as introduced - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to education; repealing the profile of 1.3 learning; establishing local academic achievement 1.4 testing; establishing local testing revenue; 1.5 appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2000, 1.6 sections 120B.02; 120B.30, subdivision 1; 120B.31, 1.7 subdivision 3; 120B.35; proposing coding for new law 1.8 in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 120B; repealing 1.9 Minnesota Statutes 2000, sections 120B.031; 120B.31, 1.10 subdivisions 1, 2, 4; Minnesota Rules, parts 1.11 3501.0300; 3501.0310; 3501.0320; 3501.0330; 3501.0340; 1.12 3501.0350; 3501.0370; 3501.0380; 3501.0390; 3501.0400; 1.13 3501.0410; 3501.0420; 3501.0440; 3501.0441; 3501.0442; 1.14 3501.0443; 3501.0444; 3501.0445; 3501.0446; 3501.0447; 1.15 3501.0448; 3501.0449; 3501.0450; 3501.0460; 3501.0461; 1.16 3501.0462; 3501.0463; 3501.0464; 3501.0465; 3501.0466; 1.17 3501.0467; 3501.0468; 3501.0469. 1.18 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.19 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 120B.02, is 1.20 amended to read: 1.21 120B.02 [RESULTS-ORIENTEDGRADUATION RULE; BASIC SKILLS1.22REQUIREMENTS; PROFILE OF LEARNING.] 1.23 (a) The legislature is committed to establishing a 1.24 rigorous, results-orientedgraduation rule for Minnesota's 1.25 public school students.To that end, the commissioner shall use1.26its rulemaking authority under section 127A.05, subdivision 4,1.27to adopt a statewide, results-oriented graduation rule to be1.28implemented starting with students beginning ninth grade in the1.291996-1997 school year.The commissioner shall not prescribe in 1.30 rule or otherwise the delivery system or form of instruction 1.31 that independent schoolsitesdistricts must use to meet the 2.1 requirements contained in this rule.For purposes of this2.2chapter, a school site is a separate facility, or a separate2.3program within a facility that a local school board recognizes2.4as a school site.2.5 (b) To successfully accomplish paragraph (a),the2.6commissioner shall set in rule high academic standards for all2.7students. The standards must contain the foundationalbasic 2.8 skills requirements in the three core curricular areas of 2.9 reading, writing, and mathematicswhile meeting requirementsare 2.10 established by Minnesota Rules, parts 3501.0010 to 3501.0180 and 2.11 3501.0200 to 3501.0290, and must be completed for public high 2.12 school graduation. Thestandardsgraduation rule must also 2.13 provide an opportunity for students to excel by meeting higher 2.14 academic standards througha profile of learning that uses2.15curricular requirements to allow students to expand theirlocal 2.16 academic achievement testing under section 120B.35 that measures 2.17 knowledgeand skillsbeyond the foundational skills. All 2.18 commissioner actions regarding the graduation rule must be 2.19 premised on the following: 2.20 (1) the rule is intended to raise academic expectations for 2.21 students, teachers, and schools; 2.22 (2) any state action regarding the rule must evidence 2.23 consideration of school district autonomy; and 2.24 (3) the department of children, families, and learning, 2.25 with the assistance of school districts, must make available 2.26 information about all state initiatives related to the rule to 2.27 students and parents, teachers, and the general public in a 2.28 timely format that is appropriate, comprehensive, and readily 2.29 understandable. 2.30 (c)For purposes of adopting the rule, the commissioner, in2.31consultation with the department, recognized psychometric2.32experts in assessment, and other interested and knowledgeable2.33educators, using the most current version of professional2.34standards for educational testing, shall evaluate the2.35alternative approaches to assessment.2.36(d) The content of the graduation rule must differentiate3.1between minimum competencies reflected in the basic requirements3.2assessment and rigorous profile of learning standards. When3.3fully implemented, the requirements for high school graduation3.4in Minnesota must include both basic requirements and the3.5required profile of learning. The profile of learning must3.6measure student performance using performance-based assessments3.7compiled over time that integrate higher academic standards,3.8higher order thinking skills, and application of knowledge from3.9a variety of content areas. The profile of learning shall3.10include a broad range of academic experience and accomplishment3.11necessary to achieve the goal of preparing students to function3.12effectively as purposeful thinkers, effective communicators,3.13self-directed learners, productive group participants, and3.14responsible citizens. 3.15(e) The profile of learning contains the following learning3.16areas:3.17(1) read, listen, and view;3.18(2) write and speak;3.19(3) arts and literature;3.20(4) mathematical concepts and applications;3.21(5) inquiry and research;3.22(6) scientific concepts and applications;3.23(7) social studies;3.24(8) physical education and lifetime fitness;3.25(9) economics and business;3.26(10) world languages; and3.27(11) technical and vocational education.3.28(f) The commissioner shall periodically review and report3.29on the assessment process and student achievement with the3.30expectation of raising the standards and expanding high school3.31graduation requirements.3.32(g) Beginning August 31, 2000, the commissioner must3.33publish, including in electronic format for the Internet, a3.34report, by school site, area learning center, and charter3.35school, of:3.36(1) the required preparatory content standards;4.1(2) the high school content standards required for4.2graduation; and4.3(3) the number of student waivers the district, area4.4learning center, or charter school approves under section4.5120B.031, subdivisions 4, 5, and 6, based on information each4.6district, area learning center, and charter school provides.4.7(h) School districts must integrate required and elective4.8content standards in the scope and sequence of the district4.9curriculum.4.10(i)School districts are not required to adopt, and 4.11 students are not required to participate in, specific provisions 4.12 oftheGoals 2000and the, federal School-to-Work programs, the 4.13 National Assessment of Educational Progress, and title I of the 4.14 Elementary and Secondary Education Act. 4.15 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 120B.30, 4.16 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 4.17 Subdivision 1. [STATEWIDE TESTING.] (a) The commissioner, 4.18 with advice from experts with appropriate technical 4.19 qualifications and experience and stakeholders,shall include in4.20the comprehensive assessment system, for each grade level to be4.21tested, a test, which shall be aligned with the state's4.22graduation standards and administered annually to all students4.23in the third, fifth, and eighth grades. The commissionershall 4.24 establish one or more months during which schools shall 4.25 administer the basic skills tests to students each school year. 4.26 Only Minnesota basic skills tests in reading, mathematics, and 4.27 writing shall fulfill students' basic skills testing 4.28 requirements for a passing state notation. The passing scores 4.29 of the state tests in reading and mathematics are the equivalent 4.30 of: 4.31 (1) 70 percent correct for students entering grade 9 in 4.32 1996; and 4.33 (2) 75 percent correct for students entering grade 9 in 4.34 1997 and thereafter, as based on the first uniform test4.35administration of February 1998. 4.36 Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 3501.0050, subpart 2, 5.1 at the written request of a parent or guardian, and with the 5.2 recommendation of the student's teacher, a district may offer 5.3 the test of basic requirements in reading, math, or writing to 5.4 an individual student beginning in grade 5. The student must 5.5 take the same test on the same date as administered to students 5.6 in eighth grade or higher.Third and fifth grade test results5.7shall be available to districts for diagnostic purposes5.8affecting student learning and district instruction and5.9curriculum, and for establishing educational accountability.5.10The commissioner must disseminate to the public the third and5.11fifth grade test results upon receiving those results.5.12 (b)In addition, at the secondary level, districts shall5.13assess student performance in all required learning areas and5.14selected required standards within each area of the profile of5.15learning. The testing instruments and testing process shall be5.16determined by the commissioner. The results shall be aggregated5.17at the site and district level. The testing shall be5.18administered beginning in the 1999-2000 school year and5.19thereafter.A statewide test under this section shall be: 5.20 (1) in multiple choice question format with only one 5.21 factually correct answer, except for writing, which may include 5.22 an essay requirement; 5.23 (2) academic, objective, and not pertain to the personal 5.24 characteristics, values, attitudes, or conscientiously held 5.25 beliefs of students; and 5.26 (3) made available in its entirety, including questions, 5.27 answer key, and aggregate results, to the public, and be 5.28 reported to the department and the office of educational 5.29 accountability, within 60 days of its administration. Upon 5.30 request, a parent of a student who participated in the testing 5.31 program shall receive a copy of each test in its entirety and 5.32 the results for the child. 5.33 (c) The commissioner shall report aggregate school site and 5.34 school district student academic basic skills achievement levels 5.35 of the current and two immediately preceding school years. The 5.36 report shall include students' unweighted mean test scores in 6.1 each tested subject, the unweighted mean test scores of only 6.2 those students enrolled in the school by January 1 of the 6.3 previous school year, and the unweighted test scores of all 6.4 students except those students receiving limited English 6.5 proficiency instruction. The report also shall record 6.6 separately, in proximity to the reported performance levels, the 6.7 percentages of students who are eligible to receive a free or 6.8 reduced price school meal, demonstrate limited English 6.9 proficiency, or are eligible to receive special education 6.10 services. 6.11 (d) In addition to the testing and reporting requirements 6.12 under paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), the commissioner shall 6.13 include the following components inthestatewide public 6.14 reportingsystem: 6.15 (1)uniform statewide testing of all third, fifth, eighth,6.16and post-eighth grade students that provides exemptions, only6.17with parent or guardian approval, for those very few students6.18for whom the student's individual education plan team under6.19sections 125A.05 and 125A.06, determines that the student is6.20incapable of taking a statewide test, or for a limited English6.21proficiency student under section 124D.59, subdivision 2, if the6.22student has been in the United States for fewer than 12 months6.23and for whom special language barriers exist, such as the6.24student's native language does not have a written form or the6.25district does not have access to appropriate interpreter6.26services for the student's native language;6.27(2)educational indicators that can be aggregated and 6.28 compared across school districts and across time on a statewide 6.29 basis, including average daily attendance, high school 6.30 graduation rates, and high school drop-out rates by age and 6.31 grade level; and 6.32(3)(2) students' scores on the American College Test; and6.33(4) participation in the National Assessment of Educational6.34Progress so that the state can benchmark its performance against6.35the nation and other states, and, where possible, against other6.36countries, and contribute to the national effort to monitor7.1achievement.7.2(e) Districts must report exemptions under paragraph (d),7.3clause (1), to the commissioner consistent with a format7.4provided by the commissioner, the Preliminary Scholastic 7.5 Aptitude Test, and the Scholastic Aptitude Test. 7.6 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 120B.31, 7.7 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 7.8 Subd. 3. [EDUCATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.](a)The independent 7.9 office of educational accountability, as authorized by Laws 7.10 1997, First Special Session chapter 4, article 5, section 28, 7.11 subdivision 2, is established. The office shall advise the 7.12 education committees of the legislature and the commissioner of 7.13 children, families, and learning, at least on a biennial basis, 7.14 on the degree to whichthe statewideeducational 7.15accountabilitytesting and reportingsystem includes a7.16comprehensive assessment framework that measures school7.17accountability for students achieving the goals described in the7.18state's results-oriented graduation rule. The office shall7.19consider whether the statewide system of educational7.20accountability utilizes multiple indicators to provide valid and7.21reliable comparative and contextual data on students, schools,7.22districts, and the state, and if not, recommend ways to improve7.23the accountability reporting systemis revealing student 7.24 academic achievement. 7.25(b)When the office reviewsthe statewideeducational 7.26 accountability and reportingsystem, it shall also consider:7.27(1) the objectivity and neutrality of the state's7.28educational accountability system; and7.29(2)the impact of a testing program on school curriculum 7.30 and student learning. 7.31 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 120B.35, is 7.32 amended to read: 7.33 120B.35 [STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS.] 7.34 Subdivision 1. [LOCAL TESTING.] (a) Each school year, a 7.35 school district must administer a uniform testing program to 7.36 determine if the student academic achievement levels at each 8.1 school site in the third, fifth, and tenth grades meetstate and8.2 local expectations. If student achievement levels at a school 8.3 site do not meetstate andlocal expectations for two out of 8.4 three consecutive school years,beginning with the 2000-20018.5school year,the district must work with the school site to 8.6 adopt a plan to raise student achievement levels to meetstate8.7andlocal expectations.The legislature will determine state8.8expectations after receiving a recommendation from the8.9commissioner of children, families, and learning.8.10 (b) The testing program shall measure knowledge in the 8.11 following subject areas: 8.12 (1) for third grade, at least math and language arts, which 8.13 shall include reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and 8.14 spelling; and 8.15 (2) for fifth and tenth grades: 8.16 (i) math; 8.17 (ii) language arts, which shall include reading, writing, 8.18 grammar, vocabulary, and spelling; 8.19 (iii) science; 8.20 (iv) history, which shall include an emphasis on the United 8.21 States and Minnesota; and 8.22 (v) geography. 8.23 (c) The testing program shall be selected by the school 8.24 district and may include nationally normed tests, the placement 8.25 tests or their equivalents used by Minnesota post-secondary 8.26 institutions, locally developed tests, or other valid tests. 8.27 Each test shall be: 8.28 (1) in multiple choice question format with only one 8.29 factually correct answer for each question, except for language 8.30 arts, which may include an essay requirement; 8.31 (2) academic, objective, and not pertain to the personal 8.32 characteristics, values, attitudes, or conscientiously held 8.33 beliefs of students; 8.34 (3) secure, confidential, timed, and not permit the use of 8.35 any outside aid or reference, except that calculators may be 8.36 permitted at the secondary level and special accommodations may 9.1 be permitted for students with an individualized education plan 9.2 or pursuant to federal law for students with disabilities; 9.3 (4) comprehensive enough to include questions that would 9.4 identify students of academic excellence; and 9.5 (5) made available in its entirety, including questions, 9.6 answer key, and aggregate results, to the public, and be 9.7 reported to the department and the office of educational 9.8 accountability, within 60 days of its administration. Upon 9.9 request, a parent of a student who participated in the testing 9.10 program shall receive a copy of each test in its entirety and 9.11 the results for the child. 9.12 Subd. 2. [ASSISTANCE.] The department, at a district's 9.13 request, must assist the district and the school site in 9.14 developing a plan to improve student achievement.The planWhen 9.15 developing the plan, a district mustincludeconsider parental 9.16involvement componentsinput and advice. 9.17 Sec. 5. [120B.36] [STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS; 9.18 LOCAL TESTING REVENUE.] 9.19 A school district's local testing revenue under this 9.20 section is equal to $....... times its adjusted marginal cost 9.21 pupil units for fiscal year 2002 and later. Local testing 9.22 revenue may only be used to meet the requirements of section 9.23 120B.35. 9.24 Sec. 6. [APPROPRIATION; LOCAL TESTING REVENUE.] 9.25 The following sums are appropriated in the fiscal year 9.26 indicated from the general fund to the department of children, 9.27 families, and learning for local testing revenue: 9.28 $....... ..... 2002 9.29 $....... ..... 2003 9.30 Sec. 7. [REPEALER.] 9.31 (a) Minnesota Statutes 2000, sections 120B.031; and 9.32 120B.31, subdivisions 1, 2, and 4, are repealed. 9.33 (b) Minnesota Rules, parts 3501.0300; 3501.0310; 3501.0320; 9.34 3501.0330; 3501.0340; 3501.0350; 3501.0370; 3501.0380; 9.35 3501.0390; 3501.0400; 3501.0410; 3501.0420; 3501.0440; 9.36 3501.0441; 3501.0442; 3501.0443; 3501.0444; 3501.0445; 10.1 3501.0446; 3501.0447; 3501.0448; 3501.0449; 3501.0450; 10.2 3501.0460; 3501.0461; 3501.0462; 3501.0463; 3501.0464; 10.3 3501.0465; 3501.0466; 3501.0467; 3501.0468; and 3501.0469, are 10.4 repealed. 10.5 Sec. 8. [INSTRUCTION TO THE REVISOR.] 10.6 The revisor of statutes shall change the headnote names of 10.7 sections 120B.30 from "STATEWIDE TESTING AND REPORTING SYSTEM" 10.8 to "STATEWIDE BASIC SKILLS TESTING AND REPORTING" and 120B.31 10.9 from "SYSTEM ACCOUNTABILITY AND STATISTICAL ADJUSTMENTS" to 10.10 "OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY."