HF 3570

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/17/2022 02:19pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; reorganizing regional centers of excellence; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 120B.115; 120B.122, by adding a subdivision;
Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 13, article 11, section 4.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 120B.115, is amended to read:

120B.115 REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

(a) Regional centers of excellence are established to
assist and support school boards, school districts, school sites, and charter schools in
implementing research-based interventions and practices to increase the students' achievement
within a region. The centers must develop partnerships with local and regional service
cooperatives, postsecondary institutions, integrated school districts, the department, children's
mental health providers, or other local or regional entities interested in providing a cohesive
and consistent regional delivery system that serves all schools equitably. Centers must assist
school districts, school sites, and charter schools in developing similar partnerships. Center
support may include assisting school districts, school sites, and charter schools with common
principles of effective practice, including:

(1) defining measurable education goals under sections 120B.022, subdivisions 1a and
1b, and 120B.11, subdivision 2;

(2) implementing evidence-based practices, including applied and experiential learning,
contextualized learning, competency-based curricula and assessments, and other
nontraditional learning opportunities, among other practices;

(3) engaging in data-driven decision-making;

(4) providing multilayered levels of support;

(5) supporting culturally responsive teaching and learning aligning the development of
academic English proficiency, state and local academic standards, and career and college
readiness benchmarks;

(6) engaging parents, families, youth, and local community members in programs and
activities at the school district, school site, or charter school that foster collaboration and
shared accountability for the achievement of all students; and

(7) translating district forms and other information such as a multilingual glossary of
commonly used education terms and phrases.

Centers must work with school site leadership teams to build the expertise and experience
to implement programs that close the achievement gap, provide effective and differentiated
programs and instruction for different types of English learners, including English learners
with limited or interrupted formal schooling and long-term English learners under section
124D.59, subdivisions 2 and 2a, increase students' progress and growth toward career and
college readiness, and increase student graduation rates.

(b) The department must assist the regional centers of excellence to meet staff, facilities,
and technical needs, provide the centers with programmatic support, and work with the
centers to establish a coherent statewide system of regional support, including consulting,
training, and technical support, to help school boards, school districts, school sites, and
charter schools effectively and efficiently implement the world's best workforce goals under
section 120B.11 and other state and federal education initiatives, including secondary and
postsecondary career pathways and technical education.

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Reading focus. new text end

new text begin Regional centers of excellence must prioritize reading using
scientifically based research that includes fluency, phonemic awareness, phonics, reading
comprehension, vocabulary development, and Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading
and Spelling (LETRS) training.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Leadership. new text end

new text begin Regional centers of excellence must be led by LETRS-certified
reading professionals, including at least: (1) two literacy specialists; and (2) a dyslexia
specialist under section 120B.122 who is employed by the Department of Education.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Regional literacy support directors. new text end

new text begin Regional centers of excellence must
work with LETRS-certified regional literacy support directors to assist schools with
improving low reading scores. A director is an independent contractor and not an employee
of the Department of Education. A regional literacy support director must:
new text end

new text begin (1) effectively monitor student reading growth and achievement data;
new text end

new text begin (2) oversee districtwide and schoolwide professional development and planning to
establish scientifically based practices among school administrators and instructional
personnel; and
new text end

new text begin (3) evaluate implementation of scientifically based practices.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 120B.122, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Leadership. new text end

new text begin A dyslexia specialist must help provide leadership for the regional
centers of excellence under section 120B.115.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 13, article 11, section 4, is amended to
read:

Sec. 4. APPROPRIATIONS; DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Subdivision 1.

Department of Education.

Unless otherwise indicated, the sums indicated
in this section are appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for
the fiscal years designated. Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in
the second year.

Subd. 2.

Department.

(a) For the Department of Education:

	$	30,837,000	.....	2022
	$	deleted text begin 26,287,000 deleted text end new text begin 26,987,000 new text end	.....	2023

Of these amounts:

(1) $319,000 each year is for the Board of School Administrators;

(2) $1,000,000 deleted text begin each deleted text end new text begin in fiscal new text end year deleted text begin is deleted text end new text begin 2022 and $1,700,000 in fiscal year 2023 are new text end for
regional centers of excellence under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.115 deleted text begin ; deleted text end new text begin . Of the amount
in fiscal year 2023, $700,000 is for providing grants to each regional center of excellence
to contract with one full-time equivalent regional literacy support director;
new text end

(3) $250,000 each year is for the School Finance Division to enhance financial data
analysis;

(4) $720,000 each year is for implementing Minnesota's Learning for English Academic
Proficiency and Success Act under Laws 2014, chapter 272, article 1, as amended;

(5) $123,000 each year is for a dyslexia specialist;

(6) $480,000 each year is for the Department of Education's mainframe update;

(7) $4,500,000 in fiscal year 2022 only is for legal fees and costs associated with
litigation; and

(8) $340,000 in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 only are for voluntary prekindergarten
programs.

(b) None of the amounts appropriated under this subdivision may be used for Minnesota's
Washington, D.C., office.

(c) The expenditures of federal grants and aids as shown in the biennial budget document
and its supplements are approved and appropriated and must be spent as indicated.

(d) This appropriation includes funds for information technology project services and
support subject to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, section 16E.21. Any ongoing
information technology costs will be incorporated into the service level agreement and will
be paid to the Office of MN.IT Services by the Department of Education under the rates
and mechanisms specified in that agreement.

(e) To account for the base adjustments provided in Laws 2018, chapter 211, article 21,
section 1, paragraph (a), and section 3, paragraph (a), the base for fiscal year 2024 and later
is deleted text begin $25,965,000 deleted text end new text begin $26,665,000 new text end .

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2022.
new text end