SF 2435

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 07/09/2025 01:32 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to education policy; modifying safe and supportive schools programming
requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 121A.031, subdivisions
5, 6.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 121A.031, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Safe and supportive schools programming.

(a) Districts and schools deleted text begin are
encouraged to deleted text end new text begin must new text end provide developmentally appropriate programmatic instruction to help
students identify, prevent, and reduce prohibited conduct; value diversity in school and
society; develop and improve students' knowledge and skills for solving problems, managing
conflict, engaging in civil discourse, and recognizing, responding to, and reporting prohibited
conduct; and make effective prevention and intervention programs available to students.
Districts and schools must establish strategies for creating a positive school climate and use
evidence-based social-emotional learning to prevent and reduce discrimination and other
improper conduct.

(b) Districts and schools are encouraged to:

(1) engage all students in creating a safe and supportive school environment;

(2) partner with parents and other community members to develop and implement
prevention and intervention programs;

(3) engage all students and adults in integrating education, intervention, and other
remedial responses into the school environment;

(4) train student bystanders to intervene in and report incidents of prohibited conduct to
the school's primary contact person;

(5) teach students to advocate for themselves and others;

(6) prevent inappropriate referrals to special education of students who may engage in
prohibited conduct; and

(7) foster student collaborations that foster a safe and supportive school climate.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2025.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 121A.031, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

State model policy.

(a) The commissioner, in consultation with the
commissioner of human rights, shall develop and maintain a state model policy. A district
or school that does not adopt and implement a local policy under subdivisions 3 to 5 must
implement and may supplement the provisions of the state model policy. The commissioner
must assist districts and schools under this subdivision to implement the state policy. The
state model policy must:

(1) define prohibited conduct, consistent with this section;

(2) apply the prohibited conduct policy components in this section;

(3) for a child with a disability, whenever an evaluation by an individualized education
program team or a section 504 team indicates that the child's disability affects the child's
social skills development or the child is vulnerable to prohibited conduct because of the
child's disability, the child's individualized education program or section 504 plan may
address the skills and proficiencies the child needs to not engage in and respond to such
conduct; and

(4) encourage violence prevention and character development education programs under
section 120B.232, subdivision 1.

(b) The commissioner shall develop and post departmental procedures for:

(1) periodically reviewing district and school programs and policies for compliance with
this section;

(2) investigating, reporting, and responding to noncompliance with this section, deleted text begin which
may include deleted text end new text begin including new text end an annual review of plans to improve and provide a safe and supportive
school climate; and

(3) allowing students, parents, and educators to file a complaint about noncompliance
with the commissioner new text begin , including a clear process for follow-up on complaints received and
an annual review process for districts or schools receiving a substantial number of complaints
during an academic year new text end .

(c) The commissioner must post on the department's website information indicating that
when districts and schools allow non-curriculum-related student groups access to school
facilities, the district or school must give all student groups equal access to the school
facilities regardless of the content of the group members' speech.

(d) The commissioner must develop and maintain resources to assist a district or school
in implementing strategies for creating a positive school climate and use evidence-based,
social-emotional learning to prevent and reduce discrimination and other improper conduct.