers and directors of special 
134.12 	education, related-services providers, third-party vendors, a designee of the commissioner 
134.13 	of human services, parents of children with disabilities, representatives of advocacy groups 
134.14 	representing children with disabilities, and representatives of school districts and special 
134.15 	education cooperatives on integrating, field testing, customizing, and sustaining this simple, 
134.16 	easily accessible, efficient, and effective online data system for uniform statewide reporting 
134.17 	of required due process compliance data. Among other outcomes, the system must:
134.18 	(1) reduce special education teachers' paperwork burden and thereby increase the 
134.19 	teachers' opportunities to focus on teaching children;
134.20 	(2) to the extent authorized by chapter 13 or other applicable state or federal law 
134.21 	governing access to and dissemination of educational records, provide for efficiently 
134.22 	and effectively transmitting the records of all transferring children with disabilities, 
134.23 	including highly mobile and homeless children with disabilities, among others, and avoid 
134.24 	fragmented service delivery;
134.25 	(3) address language and other barriers and disparities that prevent parents from 
134.26 	understanding and communicating information about the needs of their children with 
134.27 	disabilities; and
134.28 	(4) help continuously improve the interface among the online systems serving 
134.29 	children with disabilities in order to maintain and reinforce the children's ability to learn.
134.30 	(c) The commissioner must use the federal Office of Special Education Programs 
134.31 	model forms for the (1) individualized education program, (2) notice of procedural 
134.32 	safeguards, and (3) prior written notice that are consistent with Part B of IDEA to integrate 
134.33 	and customize a state-sponsored universal special education online case management 
134.34 	system, consistent with the requirements of state law and this section for customizing a 
134.35 	statewide online reporting system. The commissioner must use a request for proposal 
134.36 	process to contract for the technology and software needed for customizing the online 
135.1 	system in order for the system to be fully functional, consistent with the requirements of 
135.2 	this section. This online system must be made available to school districts without charge 
135.3 	beginning in the 2015-2016 school year. For the 2015-2016 through 2017-2018 school 
135.4 	years and later, school districts may use this online system or may contract with an outside 
135.5 	vendor for compliance reporting. Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year and later, 
135.6 	school districts must use this online system for compliance reporting.
135.7 	(d) All data on individuals maintained in the statewide reporting system are 
135.8 	classified as provided in chapter 13 or other applicable state or federal law. An authorized 
135.9 	individual's ability to enter, update, or access data must be limited through the use of 
135.10 	role-based access codes corresponding to that individual's official duties or training level, 
135.11 	and the statutory authorization that grants access for a particular purpose. Any action 
135.12 	in which data in the system are entered, updated, accessed, or shared or disseminated 
135.13 	outside of the system must be recorded in an audit trail. The audit trail must identify the 
135.14 	specific user responsible for the action, the date and time the action occurred, and the 
135.15 	purpose for the action. Data contained in the audit trail maintain the same classification 
135.16 	as the underlying data affected by the action, provided the responsible authority makes 
135.17 	the data available to a student or the student's parent upon request, and the responsible 
135.18 	authority may access the data to audit the system's user activity and security safeguards. 
135.19 	Before entering data on a student, the responsible authority must provide the student or the 
135.20 	student's parent written notice of the data practices rights and responsibilities required 
135.21 	by this section and a reasonable opportunity to refuse consent to have the student's data 
135.22 	included in the system. Upon receiving the student or the student's parent written refusal 
135.23 	to consent, the school district must not enter data on that student into the system and must 
135.24 	delete any existing data on that student currently in the system.
135.25 	(e) Consistent with this section, the commissioner must establish a public Internet 
135.26 	Web interface to provide information to educators, parents, and the public about the form 
135.27 	and content of required special education reports, to respond to queries from educators, 
135.28 	parents, and the public about specific aspects of special education reports and reporting, 
135.29 	and to use the information garnered from the interface to streamline and revise special 
135.30 	education reporting on the online system under this section. The public Internet Web 
135.31 	interface must have a prominently linked page describing the rights and responsibilities 
135.32 	of students and parents whose data are included in the statewide reporting system, and 
135.33 	include information on the data practices rights of students and parents provided by this 
135.34 	section and a form students or parents may use to refuse consent to have a student's data 
135.35 	included in the system. The public Internet Web interface must not provide access to the 
135.36 	educational records of any individual child.
136.1 	(f) The commissioner annually by February 1 must submit to the legislature a report 
136.2 	on the status, recent changes, and sustainability of the online system under this section.

136.3 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.0942, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
136.4 		Subd. 3.Physical holding or seclusion. (a) Physical holding or seclusion may be 
136.5 	used only in an emergency. A school that uses physical holding or seclusion shall meet the 
136.6 	following requirements:
136.7 	(1) physical holding or seclusion is the least intrusive intervention that effectively 
136.8 	responds to the emergency;
136.9 	(2) physical holding or seclusion is not used to discipline a noncompliant child;
136.10 	(3) physical holding or seclusion ends when the threat of harm ends and the staff 
136.11 	determines the child can safely return to the classroom or activity;
136.12 	(4) staff directly observes the child while physical holding or seclusion is being used;
136.13 	(5) each time physical holding or seclusion is used, the staff person who implements 
136.14 	or oversees the physical holding or seclusion documents, as soon as possible after the 
136.15 	incident concludes, the following information:
136.16 	(i) a description of the incident that led to the physical holding or seclusion;
136.17 	(ii) why a less restrictive measure failed or was determined by staff to be 
136.18 	inappropriate or impractical;
136.19 	(iii) the time the physical holding or seclusion began and the time the child was 
136.20 	released; and
136.21 	(iv) a brief record of the child's behavioral and physical status;
136.22 	(6) the room used for seclusion must:
136.23 	(i) be at least six feet by five feet;
136.24 	(ii) be well lit, well ventilated, adequately heated, and clean;
136.25 	(iii) have a window that allows staff to directly observe a child in seclusion;
136.26 	(iv) have tamperproof fixtures, electrical switches located immediately outside the 
136.27 	door, and secure ceilings;
136.28 	(v) have doors that open out and are unlocked, locked with keyless locks that 
136.29 	have immediate release mechanisms, or locked with locks that have immediate release 
136.30 	mechanisms connected with a fire and emergency system; and
136.31 	(vi) not contain objects that a child may use to injure the child or others;
136.32 	(7) before using a room for seclusion, a school must:
136.33 	(i) receive written notice from local authorities that the room and the locking 
136.34 	mechanisms comply with applicable building, fire, and safety codes; and
136.35 	(ii) register the room with the commissioner, who may view that room; and
137.1 	(8) until August 1, 2015, a school district may use prone restraints with children 
137.2 	age five or older if:
137.3 	(i) the district has provided to the department a list of staff who have had specific 
137.4 	training on the use of prone restraints;
137.5 	(ii) the district provides information on the type of training that was provided and 
137.6 	by whom;
137.7 	(iii) only staff who received specific training use prone restraints;
137.8 	(iv) each incident of the use of prone restraints is reported to the department within 
137.9 	five working days on a form provided by the department; and
137.10 	(v) the district, before using prone restraints, must review any known medical or 
137.11 	psychological limitations that contraindicate the use of prone restraints.
137.12 	The department must collect data on districts' use of prone restraints and publish the data 
137.13 	in a readily accessible format on the department's Web site on a quarterly basis.
137.14 	(b) By February 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, stakeholders must may, as 
137.15 	necessary, recommend to the commissioner specific and measurable implementation and 
137.16 	outcome goals for reducing the use of restrictive procedures and the commissioner must 
137.17 	submit to the legislature a report on districts' progress in reducing the use of restrictive 
137.18 	procedures that recommends how to further reduce these procedures and eliminate 
137.19 	the use of prone restraints. The statewide plan includes the following components: 
137.20 	measurable goals; the resources, training, technical assistance, mental health services, and 
137.21 	collaborative efforts needed to significantly reduce districts' use of prone restraints; and 
137.22 	recommendations to clarify and improve the law governing districts' use of restrictive 
137.23 	procedures. The commissioner must consult with interested stakeholders when preparing 
137.24 	the report, including representatives of advocacy organizations, special education directors, 
137.25 	teachers, paraprofessionals, intermediate school districts, school boards, day treatment 
137.26 	providers, county social services, state human services department staff, mental health 
137.27 	professionals, and autism experts. By June 30 each year, districts must report summary 
137.28 	data on their use of restrictive procedures to the department, in a form and manner 
137.29 	determined by the commissioner. The summary data must include information about the 
137.30 	use of restrictive procedures, including use of reasonable force under section 121A.582.

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

137.32 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.21, is amended to read:
137.33 	125A.21 THIRD-PARTY PAYMENT.
138.1 		Subdivision 1.Obligation to pay. Nothing in sections 125A.03 to 125A.24 and 
138.2 	125A.65 relieves an insurer or similar third party from an otherwise valid obligation to 
138.3 	pay, or changes the validity of an obligation to pay, for services rendered to a child with 
138.4 	a disability, and the child's family. A school district shall pay the nonfederal share of 
138.5 	medical assistance services provided according to section 256B.0625, subdivision 26. 
138.6 	Eligible expenditures must not be made from federal funds or funds used to match other 
138.7 	federal funds. Any federal disallowances are the responsibility of the school district. A 
138.8 	school district may pay or reimburse co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, and other 
138.9 	enrollee cost-sharing amounts, on behalf of the student or family, in connection with 
138.10 	health and related services provided under an individual educational plan or individualized 
138.11 	family service plan.
138.12 		Subd. 2.Third-party reimbursement. (a) Beginning July 1, 2000, districts 
138.13 	shall seek reimbursement from insurers and similar third parties for the cost of services 
138.14 	provided by the district whenever the services provided by the district are otherwise 
138.15 	covered by the child's health coverage. Districts shall request, but may not require, the 
138.16 	child's family to provide information about the child's health coverage when a child with a 
138.17 	disability begins to receive services from the district of a type that may be reimbursable, 
138.18 	and shall request, but may not require, updated information after that as needed.
138.19 	(b) For children enrolled in medical assistance under chapter 256B or MinnesotaCare 
138.20 	under chapter 256L who have no other health coverage, a district shall provide an initial 
138.21 	and annual written notice to the enrolled child's parent or legal representative of its intent 
138.22 	to seek reimbursement from medical assistance or MinnesotaCare for the individualized 
138.23 	education program or individualized family service plan health-related services provided 
138.24 	by the district. The initial notice must give the child's parent or legal representative the 
138.25 	right to request a copy of the child's education records on the health-related services that 
138.26 	the district provided to the child and disclosed to a third-party payer.
138.27 	(c) The district shall give the parent or legal representative annual written notice of:
138.28 	(1) the district's intent to seek reimbursement from medical assistance or 
138.29 	MinnesotaCare for individualized education program or individualized family service plan 
138.30 	health-related services provided by the district;
138.31 	(2) the right of the parent or legal representative to request a copy of all records 
138.32 	concerning individualized education program or individualized family service plan 
138.33 	health-related services disclosed by the district to any third party; and
138.34 	(3) the right of the parent or legal representative to withdraw consent for disclosure 
138.35 	of a child's records at any time without consequence.
139.1 	The written notice shall be provided as part of the written notice required by Code of 
139.2 	Federal Regulations, title 34, section 300.504 or 303.520. The district must ensure that the 
139.3 	parent of a child with a disability is given notice, in understandable language, of federal and 
139.4 	state procedural safeguards available to the parent under this paragraph and paragraph (b).
139.5 	(d) In order to access the private health care coverage of a child who is covered by 
139.6 	private health care coverage in whole or in part, a district must:
139.7 	(1) obtain annual written informed consent from the parent or legal representative, in 
139.8 	compliance with subdivision 5; and
139.9 	(2) inform the parent or legal representative that a refusal to permit the district 
139.10 	or state Medicaid agency to access their private health care coverage does not relieve 
139.11 	the district of its responsibility to provide all services necessary to provide free and 
139.12 	appropriate public education at no cost to the parent or legal representative.
139.13 	(e) If the commissioner of human services obtains federal approval to exempt 
139.14 	covered individualized education program or individualized family service plan 
139.15 	health-related services from the requirement that private health care coverage refuse 
139.16 	payment before medical assistance may be billed, paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) shall also 
139.17 	apply to students with a combination of private health care coverage and health care 
139.18 	coverage through medical assistance or MinnesotaCare.
139.19 	(f) In the event that Congress or any federal agency or the Minnesota legislature 
139.20 	or any state agency establishes lifetime limits, limits for any health care services, 
139.21 	cost-sharing provisions, or otherwise provides that individualized education program or 
139.22 	individualized family service plan health-related services impact benefits for persons 
139.23 	enrolled in medical assistance or MinnesotaCare, the amendments to this subdivision 
139.24 	adopted in 2002 are repealed on the effective date of any federal or state law or regulation 
139.25 	that imposes the limits. In that event, districts must obtain informed consent consistent 
139.26 	with this subdivision as it existed prior to the 2002 amendments and subdivision 5, before 
139.27 	seeking reimbursement for children enrolled in medical assistance under chapter 256B or 
139.28 	MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L who have no other health care coverage.
139.29 		Subd. 3.Use of reimbursements. Of the reimbursements received, districts may:
139.30 	(1) retain an amount sufficient to compensate the district for its administrative costs 
139.31 	of obtaining reimbursements;
139.32 	(2) regularly obtain from education- and health-related entities training and other 
139.33 	appropriate technical assistance designed to improve the district's ability to access 
139.34 	third-party payments for individualized education program or individualized family 
139.35 	service plan health-related services; or
140.1 	(3) reallocate reimbursements for the benefit of students with individualized 
140.2 	education programs or individual individualized family service plans in the district.
140.3 		Subd. 4.Parents not obligated to use health coverage. To the extent required by 
140.4 	federal law, a school district may not require parents of children with disabilities, if they 
140.5 	would incur a financial cost, to use private or public health coverage to pay for the services 
140.6 	that must be provided under an individualized education program or individualized 
140.7 	family service plan.
140.8 		Subd. 5.Informed consent. When obtaining informed consent, consistent with 
140.9 	sections 13.05, subdivision 4a; 256B.77, subdivision 2, paragraph (p); and Code of 
140.10 	Federal Regulations, title 34, parts 99 and, 300, and 303, to bill health plans for covered 
140.11 	services, the school district must notify the legal representative (1) that the cost of the 
140.12 	person's private health insurance premium may increase due to providing the covered 
140.13 	service in the school setting, (2) that the school district may pay certain enrollee health 
140.14 	plan costs, including but not limited to, co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, premium 
140.15 	increases or other enrollee cost-sharing amounts for health and related services required 
140.16 	by an individual service plan, or individual individualized family service plan, and (3) that 
140.17 	the school's billing for each type of covered service may affect service limits and prior 
140.18 	authorization thresholds. The informed consent may be revoked in writing at any time 
140.19 	by the person authorizing the billing of the health plan.
140.20 		Subd. 6.District obligation to provide service. To the extent required by federal 
140.21 	law, no school district may deny, withhold, or delay any service that must be provided 
140.22 	under an individualized education program or individualized family service plan because 
140.23 	a family has refused to provide informed consent to bill a health plan for services or a 
140.24 	health plan company has refused to pay any, all, or a portion of the cost of services billed.
140.25 		Subd. 7.District disclosure of information. A school district may disclose 
140.26 	information contained in a student's individualized education program, consistent with 
140.27 	section 13.32, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), and Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, 
140.28 	parts 99 and, 300, and 303; including records of the student's diagnosis and treatment, to a 
140.29 	health plan company only with the signed and dated consent of the student's parent, or 
140.30 	other legally authorized individual. The school district shall disclose only that information 
140.31 	necessary for the health plan company to decide matters of coverage and payment. A 
140.32 	health plan company may use the information only for making decisions regarding 
140.33 	coverage and payment, and for any other use permitted by law.

140.34 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.28, is amended to read:
140.35 	125A.28 STATE INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL.
141.1 	An Interagency Coordinating Council of at least 17, but not more than 25 members is 
141.2 	established, in compliance with Public Law 108-446, section 641. The members must be 
141.3 	appointed by the governor and reasonably represent the population of Minnesota. Council 
141.4 	members must elect the council chair, who may not be a representative of the Department 
141.5 	of Education. The council must be composed of at least five parents, including persons 
141.6 	of color, of children with disabilities under age 12, including at least three parents of a 
141.7 	child with a disability under age seven, five representatives of public or private providers 
141.8 	of services for children with disabilities under age five, including a special education 
141.9 	director, county social service director, local Head Start director, and a community health 
141.10 	services or public health nursing administrator, one member of the senate, one member of 
141.11 	the house of representatives, one representative of teacher preparation programs in early 
141.12 	childhood-special education or other preparation programs in early childhood intervention, 
141.13 	at least one representative of advocacy organizations for children with disabilities under 
141.14 	age five, one physician who cares for young children with special health care needs, one 
141.15 	representative each from the commissioners of commerce, education, health, human 
141.16 	services, a representative from the state agency responsible for child care, foster care, 
141.17 	mental health, homeless coordinator of education of homeless children and youth, and a 
141.18 	representative from Indian health services or a tribal council. Section 15.059, subdivisions 
141.19 	2 to 4, apply to the council. The council must meet at least quarterly.
141.20 	The council must address methods of implementing the state policy of developing 
141.21 	and implementing comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary interagency programs of 
141.22 	early intervention services for children with disabilities and their families.
141.23 	The duties of the council include recommending policies to ensure a comprehensive 
141.24 	and coordinated system of all state and local agency services for children under age five 
141.25 	with disabilities and their families. The policies must address how to incorporate each 
141.26 	agency's services into a unified state and local system of multidisciplinary assessment 
141.27 	practices, individual intervention plans, comprehensive systems to find children in need of 
141.28 	services, methods to improve public awareness, and assistance in determining the role of 
141.29 	interagency early intervention committees.
141.30 	On the date that Minnesota Part C Annual Performance Report is submitted to 
141.31 	Within 30 days of receiving the annual determination from the federal Office of Special 
141.32 	Education on the Minnesota Part C Annual Performance Report, the council must 
141.33 	recommend to the governor and the commissioners of education, health, human services, 
141.34 	commerce, and employment and economic development policies for a comprehensive 
141.35 	and coordinated system.
142.1 	Annually, the council must prepare and submit a report to the governor and the 
142.2 	secretary of the federal Department of Education on the status of early intervention 
142.3 	services and programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families under 
142.4 	the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, United States Code, title 20, sections 
142.5 	1471 to 1485 (Part C, Public Law 102-119), as operated in Minnesota. The Minnesota 
142.6 	Part C annual performance report may serve as the report.
142.7 	Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the State Interagency Coordinating 
142.8 	Council does not expire unless federal law no longer requires the existence of the council 
142.9 	or committee.

142.10 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.63, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
142.11 		Subd. 2.Programs. (a) The resource centers department must offer summer 
142.12 	institutes or other training programs throughout the state for deaf or hard-of-hearing, blind 
142.13 	or visually impaired, and multiply disabled pupils. The resource centers department must 
142.14 	also offer workshops for teachers, and leadership development for teachers.
142.15 	A program (b) Training and workshop programs offered through the resource centers 
142.16 	under paragraph (a) must help promote and develop education programs offered by school 
142.17 	districts or other organizations. The program programs must assist school districts or other 
142.18 	organizations to develop innovative programs.

142.19 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.63, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
142.20 		Subd. 3.Programs by nonprofits. The resource centers department may contract 
142.21 	to have nonprofit organizations provide programs through the resource centers under 
142.22 	subdivision 2.

142.23 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.63, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
142.24 		Subd. 4.Advisory committees. (a) The commissioner shall establish an advisory 
142.25 	committeecommittees for each resource center the deaf and hard-of-hearing and for the 
142.26 	blind and visually impaired. The advisory committees shall develop recommendations 
142.27 	regarding the resource centers and submit an annual report to the commissioner on the 
142.28 	form and in the manner prescribed by the commissioner.
142.29 	(b) The advisory committeefor the Resource Centercommittees for the deaf and 
142.30 	hard of hearing and for the blind and visually impaired shall meet periodically at least four 
142.31 	times per year and each submit an annual report to the commissioner, the education policy 
142.32 	and finance committees of the legislature, and the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind, and 
142.33 	Hard of Hearing Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans. The report reports must, at least:
143.1 	(1) identify and report the aggregate, data-based education outcomes for children 
143.2 	with the primary disability classification of deaf and hard of hearing or of blind and 
143.3 	visually impaired, consistent with the commissioner's child count reporting practices, the 
143.4 	commissioner's state and local outcome data reporting system by district and region, and 
143.5 	the school performance report cards under section 120B.36, subdivision 1; and
143.6 	(2) describe the implementation of a data-based plan for improving the education 
143.7 	outcomes of deaf and hard of hearing or blind and visually impaired children that is 
143.8 	premised on evidence-based best practices, and provide a cost estimate for ongoing 
143.9 	implementation of the plan.

143.10 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.63, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
143.11 		Subd. 5.Statewide hearing loss early education intervention coordinator. (a) 
143.12 	The coordinator shall:
143.13 	(1) collaborate with the early hearing detection and intervention coordinator for the 
143.14 	Department of Health, the director of the Department of Education Resource Center for 
143.15 	Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing deaf and hard-of-hearing state specialist, and the Department 
143.16 	of Health Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Advisory Council;
143.17 	(2) coordinate and support Department of Education early hearing detection and 
143.18 	intervention teams;
143.19 	(3) leverage resources by serving as a liaison between interagency early intervention 
143.20 	committees; part C coordinators from the Departments of Education, Health, and 
143.21 	Human Services; Department of Education regional low-incidence facilitators; service 
143.22 	coordinators from school districts; Minnesota children with special health needs in the 
143.23 	Department of Health; public health nurses; child find; Department of Human Services 
143.24 	Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services Division; and others as appropriate;
143.25 	(4) identify, support, and promote culturally appropriate and evidence-based early 
143.26 	intervention practices for infants with hearing loss, and provide training, outreach, and use 
143.27 	of technology to increase consistency in statewide service provision;
143.28 	(5) identify culturally appropriate specialized reliable and valid instruments to assess 
143.29 	and track the progress of children with hearing loss and promote their use;
143.30 	(6) ensure that early childhood providers, parents, and members of the individual 
143.31 	family service and intervention plan are provided with child progress data resulting from 
143.32 	specialized assessments;
143.33 	(7) educate early childhood providers and teachers of the deaf and hard-of-hearing 
143.34 	to use developmental data from specialized assessments to plan and adjust individual 
143.35 	family service plans; and
144.1 	(8) make recommendations that would improve educational outcomes to the early 
144.2 	hearing detection and intervention committee, the commissioners of education and health, 
144.3 	the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans, and the advisory 
144.4 	council of the Minnesota Department of Education Resource Center for the deaf and 
144.5 	hard-of-hearing.
144.6 	(b) The Department of Education must provide aggregate data regarding outcomes 
144.7 	of deaf and hard-of-hearing children who receive early intervention services within the 
144.8 	state in accordance with the state performance plan.

144.9 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.76, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
144.10 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section and section 125A.79, 
144.11 	the definitions in this subdivision apply.
144.12 	(b) "Basic revenue" has the meaning given it in section 126C.10, subdivision 2. 
144.13 	For the purposes of computing basic revenue pursuant to this section, each child with a 
144.14 	disability shall be counted as prescribed in section 126C.05, subdivision 1.
144.15 	(c) "Essential personnel" means teachers, cultural liaisons, related services, and 
144.16 	support services staff providing services to students. Essential personnel may also include 
144.17 	special education paraprofessionals or clericals providing support to teachers and students 
144.18 	by preparing paperwork and making arrangements related to special education compliance 
144.19 	requirements, including parent meetings and individualized education programs. Essential 
144.20 	personnel does not include administrators and supervisors.
144.21 	(d) "Average daily membership" has the meaning given it in section 126C.05.
144.22 	(e) "Program growth factor" means 1.046 for fiscal years 2012 through 2015, 1.0 
144.23 	for fiscal year 2016, 1.046 for fiscal year 2017, and the product of 1.046 and the program 
144.24 	growth factor for the previous year for fiscal year 2018 and later.
144.25 	(f) "Nonfederal special education expenditure" means all direct expenditures that 
144.26 	are necessary and essential to meet the district's obligation to provide special instruction 
144.27 	and services to children with a disability according to sections 124D.454, 125A.03 to 
144.28 	125A.24, 125A.259 to 125A.48, and 125A.65 as submitted by the district and approved by 
144.29 	the department under section 125A.75, subdivision 4, excluding expenditures:
144.30 	(1) reimbursed with federal funds;
144.31 	(2) reimbursed with other state aids under this chapter;
144.32 	(3) for general education costs of serving students with a disability;
144.33 	(4) for facilities;
144.34 	(5) for pupil transportation; and
144.35 	(6) for postemployment benefits.
145.1 	(g) "Old formula special education expenditures" means expenditures eligible for 
145.2 	revenue under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 125A.76, subdivision 2.
145.3 	(h) For the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf and the Minnesota State Academy 
145.4 	for the Blind, expenditures under paragraphs (f) and (g) are limited to the salary and 
145.5 	fringe benefits of one-to-one instructional and behavior management aides and one-to-one 
145.6 	licensed, certified professionals assigned to a child attending the academy, if the aides or 
145.7 	professionals are required by the child's individualized education program.
145.8 	(i) "Cross subsidy reduction aid percentage" means 1.0 percent for fiscal year 2014 
145.9 	and 2.27 percent for fiscal year 2015.
145.10 	(j) "Cross subsidy reduction aid limit" means $20 for fiscal year 2014 and $48 
145.11 	for fiscal year 2015.
145.12 	(k) "Special education aid increase limit" means $80 for fiscal year 2016, $100 for 
145.13 	fiscal year 2017, and, for fiscal year 2018 and later, the sum of the special education aid 
145.14 	increase limit for the previous fiscal year and $40.
145.15 	(l) "District" means a school district, a charter school, or a cooperative unit as 
145.16 	defined in section 123A.24, subdivision 2. Notwithstanding section 123A.26, cooperative 
145.17 	units as defined in section 123A.24, subdivision 2, are eligible to receive special education 
145.18 	aid under this section and section 125A.79.

145.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2016 and later.

145.20 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.76, subdivision 2c, is amended to read:
145.21 		Subd. 2c.Special education aid. (a) For fiscal year 2014 and fiscal year 2015, a 
145.22 	district's special education aid equals the sum of the district's special education aid under 
145.23 	subdivision 5, the district's cross subsidy reduction aid under subdivision 2b, and the 
145.24 	district's excess cost aid under section 125A.79, subdivision 7.
145.25 	(b) For fiscal year 2016 and later, a district's special education aid equals the sum of 
145.26 	the district's special education initial aid under subdivision 2a and the district's excess cost 
145.27 	aid under section 125A.79, subdivision 5.
145.28 	(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), for fiscal year 2016, the special education aid for 
145.29 	a school district must not exceed the sum of the special education aid the district would 
145.30 	have received for fiscal year 2016 under Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 125A.76 
145.31 	and 125A.79, as adjusted according to Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 125A.11 and 
145.32 	127A.47, subdivision 7, and the product of the district's average daily membership served 
145.33 	and the special education aid increase limit.
145.34 	(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), for fiscal year 2017 and later, the special education 
145.35 	aid for a school district must not exceed the sum of: (i) the product of the district's average 
146.1 	daily membership served and the special education aid increase limit and (ii) the product 
146.2 	of the sum of the special education aid the district would have received for fiscal year 2016 
146.3 	under Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 125A.76 and 125A.79, as adjusted according 
146.4 	to Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 125A.11 and 127A.47, subdivision 7, the ratio of 
146.5 	the district's average daily membership served for the current fiscal year to the district's 
146.6 	average daily membership served for fiscal year 2016, and the program growth factor.
146.7 	(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), for fiscal year 2016 and later the special 
146.8 	education aid for a school district, not including a charter school or cooperative unit as 
146.9 	defined in section 123A.24, must not be less than the lesser of (1) the district's nonfederal 
146.10 	special education expenditures for that fiscal year or (2) the product of the sum of the 
146.11 	special education aid the district would have received for fiscal year 2016 under Minnesota 
146.12 	Statutes 2012, sections 125A.76 and 125A.79, as adjusted according to Minnesota Statutes 
146.13 	2012, sections 125A.11 and 127A.47, subdivision 7, the ratio of the district's adjusted 
146.14 	daily membership for the current fiscal year to the district's average daily membership for 
146.15 	fiscal year 2016, and the program growth factor.
146.16 	(f) Notwithstanding subdivision 2a and section 125A.79, a charter school in its first 
146.17 	year of operation shall generate special education aid based on current year data. A newly 
146.18 	formed cooperative unit as defined in section 123A.24 may apply to the commissioner 
146.19 	for approval to generate special education aid for its first year of operation based on 
146.20 	current year data, with an offsetting adjustment to the prior year data used to calculate aid 
146.21 	for programs at participating school districts or previous cooperatives that were replaced 
146.22 	by the new cooperative.

146.23 	Sec. 20. SPECIAL EDUCATION EVALUATION.
 146.24 		Subdivision 1.Special education teachers' compliance with legal requirements.
 146.25 	The Department of Education must identify ways to give teachers working with eligible 
146.26 	children with disabilities sufficient written and online resources to make informed decisions 
146.27 	about how to effectively comply with legal requirements related to providing special 
146.28 	education programs and services, including writing individualized education programs and 
146.29 	related documents, among other requirements. The department  must work collaboratively 
146.30 	with teachers working with eligible children with disabilities, other school and district staff, 
146.31 	and representatives of affected organizations, including Education Minnesota, Minnesota 
146.32 	School Boards Association, and Minnesota Administrators of Special Education, among 
146.33 	others, to identify obstacles to and solutions for teachers' confusion about complying with 
146.34 	legal requirements governing special education programs and services. The department 
146.35 	must work with schools and districts to provide staff development training to better 
147.1 	comply with applicable legal requirements while meeting the educational needs and 
147.2 	improving the educational progress of eligible children with disabilities.
147.3 		Subd. 2.Efficiencies to reduce paperwork. The Department of Education, in 
147.4 	collaboration with teachers and administrators working with eligible children with 
147.5 	disabilities in schools and districts, must identify strategies to effectively decrease the 
147.6 	amount of time teachers spend completing paperwork for special education programs and 
147.7 	services, evaluate whether the strategies are cost-effective, and determine whether other 
147.8 	schools and districts are able to effectively use the strategies given available staff and 
147.9 	resources. Where an evaluation shows that particular paperwork reduction strategies are 
147.10 	cost-effective without undermining the purpose of the paperwork or the integrity of special 
147.11 	education requirements, the department must electronically disseminate and promote the 
147.12 	strategies to other schools and districts throughout the state.
147.13 		Subd. 3.Special education forms; reading level. The Department of Education 
147.14 	must determine the current reading level of its special education forms, establish a target 
147.15 	reading level for such forms, and, based on that target level, determine whether alternative 
147.16 	forms are needed to accommodate the lexical and sublexical cognitive processes of 
147.17 	individual form users and readers. The department must work with interested special 
147.18 	education stakeholders and reading experts in making the determinations and identification 
147.19 	required in this subdivision.

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

147.21 	Sec. 21. APPROPRIATIONS.
 147.22 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
147.23 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
147.24 	designated.
147.25 		Subd. 2.Special education; regular. For special education aid under Minnesota 
147.26 	Statutes, section 125A.75:

147.27		$
	1,170,508,000
	.....
	2016
	
147.28		$
	1,229,706,000
	.....
	2017
	
147.29 	The 2016 appropriation includes $137,932,000 for 2015 and $1,032,576,000 for 
147.30 	2016.
147.31 	The 2017 appropriation includes $145,356,000 for 2016 and $1,084,350,000 for 
147.32 	2017.
148.1 		Subd. 3.Aid for children with disabilities. For aid under Minnesota Statutes, 
148.2 	section 125A.75, subdivision 3, for children with disabilities placed in residential facilities 
148.3 	within the district boundaries for whom no district of residence can be determined:

148.4		$
	1,406,000
	.....
	2016
	
148.5		$
	1,629,000
	.....
	2017
	
148.6 	If the appropriation for either year is insufficient, the appropriation for the other 
148.7 	year is available.
148.8 		Subd. 4.Travel for home-based services. For aid for teacher travel for home-based 
148.9 	services under Minnesota Statutes, section 125A.75, subdivision 1:

148.10		$
	361,000
	.....
	2016
	
148.11		$
	371,000
	.....
	2017
	
148.12 	The 2016 appropriation includes $35,000 for 2015 and $326,000 for 2016.
148.13 	The 2017 appropriation includes $36,000 for 2016 and $335,000 for 2017.
148.14 		Subd. 5.Court-placed special education revenue. For reimbursing serving school 
148.15 	districts for unreimbursed eligible expenditures attributable to children placed in the serving 
148.16 	school district by court action under Minnesota Statutes, section 125A.79, subdivision 4:

148.17		$
	56,000
	.....
	2016
	
148.18		$
	57,000
	.....
	2017
	
148.19 		Subd. 6.Special education out-of-state tuition. For special education out-of-state 
148.20 	tuition according to Minnesota Statutes, section 125A.79, subdivision 8:

148.21		$
	250,000
	.....
	2016
	
148.22		$
	250,000
	.....
	2017
	
148.23 		Subd. 7.Training and technical assistance to reduce district use of seclusion 
148.24 	and restraint. (a) For providing school districts with training and technical assistance to 
148.25 	reduce district use of seclusion and restraint on students with complex needs:

148.26		$
	750,000
	.....
	2016
	
148.27 	(b) Of this appropriation, $500,000 is available to the commissioner to reimburse 
148.28 	school districts for the cost of hiring experts to provide staff training in reducing district 
148.29 	use of seclusion and restraint on students with complex needs.
148.30 	(c) Of this appropriation, $250,000 is available to the commissioner for the costs 
148.31 	of providing specialized training and assistance to school districts with a high use of 
148.32 	seclusion and restraint on students with complex needs.
149.1 	(d) The commissioner may contract with experts from intermediate school district 
149.2 	teams or level four programs to provide the specialized training and technical assistance.
149.3 	(e) Any funds unexpended in fiscal year 2016 do not cancel but carry forward into 
149.4 	the next fiscal year.

149.5 	Sec. 22.  REPEALER.
 149.6 	Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.63, subdivision 1, is repealed.

149.7 	ARTICLE 6
149.8 	FACILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY

149.9 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 123B.59, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
149.10 		Subd. 6.Alternative facilities aid. A district's alternative facilities aid is the amount 
149.11 	equal to equals 53.33 percent of the district's annual debt service costs, provided that the 
149.12 	amount does not exceed the amount certified to be levied for those purposes for taxes 
149.13 	payable in 1997, or for a district that made a levy under subdivision 5, paragraph (b), the 
149.14 	lesser of the district's annual levy amount, or one-sixth of the amount of levy that it certified 
149.15 	for that purpose for taxes payable in 1998 alternative facilities aid for fiscal year 2016.

149.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2017 and later.

149.17 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 123B.59, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
149.18 		Subd. 7.Alternative facilities appropriation. (a) An amount not to exceed 
149.19 	$19,700,000 $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 2016 and $20,000,000 $11,187,000 for 
149.20 	fiscal year 2001 2017 and each year thereafter is appropriated from the general fund to the 
149.21 	commissioner of education for payment of alternative facilities aid under subdivision 6.
149.22 	(b) The appropriation in paragraph (a) must be reduced by the amount of any money 
149.23 	specifically appropriated for the same purpose in any year from any state fund.

149.24 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2017 and later.

149.25 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125B.26, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
149.26 		Subd. 2.E-rates. To be eligible for aid under this section, a district, charter school, 
149.27 	or intermediate school district is required to file an e-rate application either separately or 
149.28 	through its telecommunications access cluster and have a current technology plan on file 
149.29 	with the department. Discounts received on telecommunications expenditures shall be 
149.30 	reflected in the costs submitted to the department for aid under this section.

150.1 	Sec. 4. FAIR SCHOOL DOWNTOWN TRANSITION.
 150.2 		Subdivision 1.Student enrollment. A student enrolled in the FAIR School 
150.3 	downtown during the 2014-2015 school year and a student accepted for enrollment during 
150.4 	the 2015-2016 school year may continue to enroll in the FAIR School downtown in any 
150.5 	year through the 2018-2019 school year. For the 2015-2016 school year and later, other 
150.6 	students may apply for enrollment under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.03.
150.7 		Subd. 2.Compensatory revenue; literacy aid; alternative compensation 
150.8 	revenue. For the 2015-2016 school year only, the Department of Education must calculate 
150.9 	compensatory revenue, literacy aid, and alternative compensation revenue for the FAIR 
150.10 	School downtown based on the October 1, 2014, enrollment counts.
150.11 		Subd. 3.Pupil transportation. The district may transport a pupil enrolled in the 
150.12 	2014-2015 school year and a pupil accepted for enrollment during the 2015-2016 school 
150.13 	year to and from the FAIR School downtown in succeeding school years regardless of 
150.14 	the pupil's district of residence. Pupil transportation expenses under this section are 
150.15 	reimbursable under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.87.

150.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following the date on which 
150.17 	the real and personal property of the FAIR School downtown in Minneapolis is conveyed 
150.18 	to Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis.

150.19 	Sec. 5. FAIR SCHOOL CRYSTAL TRANSITION.
 150.20 		Subdivision 1.Student enrollment. A student enrolled in the FAIR School 
150.21 	Crystal during the 2014-2015 school year and a student accepted for enrollment during 
150.22 	the 2015-2016 school year may continue to enroll in the FAIR School Crystal in any 
150.23 	year through the 2019-2020 school year. For the 2015-2016 school year and later, other 
150.24 	students may apply for enrollment under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.03.
150.25 		Subd. 2.Compensatory revenue; literacy aid; alternative compensation 
150.26 	revenue. For the 2015-2016 school year only, the Department of Education must calculate 
150.27 	compensatory revenue, literacy aid, and alternative compensation revenue for the FAIR 
150.28 	School Crystal based on the October 1, 2014, enrollment counts.
150.29 		Subd. 3.Pupil transportation. The district may transport a pupil enrolled in 
150.30 	the 2014-2015 school year and a pupil accepted for enrollment during the 2015-2016 
150.31 	school year to and from the FAIR School Crystal in succeeding school years regardless 
150.32 	of the pupil's district of residence. Pupil transportation expenses under this section are 
150.33 	reimbursable under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.87.

151.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following the date on which 
151.2 	the real and personal property of the FAIR School Crystal in Crystal is conveyed to 
151.3 	Independent School District No. 281, Robbinsdale.

151.4 	Sec. 6. APPROPRIATIONS.
 151.5 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
151.6 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
151.7 	designated.
151.8 		Subd. 2.Health and safety revenue. For health and safety aid according to 
151.9 	Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.57, subdivision 5:

151.10		$
	501,000
	.....
	2016
	
151.11		$
	477,000
	.....
	2017
	
151.12 	The 2016 appropriation includes $66,000 for 2015 and $435,000 for 2016.
151.13 	The 2017 appropriation includes $48,000 for 2016 and $399,000 for 2017.
151.14 		Subd. 3.Debt service equalization. For debt service aid according to Minnesota 
151.15 	Statutes, sections 123B.53, subdivision 6, and 123B.535, subdivision 5:

151.16		$
	20,349,000
	.....
	2016
	
151.17		$
	22,171,000
	.....
	2017
	
151.18 	The 2016 appropriation includes $2,295,000 for 2015 and $18,054,000 for 2016.
151.19 	The 2017 appropriation includes $2,005,000 for 2016 and $20,166,000 for 2017.
151.20 		Subd. 4.Alternative facilities bonding aid. For alternative facilities bonding aid, 
151.21 	according to Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.59, subdivision 1:

151.22		$
	19,287,000
	.....
	2016
	
151.23		$
	11,187,000
	.....
	2017
	
151.24 	The 2016 appropriation includes $1,928,000 for 2015 and $17,359,000 for 2016.
151.25 	The 2017 appropriation includes $1,928,000 for 2016 and $9,259,000 for 2017.
151.26 		Subd. 5.Equity in telecommunications access. For equity in telecommunications 
151.27 	access:

151.28		$
	3,750,000
	.....
	2016
	
151.29		$
	3,750,000
	.....
	2017
	
151.30 	If the appropriation amount is insufficient, the commissioner shall reduce the 
151.31 	reimbursement rate in Minnesota Statutes, section 125B.26, subdivisions 4 and 5, and the 
151.32 	revenue for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 shall be prorated.
152.1 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
152.2 		Subd. 6.Deferred maintenance aid. For deferred maintenance aid, according to 
152.3 	Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.591, subdivision 4:

152.4		$
	3,520,000
	.....
	2016
	
152.5		$
	2,714,000
	.....
	2017
	
152.6 	The 2016 appropriation includes $409,000 for 2015 and $3,111,000 for 2016.
152.7 	The 2017 appropriation includes $345,000 for 2016 and $2,369,000 for 2017.
152.8 		Subd. 7.Cancellation; IT certificates. All unspent funds, estimated at $299,000 for 
152.9 	the information technology certificate partnership appropriation under Laws 2014, chapter 
152.10 	312, article 16, section 16, subdivision 5, are canceled to the general fund on June 30, 2015.

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

152.12 	ARTICLE 7
152.13 	NUTRITION AND ACCOUNTING

152.14 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 16A.103, subdivision 1c, is amended to 
152.15 	read:
152.16 		Subd. 1c.Expenditure data. (a) State agencies must submit any revisions 
152.17 	in expenditure data the commissioner determines necessary for the forecast to the 
152.18 	commissioner at least four weeks prior to the release of the forecast. The information 
152.19 	submitted by state agencies and any modifications to that information made by the 
152.20 	commissioner must be made available to legislative fiscal staff no later than three weeks 
152.21 	prior to the release of the forecast.
152.22 	(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the Department of Education must submit any 
152.23 	revisions in expenditure data to the commissioner at least three weeks before the release of 
152.24 	the November forecast, and the commissioner must make E-12 expenditure data available to 
152.25 	legislative fiscal staff no later than two weeks before the release of the November forecast.

152.26 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 123A.24, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
152.27 		Subdivision 1.Distribution of assets and liabilities. (a) If a district withdraws 
152.28 	from a cooperative unit defined in subdivision 2, the distribution of assets and assignment 
152.29 	of liabilities to the withdrawing district shall be determined according to this subdivision.
152.30 	(b) The withdrawing district remains responsible for its share of debt incurred by the 
152.31 	cooperative unit according to section 123B.02, subdivision 3. The district and cooperative 
153.1 	unit may mutually agree, through a board resolution by each, to terms and conditions of 
153.2 	the distribution of assets and the assignment of liabilities.
153.3 	(c) If the cooperative unit and the district cannot agree on the terms and conditions, 
153.4 	the commissioner shall resolve the dispute by determining the district's proportionate share 
153.5 	of assets and liabilities based on the district's enrollment, financial contribution, usage, or 
153.6 	other factor or combination of factors determined appropriate by the commissioner. If the 
153.7 	dispute requires the commissioner to involve an administrative law judge, any fees due 
153.8 	to the Office of Administrative Hearings must be equally split between the district and 
153.9 	cooperative unit. The assets must be disbursed to the withdrawing district in a manner 
153.10 	that minimizes financial disruption to the cooperative unit.
153.11 	(d) Assets related to an insurance pool shall not be disbursed to a member district 
153.12 	under paragraph (c).

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

153.14 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 123B.77, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
153.15 		Subd. 3.Statement for comparison and correction. (a) By November 30 15 of the 
153.16 	calendar year of the submission of the unaudited financial data, the district must provide to 
153.17 	the commissioner audited financial data for the preceding fiscal year. The audit must be 
153.18 	conducted in compliance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards, the 
153.19 	federal Single Audit Act, and the Minnesota legal compliance guide issued by the Office 
153.20 	of the State Auditor. An audited financial statement prepared in a form which will allow 
153.21 	comparison with and correction of material differences in the unaudited financial data shall 
153.22 	be submitted to the commissioner and the state auditor by December 31 15. The audited 
153.23 	financial statement must also provide a statement of assurance pertaining to uniform 
153.24 	financial accounting and reporting standards compliance and a copy of the management 
153.25 	letter submitted to the district by the school district's auditor.
153.26 	(b) By February 15 1 of the calendar year following the submission of the unaudited 
153.27 	financial data, the commissioner shall convert the audited financial data required by this 
153.28 	subdivision into the consolidated financial statement format required under subdivision 1a 
153.29 	and publish the information on the department's Web site.

153.30 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.75, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
153.31 		Subd. 9.Litigation costs; annual report. (a) By November 30 of each year, 
153.32 	a school district must annually report the district's special education litigation costs, 
153.33 	including attorney fees and costs of due process hearings, to the commissioner of 
153.34 	education, consistent with the Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards.
154.1 	(b) By January 15 February 1 of each year, the commissioner shall report school 
154.2 	district special education litigation costs to the house of representatives and the senate 
154.3 	committees having jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education finance.

154.4 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 127A.05, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
154.5 		Subd. 6.Survey of districts. The commissioner of education shall survey the state's 
154.6 	school districts and teacher preparation programs and report to the education committees 
154.7 	of the legislature by January 15 February 1 of each odd-numbered year on the status of 
154.8 	teacher early retirement patterns, the teacher shortage, and the substitute teacher shortage, 
154.9 	including patterns and shortages in subject areas and regions of the state. The report must 
154.10 	also include how districts are making progress in hiring teachers and substitutes in the 
154.11 	areas of shortage and a five-year projection of teacher demand for each district.

154.12 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 127A.49, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
154.13 		Subdivision 1.Omissions. No adjustments to any aid payments made pursuant 
154.14 	to this chapter or chapters 120B, 122A, 123A, 123B, 124D, 125A, and 126C resulting 
154.15 	from omissions in district reports, except those adjustments determined by the legislative 
154.16 	auditor, shall be made for any school year after December 30 15 of the next school year, 
154.17 	unless otherwise specifically provided by law.

154.18 	Sec. 7. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 7, section 19, is amended to read:
154.19 	Sec. 19. FUND TRANSFER; FISCAL YEARS YEAR 2014 AND 2015 
154.20 	THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2017 ONLY.
 154.21 	(a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.80, subdivision 3, for fiscal 
154.22 	years year 2014 and 2015 through fiscal year 2017 only, the commissioner must approve 
154.23 	a request for a fund transfer if the transfer does not increase state aid obligations to the 
154.24 	district or result in additional property tax authority for the district. This section does not 
154.25 	permit transfers from the community service fund, the food service fund, or the reserved 
154.26 	account for staff development under section 122A.61.
154.27 	(b) A school board may approve a fund transfer under paragraph (a) only after 
154.28 	adopting a resolution stating the fund transfer will not diminish instructional opportunities 
154.29 	for students.

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

154.31 	Sec. 8. APPROPRIATIONS.
 155.1 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
155.2 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
155.3 	designated.
155.4 		Subd. 2.School lunch. For school lunch aid according to Minnesota Statutes, 
155.5 	section 124D.111, and Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, section 210.17:

155.6		$
	15,661,000
	.....
	2016
	
155.7		$
	15,818,000
	.....
	2017
	
155.8 		Subd. 3.School breakfast. For traditional school breakfast aid under Minnesota 
155.9 	Statutes, section 124D.1158:

155.10		$
	9,731,000
	.....
	2016
	
155.11		$
	10,361,000
	.....
	2017
	
155.12 		Subd. 4.Kindergarten milk. For kindergarten milk aid under Minnesota Statutes, 
155.13 	section 124D.118:

155.14		$
	942,000
	.....
	2016
	
155.15		$
	942,000
	.....
	2017
	
155.16 		Subd. 5.Summer school service replacement aid. For summer food service 
155.17 	replacement aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.119:

155.18		$
	150,000
	.....
	2016
	
155.19		$
	150,000
	.....
	2017

155.20 	ARTICLE 8
155.21 	LIBRARIES

155.22 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 134.355, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
155.23 		Subd. 8.Eligibility. A regional public library system may apply for regional library 
155.24 	telecommunications aid. The aid must be used for data and video access maintenance, 
155.25 	equipment, or installation of telecommunication lines. on behalf of itself and member 
155.26 	public libraries. The aid must be used for connections and other eligible nonvoice related 
155.27 	e-rate program category one services. Aid may be used for e-rate program category two 
155.28 	services as identified in the Federal Communication Commission's eligible services list 
155.29 	for the current and preceding four funding years, if sufficient funds remain once category 
155.30 	one needs are met in each funding year. To be eligible, a regional public library system 
155.31 	must be officially designated by the commissioner of education as a regional public library 
155.32 	system as defined in section 134.34, subdivision 3, and each of its participating cities and 
156.1 	counties must meet local support levels defined in section 134.34, subdivision 1. A public 
156.2 	library building that receives aid under this section must be open a minimum of 20 hours 
156.3 	per week. Exceptions to the minimum open hours requirement may be granted by the 
156.4 	Department of Education on request of the regional public library system for the following 
156.5 	circumstances: short-term closing for emergency maintenance and repairs following a 
156.6 	natural disaster; in response to exceptional economic circumstances; building repair or 
156.7 	maintenance that requires public services areas to be closed; or to adjust hours of public 
156.8 	service to respond to documented seasonal use patterns.

156.9 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 134.355, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
156.10 		Subd. 9.Telecommunications aid. An application for regional library 
156.11 	telecommunications aid must, at a minimum, contain information to document the 
156.12 	following:
156.13 	(1) the connections are adequate and employ an open network architecture that 
156.14 	will ensure interconnectivity and interoperability with school districts, postsecondary 
156.15 	education, or other governmental agencies;
156.16 	(2) that the connection is established through the most cost-effective means and that 
156.17 	the regional library has explored and coordinated connections through school districts, 
156.18 	postsecondary education, or other governmental agencies;
156.19 	(3) that the regional library system has and member libraries included in the 
156.20 	application have filed or are included in an e-rate application; and
156.21 	(4) other information, as determined by the commissioner of education, to ensure 
156.22 	that connections are coordinated, efficient, and cost-effective, take advantage of discounts, 
156.23 	and meet applicable state standards.
156.24 	The library system may include costs associated with cooperative arrangements with 
156.25 	postsecondary institutions, school districts, and other governmental agencies.

156.26 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 134.355, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
156.27 		Subd. 10.Award of funds. The commissioner of education shall develop an 
156.28 	application and a reporting form and procedures for regional library telecommunications 
156.29 	aid. Aid shall be based on actual costs of including, but not limited to, connections, as 
156.30 	documented in e-rate funding commitment decision letters for category one services and 
156.31 	acceptable documentation for category two services and funds available for this purpose. 
156.32 	The commissioner shall make payments directly to the regional public library system.

156.33 	Sec. 4. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; LIBRARY APPROPRIATIONS.
 157.1 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
157.2 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
157.3 	designated.
157.4 		Subd. 2.Basic system support. For basic system support aid under Minnesota 
157.5 	Statutes, section 134.355:

157.6		$
	13,570,000
	.....
	2016
	
157.7		$
	13,570,000
	.....
	2017
	
157.8 	The 2016 appropriation includes $1,357,000 for 2015 and $12,213,000 for 2016.
157.9 	The 2017 appropriation includes $1,357,000 for 2016 and $12,213,000 for 2017.
157.10 		Subd. 3.Multicounty, multitype library systems. For aid under Minnesota 
157.11 	Statutes, sections 134.353 and 134.354, to multicounty, multitype library systems:

157.12		$
	1,300,000
	.....
	2016
	
157.13		$
	1,300,000
	.....
	2017
	
157.14 	The 2016 appropriation includes $130,000 for 2015 and $1,170,000 for 2016.
157.15 	The 2017 appropriation includes $130,000 for 2016 and $1,170,000 for 2017.
157.16 		Subd. 4.Electronic library for Minnesota. For statewide licenses to online 
157.17 	databases selected in cooperation with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education for 
157.18 	school media centers, public libraries, state government agency libraries, and public 
157.19 	or private college or university libraries:

157.20		$
	900,000
	.....
	2016
	
157.21		$
	900,000
	.....
	2017
	
157.22 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
157.23 		Subd. 5.Regional library telecommunications aid. For regional library 
157.24 	telecommunications aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 134.355:

157.25		$
	2,300,000
	.....
	2016
	
157.26		$
	2,300,000
	.....
	2017
	
157.27 	The 2016 appropriation includes $230,000 for 2015 and $2,070,000 for 2016.
157.28 	The 2017 appropriation includes $230,000 for 2016 and $2,070,000 for 2017.

157.29 	ARTICLE 9
157.30 	EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

157.31 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 121A.17, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
158.1 		Subd. 5.Developmental screening program information. (a) The board must 
158.2 	inform each resident family with a child eligible to participate in the developmental 
158.3 	screening program, and a charter school that provides screening must inform families 
158.4 	that apply for admission to the charter school, about the availability of the program and 
158.5 	the state's requirement that a child receive a developmental screening or provide health 
158.6 	records indicating that the child received a comparable developmental screening from a 
158.7 	public or private health care organization or individual health care provider not later than 
158.8 	30 days after the first day of attending kindergarten in a public school. A school district 
158.9 	must inform all resident families with eligible children under age seven, and a charter 
158.10 	school that provides screening must inform families that apply for admission to the charter 
158.11 	school, that their children may receive a developmental screening conducted either by the 
158.12 	school district or by a public or private health care organization or individual health care 
158.13 	provider and that the screening is not required if a statement signed by the child's parent 
158.14 	or guardian is submitted to the administrator or other person having general control and 
158.15 	supervision of the school that the child has not been screened.
158.16 	(b) A school district that enrolls students from an adjoining state under section 
158.17 	124D.041 may inform a nonresident child whose family resides at a Minnesota address as 
158.18 	assigned by the United States Postal Service about the availability of the developmental 
158.19 	screening program and may provide screening under this section to that child.

158.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2016 
158.21 	and later.

158.22 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.041, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
158.23 		Subdivision 1.Agreements. (a) The commissioner may enter into an agreement 
158.24 	with the designated authority from an adjoining state to establish an enrollment options 
158.25 	program between Minnesota and the adjoining state. Any agreement entered into pursuant 
158.26 	to this section must specify the following:
158.27 	(1) for students who are not residents of Minnesota, the enrollment options program 
158.28 	applies only to a student whose resident school district borders Minnesota;
158.29 	(2) the commissioner must negotiate equal, reciprocal rates with the designated 
158.30 	authority from the adjoining state;
158.31 	(3) if the adjoining state sends more students to Minnesota than Minnesota sends to 
158.32 	the adjoining state, the adjoining state must pay the state of Minnesota the rate agreed 
158.33 	upon under clause (2) for the excess number of students sent to Minnesota;
159.1 	(4) if Minnesota sends more students to the adjoining state than the adjoining state 
159.2 	sends to Minnesota, the state of Minnesota will pay the adjoining state the rate agreed 
159.3 	upon under clause (2) for the excess number of students sent to the adjoining state;
159.4 	(5) the application procedures for the enrollment options program between 
159.5 	Minnesota and the adjoining state;
159.6 	(6) the reasons for which an application for the enrollment options program between 
159.7 	Minnesota and the adjoining state may be denied; and
159.8 	(7) that a Minnesota school district is not responsible for transportation for any 
159.9 	resident student attending school in an adjoining state under the provisions of this section. 
159.10 	A Minnesota school district may, at its discretion, provide transportation services for 
159.11 	such a student.
159.12 	(b) Any agreement entered into pursuant to this section may specify additional 
159.13 	terms relating to any student in need of special education and related services pursuant 
159.14 	to chapter 125A, including early childhood special education services. Any additional 
159.15 	terms must apply equally to both states.

159.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.

159.17 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.041, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
159.18 		Subd. 2.Pupil accounting. (a) Any student from an adjoining state enrolled in 
159.19 	Minnesota pursuant to this section is included in the receiving school district's average 
159.20 	daily membership and pupil units according to section 126C.05 as if the student were 
159.21 	a resident of another Minnesota school district attending the receiving school district 
159.22 	under section 124D.03.
159.23 	(b) Any Minnesota resident student enrolled in an adjoining state pursuant to this 
159.24 	section is included in the resident school district's average daily membership and pupil 
159.25 	units according to section 126C.05 as if the student were a resident of the district attending 
159.26 	another Minnesota school district under section 124D.03.
159.27 	(c) A prekindergarten child from an adjoining state whose family resides at a 
159.28 	Minnesota address as assigned by the United States Postal Service and is receiving early 
159.29 	childhood special education services from a Minnesota school district is considered 
159.30 	enrolled in a Minnesota school district.

159.31 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.

159.32 	Sec. 4. [124D.1295] EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM COORDINATION.
160.1 		Subdivision 1.Early learning program coordination. A school board, after 
160.2 	receiving written comments from its early childhood advisory council, may adopt 
160.3 	a resolution allowing the district to offer a coordinated early learning program. A 
160.4 	coordinated early learning program may provide early childhood family education 
160.5 	services, school readiness services, and other early learning programs providing services 
160.6 	to parents and children.
160.7 		Subd. 2.Early learning program revenue sources. A school district's early 
160.8 	learning program revenue includes its early childhood family education revenue under 
160.9 	section 124D.135, school readiness program revenue under section 124D.16, and any 
160.10 	other revenues set aside for early learning activities.
160.11 		Subd. 3.Reserve account. A district that offers a coordinated early learning 
160.12 	program must place all of the revenue it receives under subdivision 2 in an early learning 
160.13 	program reserve account established in the community service fund.

160.14 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.

160.15 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.13, is amended to read:
160.16 	124D.13 EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION (ECFE) PROGRAMS.
160.17 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; purpose. A district that provides a community 
160.18 	education program under sections 124D.18 and 124D.19 may establish an early childhood 
160.19 	family education program as an individual program or as a part of an early learning 
160.20 	program under section 124D.1295. Two or more districts, each of which provides a 
160.21 	community education program, may cooperate to jointly provide an early childhood 
160.22 	family education program. The purpose of the early childhood family education program 
160.23 	is to provide parenting education to support children's learning and development.
160.24 		Subd. 2.Program requirements. (a) Early childhood family education programs 
160.25 	are programs for children in the period of life from birth to kindergarten, for the parents 
160.26 	and other relatives of these children, and for expectant parents. To the extent that funds 
160.27 	are insufficient to provide programs for all children, early childhood family education 
160.28 	programs should emphasize programming for a child from birth to age three and 
160.29 	encourage parents and other relatives to involve four- and five-year-old children in school 
160.30 	readiness programs, and other public and nonpublic early learning programs. A district 
160.31 	may not limit participation to school district residents. Early childhood family education 
160.32 	programs must provide:
161.1 	(1) programs to educate parents and other relatives about the physical, cognitive, 
161.2 	social, and emotional development of children and to enhance the skills of parents and 
161.3 	other relatives in providing for their children's learning and development;
161.4 	(2) structured learning activities requiring interaction between children and their 
161.5 	parents or relatives;
161.6 	(3) structured learning activities for children that promote children's development 
161.7 	and positive interaction with peers, which are held while parents or relatives attend parent 
161.8 	education classes;
161.9 	(4) information on related community resources;
161.10 	(5) information, materials, and activities that support the safety of children, including 
161.11 	prevention of child abuse and neglect;
161.12 	(6) a community needs assessment that identifies new and underserved populations, 
161.13 	identifies child and family risk factors, particularly those that impact children's learning 
161.14 	and development, and assesses family and parenting education needs in the community;
161.15 	(7) programming and services that are tailored to the needs of families and parents 
161.16 	prioritized in the community needs assessment; and
161.17 	(8) information about and, if needed, assist in making arrangements for an early 
161.18 	childhood health and developmental screening under sections 121A.16 and 121A.17, 
161.19 	when the child nears the third birthday.
161.20 	Early childhood family education programs should prioritize programming and 
161.21 	services for families and parents identified in the community needs assessment, particularly 
161.22 	those families and parents with children with the most risk factors birth to age three.
161.23 	Early childhood family education programs are encouraged to provide parents of 
161.24 	English learners with translated oral and written information to monitor the program's 
161.25 	impact on their children's English language development, to know whether their children 
161.26 	are progressing in developing their English and native language proficiency, and to 
161.27 	actively engage with and support their children in developing their English and native 
161.28 	language proficiency.
161.29 	The programs must include learning experiences for children, parents, and other 
161.30 	relatives that promote children's early literacy and, where practicable, their native language 
161.31 	skills and activities for children that require substantial involvement of the children's 
161.32 	parents or other relatives. The program may provide parenting education programming or 
161.33 	services to anyone identified in the community needs assessment. Providers must review 
161.34 	the program periodically to assure the instruction and materials are not racially, culturally, 
161.35 	or sexually biased. The programs must encourage parents to be aware of practices that 
161.36 	may affect equitable development of children.
162.1 	(b) For the purposes of this section, "relative" or "relatives" means noncustodial 
162.2 	grandparents or other persons related to a child by blood, marriage, adoption, or foster 
162.3 	placement, excluding parents.
162.4 		Subd. 3.Substantial parental involvement. The requirement of substantial 
162.5 	parental or other relative involvement in subdivision 2 means that:
162.6 	(a) parents or other relatives must be physically present much of the time in classes 
162.7 	with their children or be in concurrent classes;
162.8 	(b) parenting education or family education must be an integral part of every early 
162.9 	childhood family education program;
162.10 	(c) early childhood family education appropriations must not be used for traditional 
162.11 	day care or nursery school, or similar programs; and
162.12 	(d) the form of parent involvement common to kindergarten, elementary school, or 
162.13 	early childhood special education programs such as parent conferences, newsletters, and 
162.14 	notes to parents do not qualify a program under subdivision 2.
162.15 		Subd. 4.Home visiting program. (a) A district that levies for home visiting under 
162.16 	section 124D.135, subdivision 6, shall use this revenue to include as part of the early 
162.17 	childhood family education programs a parent education component that is designed to 
162.18 	reach isolated or at-risk families.
162.19 	The home visiting program must:
162.20 	(1) incorporate evidence-informed parenting education practices designed to support 
162.21 	the healthy growth and development of children, with a priority focus on reaching those 
162.22 	children who have high needs at as early an age as possible;
162.23 	(2) establish clear objectives and protocols for home visits;
162.24 	(3) encourage families to make a transition from home visits to site-based parenting 
162.25 	programs;
162.26 	(4) provide program services that are community-based, accessible, and culturally 
162.27 	relevant;
162.28 	(5) foster collaboration among existing agencies and community-based organizations 
162.29 	that serve young children and their families, such as public health evidence-based models 
162.30 	of home visiting and Head Start home visiting; and
162.31 	(6) provide information about and assist in making arrangements for an early 
162.32 	childhood health and developmental screening when the child nears his or her third birthday.
162.33 	The home visiting program should be provided by licensed parenting educators, 
162.34 	certified family life educators, or professionals with an equivalent license that reflect the 
162.35 	demographic composition of the community to the extent possible.
163.1 	(b) A home visiting program must include information focused on early brain 
163.2 	development, including but not limited to brain development at different life stages, 
163.3 	expectations of cognitive functions at different life stages, suggested activities to 
163.4 	encourage healthy brain development, and suggested activities to discourage negative 
163.5 	brain development based on a child's surroundings.
163.6 		Subd. 5.Separate accounts. The A district operating an early childhood family 
163.7 	education program independent of an early learning program under section 124D.1295 
163.8 	must maintain a separate account within the community education fund for money for 
163.9 	early childhood family education programs.
163.10 		Subd. 6.Participants' fees. A district must establish a reasonable sliding fee scale 
163.11 	but it shall waive the fee for a participant unable to pay.
163.12 		Subd. 7.Additional funding. A district may receive funds from any governmental 
163.13 	agency or private source.
163.14 		Subd. 8.Coordination. (a) A district must describe strategies to coordinate and 
163.15 	maximize public and private community resources and reduce duplication of services.
163.16 	(b) A district is encouraged to coordinate adult basic education programs provided to 
163.17 	parents and early childhood family education programs provided to children to accomplish 
163.18 	the goals of section 124D.895.
163.19 		Subd. 9.District advisory councils. The board must appoint an advisory council 
163.20 	from the area in which the program is provided. A majority of the council must be parents 
163.21 	participating in the program, who represent the demographics of the community. The 
163.22 	district must ensure, to the extent possible, that the council includes representation of 
163.23 	families who are racially, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse. The council 
163.24 	must assist the board in developing, planning, and monitoring the early childhood family 
163.25 	education program and the early learning program under section 124D.1295. The council 
163.26 	must report to the board and the community education advisory council.
163.27 		Subd. 10.Alternative council. A board may direct the community education 
163.28 	council, required according to section 124D.19, subdivision 2, to perform the functions of 
163.29 	the Advisory Council for Early Childhood Family Education.
163.30 		Subd. 11.Teachers. A school board must employ necessary licensed teachers for its 
163.31 	early childhood family education programs. The Board of Teaching, at its discretion, may 
163.32 	grant an applicant a variance under this subdivision, consistent with sections 122A.09, 
163.33 	subdivision 10, and 122A.25, and Board of Teaching rules.
163.34 		Subd. 12.Assistance. The department must provide assistance to districts with 
163.35 	programs described in this section. The department must establish guidelines that list 
164.1 	barriers to learning and development affecting children served by early childhood family 
164.2 	education programs.
164.3 		Subd. 13. Program data submission requirements.  Districts receiving early 
164.4 	childhood family education revenue under section 124D.135 must submit annual program 
164.5 	data, including data that demonstrates the program response to the community needs 
164.6 	assessment, to the department by July 15 in the form and manner prescribed by the 
164.7 	commissioner.
164.8 		Subd. 14.Supervision. A program provided by a board must be supervised by a 
164.9 	licensed early childhood teacher or a licensed parent educator.
164.10 		Subd. 15.Parenting education transition program. To the extent that funds are 
164.11 	sufficient, early childhood family education may provide parenting education transition 
164.12 	programming for parents of children birth to grade three in districts in which there is a 
164.13 	prekindergarten-grade three initiative in order to facilitate continued parent engagement 
164.14 	in children's learning and development. Early childhood family education programs are 
164.15 	encouraged to develop partnerships to provide a parenting education liaison to providers 
164.16 	of other public and nonpublic early learning programs, such as Head Start, school 
164.17 	readiness, child care, early childhood special education, local public health programs, 
164.18 	and health care providers.

164.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.

164.20 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.135, is amended to read:
164.21 	124D.135 EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION (ECFE) REVENUE.
164.22 		Subdivision 1.Revenue. The revenue for early childhood family education 
164.23 	programs for a school district equals $120 for fiscal year 2014 and the formula allowance 
164.24 	for the year times 0.023 for fiscal year 2015 and later, times the greater of:
164.25 	(1) 150; or
164.26 	(2) the number of people under five years of age residing in the district on October 1 
164.27 	of the previous school year.
164.28 		Subd. 2.Population. For the purposes of subdivision 1, data reported to the 
164.29 	department may be used to determine the number of people under five years of age 
164.30 	residing in the district. The commissioner, with the assistance of the state demographer, 
164.31 	shall review the number reported by any district operating an early childhood family 
164.32 	education program. If requested, the district shall submit to the commissioner an 
164.33 	explanation of its methods and other information necessary to document accuracy. If the 
164.34 	commissioner determines that the district has not provided sufficient documentation of 
165.1 	accuracy, the commissioner may request the state demographer to prepare an estimate of 
165.2 	the number of people under five years of age residing in the district and may use this 
165.3 	estimate for the purposes of subdivision 1.
165.4 		Subd. 3.Early childhood family education levy.  By September 30 of each year, 
165.5 	the commissioner shall establish a tax rate for early childhood family education revenue 
165.6 	that raises $22,135,000 in each fiscal year. If the amount of the early childhood family 
165.7 	education levy would exceed the early childhood family education revenue, the early 
165.8 	childhood family education levy must equal the early childhood family education revenue. 
165.9 	A district may not certify an early childhood family education levy unless it has met the 
165.10 	annual program data reporting requirements under section 124D.13, subdivision 13.
165.11 		Subd. 4.Early childhood family education aid. If a district complies with the 
165.12 	provisions of section 124D.13, it must receive early childhood family education aid equal 
165.13 	to the difference between the early childhood family education revenue and the early 
165.14 	childhood family education levy. If the district does not levy the entire amount permitted, 
165.15 	the early childhood family education aid must be reduced in proportion to the actual 
165.16 	amount levied.
165.17 		Subd. 5.Use of revenue restricted. (a) Early childhood family education revenue 
165.18 	may be used only for early learning programs, including early childhood family education 
165.19 	programs.
165.20 	(b) Not more than five percent of early childhood family education revenue, as defined 
165.21 	in subdivision 7, may be used to administer early childhood family education programs.
165.22 	(c) An early childhood family education program may use up to ten percent of its 
165.23 	early childhood family education revenue as defined in subdivision 1, including revenue 
165.24 	from participant fees, for equipment that is used in the early childhood family education 
165.25 	program. This revenue may only be used for the following purposes:
165.26 	(1) to purchase or lease computers and related materials; and
165.27 	(2) to purchase or lease equipment for instruction for participating children and 
165.28 	their families.
165.29 	If a district anticipates an unusual circumstance requiring its early childhood family 
165.30 	education program capital expenditures to exceed the ten percent limitation, prior approval 
165.31 	to exceed the limit must be obtained in writing from the commissioner.
165.32 		Subd. 6.Home visiting levy. A district that is eligible to levy for early childhood 
165.33 	family education under subdivision 3 and that enters into a collaborative agreement to 
165.34 	provide education services and social services to families with young children may levy 
165.35 	an amount equal to $1.60 times the number of people under five years of age residing in 
165.36 	the district on September 1 of the last school year. Levy revenue under this subdivision 
166.1 	must not be included as revenue under subdivision 1. The revenue must be used for home 
166.2 	visiting programs under section 124D.13, subdivision 4.
166.3 		Subd. 7.Reserve account. Early childhood family education revenue, which 
166.4 	includes aids, levies, fees, grants, and all other revenues received by the district for early 
166.5 	childhood family education programs, must be maintained in either an early learning 
166.6 	program reserve account or  a separate early childhood family education reserve account 
166.7 	within the community service fund.

166.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.

166.9 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.16, is amended to read:
166.10 	124D.16 SCHOOL READINESS AID.
166.11 		Subd. 2.Amount of aid. (a) A district is eligible to receive school readiness aid 
166.12 	for eligible prekindergarten pupils enrolled in a school readiness program under section 
166.13 	124D.15 if the biennial plan required by section 124D.15, subdivision 3a, has been 
166.14 	approved by the commissioner.
166.15 	(b) A district must receive school readiness aid equal to:
166.16 	(1) the number of four-year-old children in the district on October 1 for the previous 
166.17 	school year times the ratio of 50 percent of the total school readiness aid for that year to 
166.18 	the total number of four-year-old children reported to the commissioner for the previous 
166.19 	school year; plus
166.20 	(2) the number of pupils enrolled in the school district from families eligible for the 
166.21 	free or reduced school lunch program for the previous school year times the ratio of 
166.22 	50 percent of the total school readiness aid for that year to the total number of pupils 
166.23 	in the state from families eligible for the free or reduced school lunch program for the 
166.24 	previous school year.
166.25 	(c) For fiscal year 20152016 and later, the total school readiness aid entitlement 
166.26 	equals $12,170,000 $17,170,000.
166.27 		Subd. 3.Use of aid. School readiness aid shall be used only to provide a school 
166.28 	readiness program or an early learning program and may be used to provide transportation. 
166.29 	Not more than five percent of program revenue, as defined in subdivision 5, may be used 
166.30 	for the cost of administering the program. Aid must be used to supplement and not supplant 
166.31 	local, state, and federal funding. Aid may not be used for instruction and services required 
166.32 	under sections 125A.03 to 125A.24 and 125A.65. Aid may not be used to purchase land 
166.33 	or construct buildings, but may be used to lease or renovate existing buildings.
167.1 		Subd. 5.Reserve account. School readiness revenue, which includes aids, fees, 
167.2 	grants, and all other revenues received by the district school readiness programs, must 
167.3 	be maintained in  either an early learning program reserve account or a  separate school 
167.4 	readiness reserve account within the community service fund.

167.5 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.

167.6 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.165, is amended to read:
167.7 	124D.165 EARLY LEARNING SCHOLARSHIPS.
167.8 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; purpose. There is established within the Office of 
167.9 	Early Learning an early learning scholarships program in order to increase access to 
167.10 	high-quality early childhood programs for children ages three to five.
167.11 		Subd. 2.Family eligibility. (a) For a family to receive an early learning scholarship, 
167.12 	parents or guardians must meet the following eligibility requirements:
167.13 	(1) have a child three or four years of age on September 1 of the current school year, 
167.14 	who has not yet started kindergarten; and
167.15 	(2) have income equal to or less than 185 percent of federal poverty level income 
167.16 	in the current calendar year, or be able to document their child's current participation in 
167.17 	the free and reduced-price lunch program or child and adult care food program, National 
167.18 	School Lunch Act, United States Code, title 42, sections 1751 and 1766; the Food 
167.19 	Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Food and Nutrition Act, United States 
167.20 	Code, title 7, sections 2011-2036; Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for 
167.21 	School Readiness Act of 2007; Minnesota family investment program under chapter 256J; 
167.22 	child care assistance programs under chapter 119B; the supplemental nutrition assistance 
167.23 	program; or placement in foster care under section 260C.212.
167.24 	(b) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a parent under age 21 who 
167.25 	is pursuing a high school or general education equivalency diploma or postsecondary 
167.26 	training or education is eligible for an early learning scholarship if the parent has a child 
167.27 	age zero to five years old and meets the income eligibility guidelines in this subdivision.
167.28 	(c) Any siblings between the ages zero to five years old of a child who has been 
167.29 	awarded a scholarship under this section must be awarded a scholarship upon request, 
167.30 	provided the sibling attends the same program as long as funds are available.
167.31 	(d) Beginning September 1, 2015, any child under the age of five years old on 
167.32 	September 1 of the current school year who has not started kindergarten and is a recipient 
167.33 	of an early learning scholarship funded under the federal Race to the Top - Early Learning 
168.1 	Challenge Grant must receive a scholarship under this section at the end of the child's Race 
168.2 	to the Top - Early Learning Challenge Grant scholarship as long as funds are available.
168.3 	(d) (e) A child who has received a scholarship under this section must continue to 
168.4 	receive a scholarship each year until that child is eligible for kindergarten under section 
168.5 	120A.20 and as long as funds are available.
168.6 	(e) (f) Early learning scholarships may not be counted as earned income for the 
168.7 	purposes of medical assistance under chapter 256B, MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L, 
168.8 	Minnesota family investment program under chapter 256J, child care assistance programs 
168.9 	under chapter 119B, or Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for School 
168.10 	Readiness Act of 2007.
168.11 	(g) A child from an adjoining state whose family resides at a Minnesota address as 
168.12 	assigned by the United States Postal Service, who has received developmental screening 
168.13 	under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19, who intends to enroll in a Minnesota school district, 
168.14 	and whose family meets the criteria of paragraph (a) is eligible for an early learning 
168.15 	scholarship under this section.
168.16 	(h) County human services agencies working with families eligible for the basic 
168.17 	sliding fee child care program under chapter 119B, including the families on the basic 
168.18 	sliding fee waiting list, annually may notify these families by mail about the eligibility 
168.19 	criteria and the application process for receiving an early learning scholarship under 
168.20 	this section.
168.21 		Subd. 3.Administration. (a) The commissioner director of the Office of Early 
168.22 	Learning shall establish application timelines and determine the schedule for awarding 
168.23 	scholarships that meets operational needs of eligible families and programs. 
168.24 	(b) The commissioner director may prioritize applications on factors including:
168.25 	(1) family income,;
168.26 	(2) geographic location,; and 
168.27 	(3) whether the child's family child:
168.28 	(i) is in foster care;
168.29 	(ii) is experiencing homelessness;
168.30 	(iii) is on a waiting list for a publicly funded program providing early education 
168.31 	or child care services.; or
168.32 	(iv) has a parent under age 21 who is pursuing a high school or postsecondary 
168.33 	training or education.
168.34 	(b) (c) For fiscal years 2014 and 2015 only, scholarships may not exceed $5,000 
168.35 	per year for each eligible child. For fiscal year 2016 and later, the commissioner director 
168.36 	shall establish a target for the average scholarship amount per child based on the results 
169.1 	of the rate survey conducted under section 119B.02., not to exceed the statewide general 
169.2 	education revenue per pupil in adjusted average daily membership. The director may 
169.3 	increase by up to 15 percent the scholarship amount for children enrolled in a three-star 
169.4 	Parent Aware-rated program and may increase by up to 20 percent the scholarship amount 
169.5 	for children enrolled in a four-star Parent Aware-rated program so long as any increase 
169.6 	added to the average scholarship amount does not exceed the actual program rate or tuition.
169.7 	(c) (d) A four-star rated program that has children eligible for a scholarship enrolled 
169.8 	in or on a waiting list for a program beginning in July, August, or September may notify 
169.9 	the commissioner director, in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner 
169.10 	director, each year of the program's desire to enhance program services or to serve more 
169.11 	children than current funding provides. The commissioner director may designate a 
169.12 	predetermined number of scholarship slots for that program and notify the program of 
169.13 	that number. Beginning July 1, 2016, a school district or Head Start program qualifying 
169.14 	under this paragraph, a licensed child care center, or a family child care provider 
169.15 	may use its established registration process to enroll scholarship recipients and may 
169.16 	verify a scholarship recipient's family income in the same manner as for other program 
169.17 	participants. Scholarships awarded under this paragraph must be paid to the eligible 
169.18 	program provider designated by the award recipient, and must be transferred to another 
169.19 	eligible program provider at the recipient's request.
169.20 	(d) (e) A scholarship is awarded for a 12-month period. If the scholarship recipient 
169.21 	has not been accepted and subsequently enrolled in a rated program within ten months of 
169.22 	the awarding of the scholarship, the scholarship cancels and the recipient must reapply in 
169.23 	order to be eligible for another scholarship. A child may not be awarded more than one 
169.24 	scholarship in a 12-month period.
169.25 	(e) (f) A child who receives a scholarship who has not completed development 
169.26 	screening under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19 must complete that screening within 90 
169.27 	days of first attending an eligible program.
169.28 	(f)(g) For fiscal year 20172016 and later, a school district or Head Start program 
169.29 	enrolling scholarship recipients under paragraph (c) may apply to the commissioner, in 
169.30 	the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, for direct payment of state aid. 
169.31 	Upon receipt of the application, the commissioner must pay each program directly for 
169.32 	each approved scholarship recipient enrolled under paragraph (c) according to the metered 
169.33 	payment system or another schedule established by the commissioner. the total amount of 
169.34 	funding directly allocated to a program under paragraph (d) must not exceed the amount 
169.35 	directly awarded to those programs in fiscal year 2015.
170.1 		Subd. 4.Early childhood program eligibility. (a) In order To be eligible to accept 
170.2 	an early learning scholarship, a program must:
170.3 	(1) participate in the quality rating and improvement system under section 
170.4 	124D.142; and
170.5 	(2) beginning July 1, 2016 2020, have a three- or four-star rating in the quality rating 
170.6 	and improvement system or be a program the director determines is eligible based on an 
170.7 	evidence-based program evaluation or program review.
170.8 	(b) Any program accepting scholarships must use the revenue to supplement and not 
170.9 	supplant federal funding.
170.10 	(c) (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), all Minnesota early learning foundation 
170.11 	scholarship program pilot sites are eligible to accept an early learning scholarship under 
170.12 	this section.
170.13 	(c) A provider is not eligible to participate in the scholarship program under this 
170.14 	section if: 
170.15 	(1) the provider has been disqualified from receiving payment for child care services 
170.16 	from the child care assistance program under chapter 119B due to wrongfully obtaining 
170.17 	child care assistance under section 256.98, subdivision 8, paragraph (c);
170.18 	(2) the program or individual is currently on the national disqualified list for the 
170.19 	Child and Adult Care Food Program; or
170.20 	(3) the program or provider has been convicted of any activity that occurred during 
170.21 	the past seven years indicating a lack of business integrity, including fraud, making false 
170.22 	statements, receiving stolen property, making false claims, or obstruction of justice. 
170.23 		Subd. 4a.Record-keeping requirements. A program participating under this 
170.24 	section must maintain and, at the director's request, make available to the director the 
170.25 	attendance records and records of charges and payments for all children participating in 
170.26 	this program, including payments from sources other than this program.
170.27 		Subd. 5.Report required. The commissioner director shall contract with an 
170.28 	independent contractor to evaluate the early learning scholarship program. The evaluation 
170.29 	must include recommendations regarding the appropriate scholarship amount, efficiency, 
170.30 	and effectiveness of the administration, and impact on kindergarten readiness. By January 
170.31 	15, 2016, the commissioner director shall submit a written copy of the evaluation to the 
170.32 	chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with 
170.33 	primary jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education.
170.34 		Subd. 6.Use of funds. (a) Scholarships must be used to supplement and not 
170.35 	supplant federal funding.
171.1 	(b) A scholarship must be used in a program the child regularly attends to ensure 
171.2 	the child's access to the general curriculum of the program, consistent with the program 
171.3 	schedule.

171.4 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2016 and later.

171.5 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 125A.03, is amended to read:
171.6 	125A.03 SPECIAL INSTRUCTION FOR CHILDREN WITH A DISABILITY.
171.7 	(a) As defined in paragraph (b), every district must provide special instruction and 
171.8 	services, either within the district or in another district, for all children with a disability, 
171.9 	including providing required services under Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 
171.10 	300.121, paragraph (d), to those children suspended or expelled from school for more than 
171.11 	ten school days in that school year, who are residents of the district and who are disabled 
171.12 	as set forth in section 125A.02. For purposes of state and federal special education laws, 
171.13 	the phrase "special instruction and services" in the state Education Code means a free 
171.14 	and appropriate public education provided to an eligible child with disabilities. "Free 
171.15 	appropriate public education" means special education and related services that:
171.16 	(1) are provided at public expense, under public supervision and direction, and 
171.17 	without charge;
171.18 	(2) meet the standards of the state, including the requirements of the Individuals 
171.19 	with Disabilities Education Act, Part B or C;
171.20 	(3) include an appropriate preschool, elementary school, or secondary school 
171.21 	education; and
171.22 	(4) are provided to children ages three through 21 in conformity with an 
171.23 	individualized education program that meets the requirements of the Individuals with 
171.24 	Disabilities Education Act, subpart A, sections 300.320 to 300.324, and provided to 
171.25 	infants and toddlers in conformity with an individualized family service plan that meets 
171.26 	the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, subpart A, sections 
171.27 	303.300 to 303.346.
171.28 	(b) Notwithstanding any age limits in laws to the contrary, special instruction and 
171.29 	services must be provided from birth until July 1 after the child with a disability becomes 
171.30 	21 years old but shall not extend beyond secondary school or its equivalent, except as 
171.31 	provided in section 124D.68, subdivision 2. Local health, education, and social service 
171.32 	agencies must refer children under age five who are known to need or suspected of 
171.33 	needing special instruction and services to the school district. Districts with less than the 
171.34 	minimum number of eligible children with a disability as determined by the commissioner 
172.1 	must cooperate with other districts to maintain a full range of programs for education 
172.2 	and services for children with a disability. This section does not alter the compulsory 
172.3 	attendance requirements of section 120A.22.
172.4 	(c) At the board's discretion, a school district that participates in a reciprocity 
172.5 	agreement with a neighboring state under section 124D.041 may enroll and provide 
172.6 	special instruction and services to a child from an adjoining state whose family resides 
172.7 	at a Minnesota address as assigned by the United States Postal Service if the district has 
172.8 	completed child identification procedures for that child to determine the child's eligibility 
172.9 	for special education services, and the child has received developmental screening under 
172.10 	sections 121A.16 to 121A.19.

172.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.

172.12 	Sec. 10. APPROPRIATIONS.
 172.13 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
172.14 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
172.15 	designated.
172.16 		Subd. 2.School readiness. For revenue for school readiness programs under 
172.17 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 124D.15 and 124D.16:

172.18		$
	16,670,000
	.....
	2016
	
172.19		$
	17,170,000
	.....
	2017
	
172.20 	The 2016 appropriation includes $1,217,000 for 2015 and $15,453,000 for 2016.
172.21 	The 2017 appropriation includes $1,717,000 for 2016 and $15,453,000 for 2017.
172.22 		Subd. 3.Early childhood family education aid. For early childhood family 
172.23 	education aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.135:

172.24		$
	27,698,000
	.....
	2016
	
172.25		$
	28,346,000
	.....
	2017
	
172.26 	The 2016 appropriation includes $2,713,000 for 2015 and $24,985,000 for 2016.
172.27 	The 2017 appropriation includes $2,776,000 for 2016 and $25,570,000 for 2017.
172.28 		Subd. 4.Developmental screening aid. For developmental screening aid under 
172.29 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 121A.17 and 121A.19:

172.30		$
	3,363,000
	.....
	2016
	
172.31		$
	3,369,000
	.....
	2017
	
172.32 	The 2016 appropriation includes $338,000 for 2015 and $3,025,000 for 2016.
172.33 	The 2017 appropriation includes $336,000 for 2016 and $3,033,000 for 2017.
173.1 		Subd. 5.Head Start program. (a) For Head Start programs under Minnesota 
173.2 	Statutes, section 119A.52:

173.3		$
	20,100,000
	.....
	2016
	
173.4		$
	20,100,000
	.....
	2017
	
173.5 	(b) Head Start programs must use the funds under this subdivision to increase the 
173.6 	number of eligible children served beyond the number of eligible children served under 
173.7 	federal funds.
173.8 	(c) No Head Start programs providing compensation or other employment benefits 
173.9 	that exceed established federal limits may receive funding under this subdivision.
173.10 		Subd. 6.Educate parents partnership. For the educate parents partnership under 
173.11 	Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.129:

173.12		$
	49,000
	.....
	2016
	
173.13		$
	49,000
	.....
	2017
	
173.14 		Subd. 7.Kindergarten entrance assessment initiative and intervention 
173.15 	program. For the kindergarten entrance assessment initiative and intervention program 
173.16 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.162:

173.17		$
	281,000
	.....
	2016
	
173.18		$
	281,000
	.....
	2017
	
173.19 		Subd. 8.Early learning scholarships. For the early learning scholarship program 
173.20 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.165:

173.21		$
	37,884,000
	.....
	2016
	
173.22		$
	47,884,000
	.....
	2017
	
173.23 	Up to $950,000 each year is for administration of this program.
173.24 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
173.25 		Subd. 9.Parent-child home program. For a grant to the parent-child home 
173.26 	program:

173.27		$
	350,000
	.....
	2016
	
173.28		$
	350,000
	.....
	2017
	
173.29 	The grant must be used for an evidence-based and research-validated early childhood 
173.30 	literacy and school readiness program for children ages 16 months to four years at its 
173.31 	existing suburban program location. The program must include urban and rural program 
173.32 	locations for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. 
174.1 		Subd. 10.Northside Achievement Zone. For a grant to the Northside Achievement 
174.2 	Zone:

174.3		$
	200,000
	.....
	2016
	
174.4		$
	200,000
	.....
	2017
	
174.5 	Funds appropriated in this section are to reduce multigenerational poverty and the 
174.6 	educational achievement gap through increased enrollment of families within the zone, 
174.7 	and may be used for Northside Achievement Zone programming and services consistent 
174.8 	with federal Promise Neighborhood program agreements and requirements.
174.9 		Subd. 11.St. Paul Promise Neighborhood. For a grant to the St. Paul Promise 
174.10 	Neighborhood:

174.11		$
	200,000
	.....
	2016
	
174.12		$
	200,000
	.....
	2017
	
174.13 	Funds appropriated in this section are to reduce multigenerational poverty and the 
174.14 	educational achievement gap through increased enrollment of families within the zone, 
174.15 	and may be used for St. Paul Promise Neighborhood programming and services consistent 
174.16 	with federal Promise Neighborhood program agreements and requirements.
174.17 		Subd. 12.Quality Rating System. For transfer to the commissioner of human 
174.18 	services for the purposes of expanding the Quality Rating and Improvement System under 
174.19 	Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.142, in greater Minnesota and increasing supports for 
174.20 	providers participating in the Quality Rating and Improvement System:

174.21		$
	1,200,000
	.....
	2016
	
174.22		$
	2,300,000
	.....
	2017
	
174.23 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.

174.24 	ARTICLE 10
174.25 	PREVENTION

174.26 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION.
 174.27 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
174.28 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
174.29 	designated.
174.30 		Subd. 2.Community education aid. For community education aid under 
174.31 	Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.20:

175.1		$
	788,000
	.....
	2016
	
175.2		$
	554,000
	.....
	2017
	
175.3 	The 2016 appropriation includes $107,000 for 2015 and $681,000 for 2016.
175.4 	The 2017 appropriation includes $75,000 for 2016 and $479,000 for 2017.
175.5 		Subd. 3.Adults with disabilities program aid. For adults with disabilities 
175.6 	programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.56:

175.7		$
	710,000
	.....
	2016
	
175.8		$
	710,000
	.....
	2017
	
175.9 	The 2016 appropriation includes $71,000 for 2015 and $639,000 for 2016.
175.10 	The 2017 appropriation includes $71,000 for 2016 and $639,000 for 2017.
175.11 		Subd. 4.Hearing-impaired adults. For programs for hearing-impaired adults 
175.12 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.57:

175.13		$
	70,000
	.....
	2016
	
175.14		$
	70,000
	.....
	2017
	
175.15 		Subd. 5.School-age care revenue. For extended day aid under Minnesota Statutes, 
175.16 	section 124D.22:

175.17		$
	1,000
	.....
	2016
	
175.18		$
	1,000
	.....
	2017
	
175.19 	The 2016 appropriation includes $0 for 2015 and $1,000 for 2016.
175.20 	The 2017 appropriation includes $0 for 2016 and $1,000 for 2017.

175.21 	ARTICLE 11
175.22 	SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND LIFELONG LEARNING

175.23 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.531, subdivision 1, is amended to 
175.24 	read:
175.25 		Subdivision 1.State total adult basic education aid. (a) The state total adult basic 
175.26 	education aid for fiscal year 2011 equals $44,419,000, plus any amount that is not paid 
175.27 	during the previous fiscal year as a result of adjustments under subdivision 4, paragraph 
175.28 	(a), or section 124D.52, subdivision 3. The state total adult basic education aid for later 
175.29 	fiscal years equals:
175.30 	(1) the state total adult basic education aid for the preceding fiscal year plus any 
175.31 	amount that is not paid for during the previous fiscal year, as a result of adjustments under 
175.32 	subdivision 4, paragraph (a), or section 124D.52, subdivision 3; times
176.1 	(2) the lesser of:
176.2 	(i) 1.03 1.005; or
176.3 	(ii) the average growth in state total contact hours over the prior ten program years.
176.4 	Three percent of the state total adult basic education aid must be set aside for adult 
176.5 	basic education supplemental service grants under section 124D.522.
176.6 	(b) The state total adult basic education aid, excluding basic population aid, equals 
176.7 	the difference between the amount computed in paragraph (a), and the state total basic 
176.8 	population aid under subdivision 2.

176.9 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2016 and later.

176.10 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.531, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
176.11 		Subd. 2.Basic population aid. (a) A district is eligible for basic population aid if 
176.12 	the district has a basic service level approved by the commissioner under section 124D.52, 
176.13 	subdivision 5, or is a member of a consortium with an approved basic service level. Basic 
176.14 	population aid is equal to the greater of $3,844 or $1.73 times the population of the district. 
176.15 	District population is determined according to section 275.14.
176.16 	(b) The basic population aid for approved community-based providers of an adult 
176.17 	basic education program without a specific defined district population equals $1.73 times 
176.18 	the number of students participating in the program during the previous calendar year.

176.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2016 
176.20 	and later.

176.21 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.531, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
176.22 		Subd. 3.Program revenue. Adult basic education programs established under 
176.23 	section 124D.52 and approved by the commissioner are eligible for revenue under this 
176.24 	subdivision. For fiscal year 2001 and later, Adult basic education revenue for each 
176.25 	approved program equals the sum of:
176.26 	(1) the basic population aid under subdivision 2 for districts participating in the 
176.27 	program during the current program year; plus
176.28 	(2) 84 percent times the amount computed in subdivision 1, paragraph (b), times the 
176.29 	ratio of the contact hours for students participating in the program during the first prior 
176.30 	program year to the state total contact hours during the first prior program year; plus
176.31 	(3) eight percent times the amount computed in subdivision 1, paragraph (b), times 
176.32 	the ratio of the enrollment of English learners during the second prior school year in 
176.33 	districts participating in the program during the current program year to the state total 
177.1 	enrollment of English learners during the second prior school year in districts participating 
177.2 	in adult basic education programs during the current program year; plus
177.3 	(4) eight percent times the amount computed in subdivision 1, paragraph (b), times 
177.4 	the ratio of the latest federal census count of the number of adults aged 25 or older with no 
177.5 	diploma residing in the districts participating in the program during the current program 
177.6 	year to the latest federal census count of the state total number of adults aged 25 or older 
177.7 	with no diploma residing in the districts participating in adult basic education programs 
177.8 	during the current program year; and
177.9 	(5) for an approved community-based provider of an adult basic education program 
177.10 	without district characteristics necessary to calculate revenue under clauses (3) and (4), 
177.11 	the average revenue per participant for programs receiving revenue under those clauses 
177.12 	for the previous year, times the program's participants for the previous year.

177.13 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2016 
177.14 	and later.

177.15 	Sec. 4. APPROPRIATIONS.
 177.16 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
177.17 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
177.18 	designated.
177.19 		Subd. 2.Adult basic education aid. For adult basic education aid under Minnesota 
177.20 	Statutes, section 124D.531:

177.21		$
	48,036,000
	.....
	2016
	
177.22		$
	48,276,000
	.....
	2017
	
177.23 	The 2016 appropriation includes $4,782,000 for 2015 and $43,254,000 for 2016.
177.24 	The 2017 appropriation includes $4,806,000 for 2016 and $43,470,000 for 2017.
177.25 		Subd. 3.GED tests. For payment of 60 percent of the costs of GED tests under 
177.26 	Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.55:

177.27		$
	125,000
	.....
	2016
	
177.28		$
	125,000
	.....
	2017

177.29 	ARTICLE 12
177.30 	STATE AGENCIES

177.31 	Section 1. [119A.035] SCHOOL CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS.
178.1 		Subdivision 1.Commissioner's duties. To ensure timely responses to school crises, 
178.2 	the commissioner must work in cooperation with the Minnesota School Safety Center to 
178.3 	collect, maintain, and make available to schools contact information for crisis response 
178.4 	teams throughout the state.
178.5 		Subd. 2.Crisis response teams. In regions of Minnesota where an existing crisis 
178.6 	response team has not been formed by a school district, county, or city, the commissioner, 
178.7 	in cooperation with the Minnesota School Safety Center, must convene a working group 
178.8 	in each region to develop a plan to form a crisis response team for that region. Team 
178.9 	members from the public and private sectors may represent various disciplines, including 
178.10 	school administrators, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, teachers, 
178.11 	nurses, security experts, media relations professionals, and other related areas.

178.12 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.14, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
178.13 		Subd. 9. Fee. Each person licensed by the Board of School Administrators shall pay 
178.14 	the board a fee of $75, collected each fiscal year. When transmitting notice of the license 
178.15 	fee, the board also must notify the licensee of the penalty for failing to pay the fee within 
178.16 	the time specified by the board. The board may provide a lower fee for persons on retired 
178.17 	or inactive status. After receiving notice from the board, any licensed school administrator 
178.18 	who does not pay the fee in the given fiscal year shall have all administrative licenses held 
178.19 	by the person automatically suspended, without the right to a hearing, until the fee has been 
178.20 	paid to the board. If the board suspends a licensed school administrator for failing to pay 
178.21 	the fee, it must immediately notify the district currently employing the school administrator 
178.22 	of the school administrator's suspension. The executive secretary shall deposit the fees in 
178.23 	the educator licensure account in the special revenue fund in the state treasury.

178.24 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.18, subdivision 7c, is amended to read:
178.25 		Subd. 7c.Temporary military license. The Board of Teaching shall establish 
178.26 	a temporary license in accordance with section 197.4552 for teaching. The fee for a 
178.27 	temporary license under this subdivision shall be $87.90 for an online application or 
178.28 	$86.40 for a paper application. Fee revenue must be deposited in the educator licensure 
178.29 	account in the special revenue fund.

178.30 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.18, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
178.31 		Subd. 8.Background checks. (a) The Board of Teaching and the commissioner 
178.32 	of education must request a criminal history background check from the superintendent 
179.1 	of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on all applicants for initial licenses under their 
179.2 	jurisdiction. An application for a license under this section must be accompanied by:
179.3 	(1) an executed criminal history consent form, including fingerprints; and
179.4 	(2) a money order or cashier's check payable to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension 
179.5 	for the fee for conducting payment to conduct the criminal history background check. 
179.6 	Proceeds from this fee must be deposited in the educator licensure background check 
179.7 	account in the special revenue fund.
179.8 	(b) The superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension shall perform the 
179.9 	background check required under paragraph (a) by retrieving criminal history data as 
179.10 	defined in section 13.87 and shall also conduct a search of the national criminal records 
179.11 	repository. The superintendent is authorized to exchange fingerprints with the Federal 
179.12 	Bureau of Investigation for purposes of the criminal history check. The superintendent 
179.13 	shall recover the cost to the bureau of a background check through the fee charged to 
179.14 	the applicant under paragraph (a).
179.15 	(c) The Board of Teaching or the commissioner of education may issue a license 
179.16 	pending completion of a background check under this subdivision, but must notify 
179.17 	the individual that the individual's license may be revoked based on the result of the 
179.18 	background check.

179.19 	Sec. 5. [122A.185] SPECIAL REVENUE FUND ACCOUNTS; EDUCATOR 
179.20 	LICENSURE AND BACKGROUND CHECKS.
179.21 		Subdivision 1.Educator licensure account. An educator licensure account is 
179.22 	created in the special revenue fund. Fees received by the Department of Education, the 
179.23 	Board of Teaching, or the Board of Administrators must be deposited in the educator 
179.24 	licensure account. Any funds appropriated from this account that remain unexpended at the 
179.25 	end of the biennium cancel to the educator licensure account in the special revenue fund.
179.26 		Subd. 2.Background check account. An educator licensure background check 
179.27 	account is created in the special revenue fund. Payments received by the Department of 
179.28 	Education, the Board of Teaching, or the Board of Administrators for the costs of the 
179.29 	background checks to be conducted by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension must be 
179.30 	deposited in the education licensure background check account. Amounts in the account 
179.31 	are appropriated to the commissioner of education for payment to the superintendent of 
179.32 	the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for the costs of background checks on applicants 
179.33 	for licensure.

179.34 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.21, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
180.1 		Subdivision 1.Licensure applications. Each application for the issuance, renewal, 
180.2 	or extension of a license to teach, including applications for licensure via portfolio under 
180.3 	subdivision 2, must be accompanied by a processing fee of $57. Each application for 
180.4 	issuing, renewing, or extending the license of a school administrator or supervisor must 
180.5 	be accompanied by a processing fee in the amount set by the Board of Teaching. The 
180.6 	processing fee for a teacher's license and for the licenses of supervisory personnel must be 
180.7 	paid to the executive secretary of the appropriate board. The executive secretary of the 
180.8 	board shall deposit the fees with the commissioner of management and budget must be 
180.9 	deposited in the educator licensure account in the special revenue fund. The fees as set by 
180.10 	the board are nonrefundable for applicants not qualifying for a license. However, a fee 
180.11 	must be refunded by the commissioner of management and budget in any case in which 
180.12 	the applicant already holds a valid unexpired license. The board may waive or reduce fees 
180.13 	for applicants who apply at the same time for more than one license.

180.14 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 122A.21, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
180.15 		Subd. 2.Licensure via portfolio. (a) An eligible candidate may use licensure 
180.16 	via portfolio to obtain an initial licensure or to add a licensure field, consistent with the 
180.17 	applicable Board of Teaching licensure rules.
180.18 	(b) A candidate for initial licensure must submit to the Educator Licensing Division 
180.19 	at the department one portfolio demonstrating pedagogical competence and one portfolio 
180.20 	demonstrating content competence.
180.21 	(c) A candidate seeking to add a licensure field must submit to the Educator 
180.22 	Licensing Division at the department one portfolio demonstrating content competence.
180.23 	(d) A candidate must pay to the executive secretary of the Board of Teaching a 
180.24 	$300 fee for the first portfolio submitted for review and a $200 fee for any portfolio 
180.25 	submitted subsequently. The fees must be paid to the executive secretary of the Board of 
180.26 	Teaching. The revenue generated from the fee must be deposited in an education licensure 
180.27 	portfolio account in the special revenue fund. The fees set by the Board of Teaching are 
180.28 	nonrefundable for applicants not qualifying for a license. The Board of Teaching may 
180.29 	waive or reduce fees for candidates based on financial need.

180.30 	Sec. 8. TRANSFERS.
 180.31 		Subdivision 1.Portfolio account. On July 1, 2015, the commissioner of management 
180.32 	and budget shall transfer any balances in the educator licensure portfolio account in the 
180.33 	special revenue fund to an educator licensure account in the special revenue fund.
181.1 		Subd. 2.Background check. Any balance in an account that holds fees collected 
181.2 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.18, subdivision 8, is transferred to the education 
181.3 	licensure background check account in the special revenue fund in Minnesota Statutes, 
181.4 	122A.185, subdivision 2. On July 2, 2015, $80,000 is transferred from the education 
181.5 	licensure background check account in the special revenue fund to the educator licensure 
181.6 	account in the special revenue fund.

181.7 	Sec. 9. APPROPRIATIONS; DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
 181.8 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. Unless otherwise indicated, the sums 
181.9 	indicated in this section are appropriated from the general fund to the Department of 
181.10 	Education for the fiscal years designated.
181.11 		Subd. 2.Department. (a) For the Department of Education:

181.12		$
	18,032,000
	.....
	2016
	
181.13		$
	17,652,000
	.....
	2017
	
181.14 	(b) The fiscal year 2016 appropriation includes $17,142,000 from the general fund 
181.15 	and $890,000 from the educator licensure account in the special revenue fund. The fiscal 
181.16 	year 2017 appropriation includes $16,867,000 from the general fund and $745,000 from 
181.17 	the educator licensure account in the special revenue fund.
181.18 	(c) Of these amounts: 
181.19 	(1) $260,000 each year is for the Minnesota Children's Museum;
181.20 	(2) $50,000 each year is for the Duluth Children's Museum;
181.21 	(3) $41,000 each year is for the Minnesota Academy of Science; and
181.22 	(4) $25,000 each year is for administration of the Innovative Education Pilot under 
181.23 	Laws 2012, chapter 263, section 1.
181.24 	(d) Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year. 
181.25 	(e) None of the amounts appropriated under this subdivision may be used for 
181.26 	Minnesota's Washington, D.C. office.
181.27 	(f) The expenditures of federal grants and aids as shown in the biennial budget 
181.28 	document and its supplements are approved and appropriated and shall be spent as 
181.29 	indicated.
181.30 	(g) This appropriation includes funds for information technology project services and 
181.31 	support subject to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, section 16E.0466. Any ongoing 
181.32 	information technology costs will be incorporated into the service level agreement and 
181.33 	will be paid to the Office of MN.IT Services by the Department of Education under the 
181.34 	rates and mechanism specified in that agreement.
182.1 	(h) $720,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $720,000 in fiscal year 2017 of the appropriation 
182.2 	in paragraph (a) are from the educator licensure account in the special revenue fund for the 
182.3 	educator licensure division to support the Boards of Teaching and Administrators.
182.4 	(i) $50,000 in fiscal year 2016 of the appropriation in paragraph (a) is from the 
182.5 	educator licensure account in the special revenue fund for IT-related costs associated with 
182.6 	rulemaking for out-of-state teacher candidates.
182.7 	(j) $120,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $25,000 in fiscal year 2017 in paragraph (a) 
182.8 	are from the educator licensure account in the special revenue fund for IT-related costs 
182.9 	associated with establishing interstate teacher licensure agreements.
182.10 	(k) $23,000 each year is for collecting data on the number of deaths and 
182.11 	hospitalizations for students who participate in travel abroad programs.
182.12 	(l) $58,000 each year is for the Board of School Administrators.

182.13 	Sec. 10. APPROPRIATIONS; BOARD OF TEACHING.
 182.14 	(a) $618,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $618,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated 
182.15 	from the educator licensure account in the special revenue fund to the Board of Teaching. 
182.16 	(b) $130,000 in fiscal year 2016 is appropriated from the educator licensure account 
182.17 	in the special revenue fund for rulemaking related to additional teacher licensure activities.  
182.18 	(c) $25,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $25,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated from 
182.19 	the educator licensure account in the special revenue fund for travel and communications 
182.20 	costs associated with establishing interstate teacher licensure agreements with adjoining 
182.21 	states.

182.22 	Sec. 11. APPROPRIATIONS; BOARD OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.
 182.23 	$167,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $167,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated 
182.24 	from the educator licensure account in the special revenue fund to the Board of School 
182.25 	Administrators.

182.26 	Sec. 12. APPROPRIATIONS; MINNESOTA STATE ACADEMIES.
 182.27 	(a) The sums indicated in this section are appropriated from the general fund to the 
182.28 	Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and the Blind for the fiscal years designated:

182.29		$
	12,672,000
	.....
	2016
	
182.30		$
	12,454,000
	.....
	2017
	
182.31 	(b) Of the amounts appropriated in paragraph (a), $708,000 in fiscal year 2016 and 
182.32 	$490,000 in fiscal year 2017 are for technology enhancements and may be used for: 
182.33 	(1) computer hardware; (2) computer software; (3) connectivity, communications, and 
183.1 	infrastructure; (4) assistive technology; (5) access to electronic books and other online 
183.2 	materials, licenses, and subscriptions; and (6) technology staff and training costs.
183.3 	(c) Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
183.4 	(d) The base for 2018 and later is $11,964,000.

183.5 	Sec. 13. APPROPRIATIONS; PERPICH CENTER FOR ARTS EDUCATION.
 183.6 	The sums in this section are appropriated from the general fund to the Perpich 
183.7 	Center for Arts Education for the fiscal years designated:

183.8		$
	6,773,000
	.....
	2016
	
183.9		$
	6,773,000
	.....
	2017
	
183.10 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.

183.11 	ARTICLE 13
183.12 	FORECAST ADJUSTMENTS
183.13 	A. GENERAL EDUCATION

183.14 	Section 1. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 1, section 58, subdivision 2, as amended 
183.15 	by Laws 2013, chapter 144, section 7, and Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 15, section 
183.16 	26, is amended to read:
183.17 		Subd. 2.General education aid. For general education aid under Minnesota 
183.18 	Statutes, section 126C.13, subdivision 4:

183.19		$
	6,851,419,000
	.....
	2014
	
183.20
183.21		$
	6,464,199,000
6,443,330,000
	.....
	2015
	
183.22 	The 2014 appropriation includes $780,156,000 for 2013 and $6,071,263,000 for 
183.23 	2014.
183.24 	The 2015 appropriation includes $589,095,000 $586,824,000 for 2014 and 
183.25 	$5,875,104,000 $5,856,506,000 for 2015.

183.26 	Sec. 2. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 1, section 58, subdivision 3, as amended by 
183.27 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 1, is amended to read:
183.28 		Subd. 3.Enrollment options transportation. For transportation of pupils attending 
183.29 	postsecondary institutions under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, or for transportation 
183.30 	of pupils attending nonresident districts under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.03:

184.1		$
	37,000
	.....
	2014
	
184.2
184.3		$
	40,000
36,000
	.....
	2015

184.4 	Sec. 3. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 1, section 58, subdivision 4, as amended by 
184.5 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 2, is amended to read:
184.6 		Subd. 4.Abatement revenue. For abatement aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 
184.7 	127A.49:

184.8		$
	2,876,000
	.....
	2014
	
184.9184.10
		$
	3,103,000
2,796,000
	.....
	2015
	
184.11 	The 2014 appropriation includes $301,000 for 2013 and $2,575,000 for 2014.
184.12 	The 2015 appropriation includes $286,000 for 2014 and $2,817,000 $2,510,000 
184.13 	for 2015.

184.14 	Sec. 4. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 1, section 58, subdivision 5, as amended by 
184.15 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 3, is amended to read:
184.16 		Subd. 5.Consolidation transition. For districts consolidating under Minnesota 
184.17 	Statutes, section 123A.485:

184.18		$
	585,000
	.....
	2014
	
184.19
184.20		$
	254,000
263,000
	.....
	2015
	
184.21 	The 2014 appropriation includes $40,000 for 2013 and $545,000 for 2014.
184.22 	The 2015 appropriation includes $60,000 for 2014 and $194,000 $203,000 for 2015.

184.23 	Sec. 5. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 1, section 58, subdivision 6, as amended by 
184.24 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 15, section 27, is amended to read:
184.25 		Subd. 6.Nonpublic pupil education aid. For nonpublic pupil education aid under 
184.26 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 123B.40 to 123B.43 and 123B.87:

184.27		$
	15,867,000
	.....
	2014
	
184.28
184.29		$
	16,132,000
15,569,000
	.....
	2015
	
184.30 	The 2014 appropriation includes $1,898,000 for 2013 and $13,969,000 for 2014.
184.31 	The 2015 appropriation includes $1,552,000 $1,394,000 for 2014 and $14,580,000 
184.32 	$14,175,000 for 2015.

185.1 	Sec. 6. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 1, section 58, subdivision 7, as amended by 
185.2 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 15, section 28, is amended to read:
185.3 		Subd. 7.Nonpublic pupil transportation. For nonpublic pupil transportation aid 
185.4 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.92, subdivision 9:

185.5		$
	18,500,000
	.....
	2014
	
185.6
185.7		$
	17,710,000
18,118,000
	.....
	2015
	
185.8 	The 2014 appropriation includes $2,602,000 for 2013 and $15,898,000 for 2014.
185.9 	The 2015 appropriation includes $1,766,000 for 2014 and $15,944,000 $16,352,000 
185.10 	for 2015.

185.11 	Sec. 7. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 1, section 58, subdivision 11, as amended by 
185.12 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 4, is amended to read:
185.13 		Subd. 11.Career and technical aid. For career and technical aid under Minnesota 
185.14 	Statutes, section 124D.4531, subdivision 1b:

185.15		$
	3,959,000
	.....
	2014
	
185.16
185.17		$
	5,172,000
5,617,000
	.....
	2015
	
185.18 	The 2014 appropriation includes $0 for 2013 and $3,959,000 for 2014.
185.19 	The 2015 appropriation includes $439,000 $445,000 for 2014 and $4,733,000 
185.20 	$5,172,000 for 2015.
185.21 	B. EDUCATION EXCELLENCE

185.22 	Sec. 8. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 3, section 37, subdivision 3, as amended by 
185.23 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 5, is amended to read:
185.24 		Subd. 3.Achievement and integration aid. For achievement and integration aid 
185.25 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.862:

185.26		$
	55,609,000
	.....
	2014
	
185.27
185.28		$
	62,692,000
63,831,000
	.....
	2015
	
185.29 	The 2014 appropriation includes $0 for 2013 and $55,609,000 for 2014.
185.30 	The 2015 appropriation includes $6,178,000 $6,386,000 for 2014 and $56,514,000 
185.31 	$57,445,000 for 2015.

185.32 	Sec. 9. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 3, section 37, subdivision 4, as amended by 
185.33 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 6, is amended to read:
186.1 		Subd. 4.Literacy incentive aid. For literacy incentive aid under Minnesota 
186.2 	Statutes, section 124D.98:

186.3		$
	50,998,000
	.....
	2014
	
186.4
186.5		$
	47,458,000
44,839,000
	.....
	2015
	
186.6 	The 2014 appropriation includes $6,607,000 for 2013 and $44,391,000 for 2014.
186.7 	The 2015 appropriation includes $4,932,000 for 2014 and $42,526,000 $39,907,000 
186.8 	for 2015.

186.9 	Sec. 10. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 3, section 37, subdivision 5, as amended by 
186.10 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 7, is amended to read:
186.11 		Subd. 5.Interdistrict desegregation or integration transportation grants. For 
186.12 	interdistrict desegregation or integration transportation grants under Minnesota Statutes, 
186.13 	section 124D.87:

186.14		$
	13,521,000
	.....
	2014
	
186.15
186.16		$
	14,248,000
14,261,000
	.....
	2015

186.17 	Sec. 11. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 3, section 37, subdivision 20, as amended by 
186.18 	Laws 2013, chapter 144, section 10, and Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 9, 
186.19 	is amended to read:
186.20 		Subd. 20.Alternative compensation. For alternative teacher compensation aid 
186.21 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.415, subdivision 4:

186.22
186.23		$
	71,599,000
69,899,000
	.....
	2015
	
186.24 	The 2015 appropriation includes $0 for 2014 and $71,599,000 $69,899,000 for 2015.
186.25 	C. CHARTER SCHOOLS

186.26 	Sec. 12. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 4, section 9, subdivision 2, as amended by 
186.27 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 10, is amended to read:
186.28 		Subd. 2.Charter school building lease aid. For building lease aid under Minnesota 
186.29 	Statutes, section 124D.11, subdivision 4: 

186.30		$
	54,625,000
	.....
	2014
	
186.31
186.32		$
	58,294,000
59,565,000
	.....
	2015
	
186.33 	The 2014 appropriation includes $6,681,000 for 2013 and $47,944,000 for 2014.
187.1 	The 2015 appropriation includes $5,327,000 $5,270,000 for 2014 and $52,967,000 
187.2 	$54,295,000 for 2015.
187.3 	D. SPECIAL PROGRAMS

187.4 	Sec. 13. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 5, section 31, subdivision 2, as amended by 
187.5 	Laws 2013, chapter 144, section 14, and Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 
187.6 	11, is amended to read:
187.7 		Subd. 2.Special education; regular. For special education aid under Minnesota 
187.8 	Statutes, section 125A.75:

187.9		$
	1,038,465,000
	.....
	2014
	
187.10
187.11		$
	1,111,641,000
1,109,144,000
	.....
	2015
	
187.12 	The 2014 appropriation includes $118,183,000 for 2013 and $920,282,000 for 2014.
187.13 	The 2015 appropriation includes $129,549,000 $129,317,000 for 2014 and 
187.14 	$982,092,000 $979,827,000 for 2015.

187.15 	Sec. 14. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 5, section 31, subdivision 3, as amended by 
187.16 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 12, is amended to read:
187.17 		Subd. 3.Aid for children with disabilities. For aid under Minnesota Statutes, 
187.18 	section 125A.75, subdivision 3, for children with disabilities placed in residential facilities 
187.19 	within the district boundaries for whom no district of residence can be determined:

187.20		$
	1,548,000
	.....
	2014
	
187.21
187.22		$
	1,674,000
1,367,000
	.....
	2015
	
187.23 	If the appropriation for either year is insufficient, the appropriation for the other 
187.24 	year is available.

187.25 	Sec. 15. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 5, section 31, subdivision 4, as amended by 
187.26 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 13, is amended to read:
187.27 		Subd. 4.Travel for home-based services. For aid for teacher travel for home-based 
187.28 	services under Minnesota Statutes, section 125A.75, subdivision 1:

187.29		$
	351,000
	.....
	2014
	
187.30
187.31		$
	346,000
351,000
	.....
	2015
	
187.32 	The 2014 appropriation includes $45,000 for 2013 and $306,000 for 2014.
187.33 	The 2015 appropriation includes $33,000 for 2014 and $313,000 $318,000 for 2015.
188.1 	E. FACILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY

188.2 	Sec. 16. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 6, section 12, subdivision 2, as amended by 
188.3 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 15, is amended to read:
188.4 		Subd. 2.Health and safety revenue. For health and safety aid according to 
188.5 	Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.57, subdivision 5:

188.6		$
	471,000
	.....
	2014
	
188.7
188.8		$
	651,000
649,000
	.....
	2015
	
188.9 	The 2014 appropriation includes $24,000 for 2013 and $447,000 for 2014.
188.10 	The 2015 appropriation includes $49,000 for 2014 and $602,000 $600,000 for 2015.

188.11 	Sec. 17. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 6, section 12, subdivision 6, as amended by 
188.12 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 18, is amended to read:
188.13 		Subd. 6.Deferred maintenance aid. For deferred maintenance aid, according to 
188.14 	Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.591, subdivision 4:

188.15		$
	3,877,000
	.....
	2014
	
188.16
188.17		$
	4,024,000
4,067,000
	.....
	2015
	
188.18 	The 2014 appropriation includes $475,000 for 2013 and $3,402,000 for 2014.
188.19 	The 2015 appropriation includes $378,000 for 2014 and $3,646,000 $3,689,000 
188.20 	for 2015.
188.21 	F. NUTRITION AND LIBRARIES

188.22 	Sec. 18. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 7, section 21, subdivision 2, as amended by 
188.23 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 19, section 5, is amended to read:
188.24 		Subd. 2.School lunch. For school lunch aid according to Minnesota Statutes, 
188.25 	section 124D.111, and Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, section 210.17:

188.26		$
	12,417,000
	.....
	2014
	
188.27
188.28		$
	16,185,000
15,506,000
	.....
	2015

188.29 	Sec. 19. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 7, section 21, subdivision 3, as amended by 
188.30 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 19, section 6, is amended to read:
188.31 		Subd. 3.School breakfast. For traditional school breakfast aid under Minnesota 
188.32 	Statutes, section 124D.1158:

189.1		$
	5,308,000
	.....
	2014
	
189.2
189.3		$
	6,176,000
9,168,000
	.....
	2015

189.4 	Sec. 20. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 7, section 21, subdivision 4, as amended by 
189.5 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 19, is amended to read:
189.6 		Subd. 4.Kindergarten milk. For kindergarten milk aid under Minnesota Statutes, 
189.7 	section 124D.118:

189.8		$
	992,000
	.....
	2014
	
189.9189.10
		$
	1,002,000
942,000
	.....
	2015
	
189.11 	G. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, 
189.12 	AND LIFELONG LEARNING

189.13 	Sec. 21. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 8, section 5, subdivision 3, as amended by 
189.14 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 20, section 17, is amended to read:
189.15 		Subd. 3.Early childhood family education aid. For early childhood family 
189.16 	education aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.135:

189.17		$
	22,797,000
	.....
	2014
	
189.18
189.19		$
	26,651,000
26,623,000
	.....
	2015
	
189.20 	The 2014 appropriation includes $3,008,000 for 2013 and $19,789,000 for 2014.
189.21 	The 2015 appropriation includes $2,198,000 for 2014 and $24,453,000 $24,425,000 
189.22 	for 2015.

189.23 	Sec. 22. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 8, section 5, subdivision 4, as amended by 
189.24 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 22, section 23, is amended to read:
189.25 		Subd. 4.Health and developmental screening aid. For health and developmental 
189.26 	screening aid under Minnesota Statutes, sections 121A.17 and 121A.19:

189.27		$
	3,524,000
	.....
	2014
	
189.28
189.29		$
	3,330,000
3,390,000
	.....
	2015
	
189.30 	The 2014 appropriation includes $471,000 for 2013 and $3,053,000 for 2014.
189.31 	The 2015 appropriation includes $339,000 for 2014 and $2,991,000 $3,051,000 
189.32 	for 2015.

190.1 	Sec. 23. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 8, section 5, subdivision 14, as amended by 
190.2 	Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 20, section 20, is amended to read:
190.3 		Subd. 14.Adult basic education aid. For adult basic education aid under 
190.4 	Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.531:

190.5		$
	48,776,000
	.....
	2014
	
190.6
190.7		$
	48,415,000
47,750,000
	.....
	2015
	
190.8 	The 2014 appropriation includes $6,278,000 for 2013 and $42,498,000 for 2014.
190.9 	The 2015 appropriation includes $4,722,000 $4,712,000 for 2014 and $43,693,000 
190.10 	$43,038,000 for 2015.