1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; amending provisions related to absence from school for 
1.3 	religious observance;amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, sections 120A.35; 
1.4 	120A.40.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 120A.35, is amended to read:
1.7 	120A.35 ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL FOR RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE.
1.8 	Reasonable efforts must be made by a school district to accommodate any pupil who 
1.9 	wishes to be excused from a curricular activity for a religious observance. A school board 
1.10 	must provide annual notice to parents of the district's policy relating to a pupil's absence 
1.11 	from school for religious observance.

1.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2018-2019 school year and later.

1.13 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 120A.40, is amended to read:
1.14 	120A.40 SCHOOL CALENDAR.
1.15 	(a) Except for learning programs during summer, flexible learning year programs 
1.16 	authorized under sections 124D.12 to 124D.127, and learning year programs under section 
1.17 	124D.128, a district must not commence an elementary or secondary school year before 
1.18 	Labor Day, except as provided under paragraph (b). Days devoted to teachers' workshops 
1.19 	may be held before Labor Day. Districts that enter into cooperative agreements are 
1.20 	encouraged to adopt similar school calendars.
1.21 	(b) A district may begin the school year on any day before Labor Day:
2.1 	(1) to accommodate a construction or remodeling project of $400,000 or more affecting 
2.2 	a district school facility;
2.3 	(2) if the district has an agreement under section 123A.30, 123A.32, or 123A.35 with a 
2.4 	district that qualifies under clause (1); or
2.5 	(3) if the district agrees to the same schedule with a school district in an adjoining state.
2.6 	(c) A school board may consider the community's religious observances when adopting 
2.7 	an annual school calendar.

2.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2018-2019 school year and later.