HF 1317

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:48am

A bill for an act
relating to education; enlisting retired teachers to help support newly licensed
teachers in developing their teaching practice and improving students' learning;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 122A.413, subdivision 2; 122A.60,
subdivisions 1a, 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 122A.413, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:

Subd. 2.

Plan components.

The educational improvement plan must be approved
by the school board and have at least these elements:

(1) assessment and evaluation tools to measure student performance and progress;

(2) performance goals and benchmarks for improvement;

(3) measures of student attendance and completion rates;

(4) a rigorous professional development system, consistent with section 122A.60,
that is aligned with educational improvement, designed to achieve teaching quality
improvement, and consistent with clearly defined research-based standards;

(5) measures of student, family, and community involvement and satisfaction;

(6) a data system about students and their academic progress that provides parents
and the public with understandable information;

(7) a teacher induction new text begin , guidance and support, new text end and mentoring program for
probationary teachers that provides new text begin clearly articulated expectations, new text end continuous new text begin and
consistent professional new text end learning new text begin , opportunities for reflection and collaboration, new text end and
sustained teacher support new text begin from the school community new text end ; and

(8) substantial participation by the exclusive representative of the teachers in
developing the plan.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 122A.60, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

Effective staff development activities.

(a) Staff development activities
must:

(1) focus on the school classroom and research-based strategies that improve student
learning;

(2) provide opportunities for teachers to practice and improve their instructional
skills over time;

(3) provide opportunities for teachers to use student data as part of their daily work
to increase student achievement;

(4) enhance teacher content knowledge and instructional skills;

(5) align with state and local academic standards;

(6) provide opportunities to build professional relationships, foster collaboration
among principals and staff who provide instruction, and provide opportunities for
teacher-to-teacher mentoring new text begin and consistent and continuous retired-teacher-to-new-teacher
guidance and support new text end ; and

(7) align with the plan of the district or site for an alternative teacher professional
pay system.

Staff development activities may include curriculum development and curriculum training
programs, deleted text begin and deleted text end activities that provide teachers and other members of site-based teams
training to enhance team performance new text begin , and opportunities for retired teachers to consistently
and continuously help guide and support newly licensed teachers in developing their
teaching practice, setting professional development goals, and improving student learning new text end .
The school district also may implement other staff development activities required by law
and activities associated with professional teacher compensation models.

(b) Release time provided for teachers to supervise students on field trips and school
activities, or independent tasks not associated with enhancing the teacher's knowledge
and instructional skills, such as preparing report cards, calculating grades, or organizing
classroom materials, may not be counted as staff development time that is financed with
staff development reserved revenue under section 122A.61.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 122A.60, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Staff development outcomes.

The advisory staff development committee
must adopt a staff development plan for improving student achievement. The plan must
be consistent with education outcomes that the school board determines. The plan
must include ongoing staff development activities that contribute toward continuous
improvement in achievement of the following goals:

(1) improve student achievement of state and local education standards in all areas
of the curriculum by using best practices methods;

(2) effectively meet the needs of a diverse student population, including at-risk
children, children with disabilities, and gifted children, within the regular classroom
and other settings;

(3) provide an inclusive curriculum for a racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse
student population that is consistent with the state education diversity rule and the district's
education diversity plan;

(4) improve staff collaboration and develop new text begin consistent and continuous guidance
and support for new teachers using teacher retirees, and new text end mentoring and peer coaching
programs for teachers new to the school or district;

(5) effectively teach and model violence prevention policy and curriculum that
address early intervention alternatives, issues of harassment, and teach nonviolent
alternatives for conflict resolution; and

(6) provide teachers and other members of site-based management teams with
appropriate management and financial management skills.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end