SF 2633

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/18/2025 09:58 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a pilot program to improve educational outcomes,
safety, and accountability for students with disabilities; requiring reports;
appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin PILOT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES,
SAFETY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin (a) The Department of Education must establish a grant
program to fund a pilot program starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The program must:
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new text begin (1) improve achievement and educational outcomes for students with disabilities;
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new text begin (2) increase access to general education settings;
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new text begin (3) foster positive school environments; and
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new text begin (4) address service delivery costs.
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new text begin (b) The program must involve collaboration with students, families, community leaders,
and the Department of Education Special Education Advisory Panel to redesign inclusion
frameworks that support continuous improvement and measure performance beyond test
scores.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Selection process. new text end

new text begin (a) Grantees must be selected based on proposals that:
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new text begin (1) provide a detailed timeline for implementing program goals;
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new text begin (2) describe a plan for how to provide an inclusive educational model and how the model
can be adapted over time to meet the needs of all students;
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new text begin (3) differentiate between mainstreaming and true inclusion models;
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new text begin (4) address accessibility needs, classroom layouts, sensory accommodations, assistive
technology, transition supports, appropriate staffing, and innovative ways to present
classroom curricula, lessons, and special education services;
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new text begin (5) address the overrepresentation of students of color in the most restrictive special
education settings;
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new text begin (6) identify how students in restrictive settings may be included in the general education
classroom more in the general education model and what steps will be taken to provide
special education services in the general education setting whenever feasible;
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new text begin (7) prioritize neurodiversity-affirming practices, trauma-informed practices, student
connection, and evidence-based developmentally appropriate practices;
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new text begin (8) identify the prevention and early intervention strategies, including de-escalation, that
may be used to meet the needs of students who become dysregulated;
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new text begin (9) incorporate Universal Design for Learning principles;
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new text begin (10) include measurable outcomes such as student achievement, extracurricular
participation, restorative justice interventions, number of disciplinary referrals, suspensions
and expulsions, and family and community engagement; and
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new text begin (11) incorporate staff training on ableism and disability inclusion.
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new text begin (b) The program team must include representatives from the Department of Education,
school administrators, special education staff, parents, and students.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin (a) By July 1, 2026, the Department of Education must submit a report
to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction
over education detailing the pilot program's effectiveness, best practices, and cost-benefit
analysis, including draft guidelines and professional development recommendations for
implementing inclusion models.
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new text begin (b) By July 1, 2027, the Department of Education must submit a report to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over education
containing a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot program, including final best practice
guidelines and assessment tools created to help Individualized Education Programs teams
identify how to meet the needs of students in general education settings whenever possible
and appropriate.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of
Education to implement the pilot program to improve educational outcomes, safety, and
accountability for students with disabilities.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2026.
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