as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/24/2016 02:23pm
Engrossments | ||
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Introduction | Posted on 03/24/2016 |
A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing an advisory group to develop recommendations
to design and implement a statewide outdoor place-based education plan;
establishing an outdoor place-based education program; requiring a report;
appropriating money.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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This act may be cited as the "Outdoor Place-Based Education Act."
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For purposes of this act, "outdoor place-based education" means the process of
using the local community and outdoor environment as a starting point to teach concepts
in language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, history, and other subjects across
the curriculum.
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The outdoor place-based education
advisory group consists of the following 13 members:
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(1) commissioners of the following agencies or their designees:
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(i) the Department of Education; and
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(ii) the Department of Natural Resources;
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(2) 11 public members who have demonstrated an interest in outdoor skills and
education:
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(i) one member appointed by Education Minnesota;
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(ii) one member appointed by the Minnesota Rural Education Association;
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(iii) one member appointed by the Minnesota School Boards Association;
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(iv) one member appointed by the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools;
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(v) one member appointed by the Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota;
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(vi) one public member appointed by the majority leader of the senate;
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(vii) one public member appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
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(viii) one public member appointed by the speaker of the house;
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(ix) one public member appointed by the minority leader of the house of
representatives; and
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(x) two public members appointed by the governor.
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(a) The advisory group must
develop recommendations for the design and implementation of a statewide outdoor
place-based education plan for students in prekindergarten through grade 12. The advisory
group must report proposed recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority members
of the legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade
12 education policy by January 15, 2017.
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(b) The report required under this subdivision must, at a minimum:
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(1) recommend strategies for the integration of outdoor place-based education in
each of the subject areas required for statewide accountability under Minnesota Statutes,
section 120B.021, subdivision 1, including any staff development required to support
such integration;
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(2) identify grades or grade ranges in which outdoor place-based education may
have the greatest impact, given limited staff and financial resources;
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(3) recommend an assessment instrument that districts may use in order to evaluate
the impact of outdoor place-based education; and
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(4) estimate the financial and human resources required to implement the
recommendations on a statewide basis.
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(a) The commissioner of education or the
commissioner's designee must convene the initial meeting of the advisory group by
September 15, 2016. Upon request of the advisory group, the commissioner must provide
meeting space and administrative services for the advisory group. The members of the
advisory group must elect a chair or cochairs from the members of the advisory group at
the initial meeting.
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(b) Public members of the advisory group serve without compensation, but may be
reimbursed for travel expenses.
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(c) The advisory group expires February 2, 2017, or upon submission of the report
required under this section, whichever is earlier.
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The appointments and
designations authorized under this section must be completed by August 15, 2016.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years
designated.
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For a grant to Wilderness
Inquiry for the outdoor place-based education program:
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$ new text end |
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-0- new text end |
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..... new text end |
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2016 new text end |
|
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$ new text end |
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1,000,000 new text end |
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..... new text end |
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2017 new text end |
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Wilderness Inquiry, in collaboration with other outdoor place-based education
providers, shall:
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(1) provide for a literature review of the existing evidence of the effect of outdoor
place-based education on educational outcomes and development of core competencies
that lead to career and college success and deliver the literature review to the outdoor
place-based education advisory group no later than November 15, 2016;
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(2) select at least 30 school districts, charter schools, or school sites to participate in
a two-year outdoor place-based education program based on the recommendations of the
outdoor place-based education advisory group. To the extent possible, the participating
schools shall be distributed equitably between urban, suburban, and rural regions; and
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(3) evaluate the impact of outdoor place-based education on students in participating
schools during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years.
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This appropriation is available until June 30, 2019. The base for fiscal year 2018 is
$2,000,000. The base for fiscal year 2020 and later is zero.
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For the outdoor
place-based education advisory group:
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$ new text end |
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-0- new text end |
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..... new text end |
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2016 new text end |
|
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$ new text end |
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20,000 new text end |
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..... new text end |
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2017 new text end |
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This is a onetime appropriation.
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