HF 1048

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/13/2017 01:29pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; reducing commissioner mandates and empowering schools
relating to innovation zones, the world's best workforce, advanced academic credit,
and textbooks loaned to nonpublic students; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016,
sections 120B.11, subdivision 9; 120B.14; 123B.43; Laws 2012, chapter 263,
section 1, subdivision 3, as amended.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 120B.11, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Annual evaluation.

(a) deleted text begin The commissioner must identify effective strategies,
practices, and use of resources by districts and school sites in striving for the world's best
workforce. deleted text end new text begin Upon request, new text end the commissioner must assist districts and sites throughout the
state in implementing deleted text begin these deleted text end effective strategies, practices, and use of resources new text begin in striving
for the world's best workforce new text end .

(b) The commissioner must identify those districts in any consecutive three-year period
not making sufficient progress toward improving teaching and learning for all students,
including English learners with varied needs, consistent with section 124D.59, subdivisions
2 and 2a, and striving for the world's best workforce. The commissioner, in collaboration
with the identified district, may require the district to use up to two percent of its basic
general education revenue per fiscal year during the proximate three school years to
implement commissioner-specified strategies and practices, consistent with paragraph (a),
to improve and accelerate its progress in realizing its goals under this section. In
implementing this section, the commissioner must consider districts' budget constraints and
legal obligations.

deleted text begin (c) The commissioner shall report by January 25 of each year to the committees of the
legislature having jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education the list of
school districts that have not submitted their report to the commissioner under subdivision
5 and the list of school districts not achieving their performance goals established in their
plan under subdivision 2.
deleted text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 120B.14, is amended to read:

120B.14 ADVANCED ACADEMIC CREDIT.

A district must grant academic credit to a pupil attending an accelerated or advanced
academic course offered by a higher education institution or a nonprofit public agency other
than the district, if the pupil successfully completes the course attended and passes an
examination approved by the district. If no comparable course is offered by the district, the
deleted text begin commissioner deleted text end new text begin school board new text end shall determine the number of credits which shall be granted
to a pupil who successfully completes and passes the course. If a comparable course is
offered by the district, the board must grant a comparable number of credits to the pupil. If
there is a dispute between the district and the pupil regarding the number of credits granted
for a particular course, the pupil may appeal the school board's decision to the commissioner.
The commissioner's decision regarding the number of credits shall be final.

The credits granted to a pupil shall be counted toward the graduation requirements and
subject area requirements of the district. Evidence of successful completion of each class
and credits granted shall be included in the pupil's secondary school record.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 123B.43, is amended to read:

123B.43 USE OF INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.

(a) The deleted text begin commissioner deleted text end new text begin school board new text end shall assure that textbooks and individualized
instructional materials loaned to nonpublic school pupils are secular, neutral, nonideological
and that they are incapable of diversion for religious use.

(b) Textbooks, individualized instructional materials, software or other educational
technology must not be used in religious courses, devotional exercises, religious training
or any other religious activity.

(c) Textbooks and individualized instructional materials must be loaned only to individual
pupils upon the request of a parent or guardian or the pupil on a form designated for this
use by the commissioner. The request forms shall provide for verification by the parent or
guardian or pupil that the requested textbooks and individualized instructional materials are
for the use of the individual pupil in connection with a program of instruction in the pupil's
elementary or secondary school.

(d) The servicing school district or the intermediary service area must take adequate
measures to ensure an accurate and periodic inventory of all textbooks, individualized
instructional materials, software or other educational technology loaned to elementary and
secondary school pupils attending nonpublic schools. The commissioner of education shall
promulgate rules under the provisions of chapter 14 to terminate the eligibility of any
nonpublic school pupil if the commissioner determines, after notice and opportunity for
hearing, that the textbooks, individualized instructional materials, or software or other
educational technology, have been used in a manner contrary to the provisions of section
123B.41, subdivision 5, 123B.42, or this section or any rules promulgated by the
commissioner of education.

(e) Nothing contained in section 123B.41, subdivision 5, 123B.42, or this section shall
be construed to authorize the making of any payments to a nonpublic school or its faculty,
staff or administrators for religious worship or instruction or for any other purpose.

Sec. 4.

Laws 2012, chapter 263, section 1, subdivision 3, as amended by Laws 2014,
chapter 312, article 15, section 24, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Pilot project evaluation.

Participating school districts must deleted text begin submit pilot project
data to the commissioner in the form and manner determined by the commissioner. The
education commissioner must deleted text end analyze deleted text begin participating districts' deleted text end new text begin their new text end progress in realizing their
educational goals and objectives to work together in providing innovative education programs
and activities and sharing resources. The deleted text begin commissioner deleted text end new text begin districts new text end must include the analysis
of best practices in a report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten
through grade 12 education finance and policy on the efficacy of this pilot project new text begin by February
1 annually new text end . deleted text begin The commissioner shall submit an interim project report by February 1, 2016,
and must submit a final report to the legislature by February 1, 2019, recommending whether
or not to continue or expand the pilot project.
deleted text end