HF 3604

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/20/2020 01:17pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; modifying high school graduation requirements to meet
career and college readiness benchmarks; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018,
sections 120B.02, subdivision 2; 120B.31, subdivision 4a.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 120B.02, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Graduation requirements.

(a) To graduate from high school, students must
demonstrate to their enrolling school district or school their satisfactory completion of the
credit requirements under section 120B.024 and their understanding of academic standards.
A school district must adopt graduation requirements that meet or exceed state graduation
requirements established in law or rule.

new text begin (b) Students in grade 8 in the 2021-2022 school year and later must meet or exceed the
benchmarks on the high school Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments established by the
commissioner of education in accordance with section 120B.30, subdivision 1, paragraph
(m), in order to graduate from high school unless the student can demonstrate special and
extenuating circumstances in accordance with section 120B.30 subdivision 1b.
new text end

deleted text begin (b) deleted text end new text begin (c) new text end Students ages 19 to 21 who have not yet graduated from a Minnesota high school
and, but for their age, are otherwise eligible to participate in an adult basic education program
may be admitted to an adult high school diploma program under section 124D.52,
subdivisions 8 and 9.

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 2018, section 120B.31, subdivision 4a, is amended to read:

Subd. 4a.

Student participation.

(a) The commissioner must create and publish a form
for parents and guardians that:

(1) explains the need for state academic standards;

(2) identifies the state assessments that are aligned with state standards;

(3) identifies the consequences, if any, the school or student may face if a student does
not participate in state or locally required standardized assessments;

(4) states that students who receive a college ready benchmark on the high school
Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment are not required to take a remedial, noncredit course
at a Minnesota state college or university in the corresponding subject area;

new text begin (5) provides notification that a high school student must meet or exceed career and
college readiness benchmarks on the high school Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments
to graduate from high school unless the student can demonstrate special and extenuating
circumstances;
new text end

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end summarizes the provisions in section 120B.301, paragraphs (a) and (c); and

deleted text begin (6) deleted text end new text begin (7) new text end notifies a parent of the right to not have the parent's child participate in the state new text begin
academic assessments administered through grade 8, new text end and new text begin any new text end locally required academic
assessments, and asks a parent that chooses to not have a child participate in the assessments
the basis for the decision.

(b) A school district must post the form created by the commissioner on the district's
website and include it in the district's student handbook.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2021.
new text end