HF 1359

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:49am

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring school districts to offer at least two academic
years of elective high school level world languages courses; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2008, sections 120B.022, subdivision 1; 120B.023, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 120B.022, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:

Subdivision 1.

Elective standards.

(a) A district must establish its own standards in
the following subject areas:

(1) vocational and technical education; and

(2) world languages.

A school district must offer courses in all elective subject areas new text begin , including at least
two academic years of high school level world languages courses through the 2014-2015
school year and at least three academic years of high school level world languages courses
in the 2015-2016 school year and later new text end .

(b) World languages teachers and other school staff should develop and implement
world languages programs that acknowledge and reinforce the language proficiency and
cultural awareness that non-English language speakers already possess, and encourage
students' proficiency in multiple world languages. Programs under this paragraph must
encompass indigenous American Indian languages and cultures, among other world
languages and cultures. The department shall consult with postsecondary institutions in
developing related professional development opportunities.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for the 2009-2010 school year and
later.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 120B.023, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Revisions and reviews required.

(a) The commissioner of education must
revise and appropriately embed technology and information literacy standards consistent
with recommendations from school media specialists into the state's academic standards
and graduation requirements and implement a review cycle for state academic standards
and related benchmarks, consistent with this subdivision. During each review cycle, the
commissioner also must examine the alignment of each required academic standard and
related benchmark with the knowledge and skills students need for college readiness and
advanced work in the particular subject area.

(b) The commissioner in the 2006-2007 school year must revise and align the state's
academic standards and high school graduation requirements in mathematics to require
that students satisfactorily complete the revised mathematics standards, beginning in the
2010-2011 school year. Under the revised standards:

(1) students must satisfactorily complete an algebra I credit by the end of eighth
grade; and

(2) students scheduled to graduate in the 2014-2015 school year or later must
satisfactorily complete an algebra II credit or its equivalent.

The commissioner also must ensure that the statewide mathematics assessments
administered to students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 beginning in the 2010-2011
school year are aligned with the state academic standards in mathematics. The statewide
11th grade mathematics test administered to students under clause (2) beginning in
the 2013-2014 school year must include algebra II test items that are aligned with
corresponding state academic standards in mathematics. The commissioner must
implement a review of the academic standards and related benchmarks in mathematics
beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.

(c) The commissioner in the 2007-2008 school year must revise and align the state's
academic standards and high school graduation requirements in the arts to require that
students satisfactorily complete the revised arts standards beginning in the 2010-2011
school year. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and
related benchmarks in arts beginning in the 2016-2017 school year.

(d) The commissioner in the 2008-2009 school year must revise and align the state's
academic standards and high school graduation requirements in science to require that
students satisfactorily complete the revised science standards, beginning in the 2011-2012
school year. Under the revised standards, students scheduled to graduate in the 2014-2015
school year or later must satisfactorily complete a chemistry or physics credit. The
commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and related benchmarks
in science beginning in the 2017-2018 school year.

(e) The commissioner in the 2009-2010 school year must revise and align the state's
academic standards and high school graduation requirements in language arts to require
that students satisfactorily complete the revised language arts standards beginning in the
2012-2013 school year. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic
standards and related benchmarks in language arts beginning in the 2018-2019 school year.

(f) The commissioner in the 2010-2011 school year must revise and align the state's
academic standards and high school graduation requirements in social studies to require
that students satisfactorily complete the revised social studies standards beginning in the
2013-2014 school year. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic
standards and related benchmarks in social studies beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.

(g) School districts and charter schools must revise and align local academic
standards and high school graduation requirements in health, physical education, world
languages, and career and technical education to require students to complete the revised
standards beginning in a school year determined by the school district or charter school.
new text begin World languages academic standards and benchmarks must be consistent with section
120B.022, subdivision 1. new text end School districts and charter schools must formally establish
a periodic review cycle for the academic standards and related benchmarks in health,
physical education, world languages, and career and technical education.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for the 2009-2010 school year and
later.
new text end