HF 3875

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; clarifying gifted and talented student services; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, sections 120B.15; 126C.10, subdivision
2b.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 120B.15, is amended to read:

120B.15 GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS PROGRAMS.

(a) School districts deleted text begin may identify students, locally develop programs, provide staff
development, and evaluate programs to deleted text end new text begin must new text end provide gifted and talented students with
deleted text begin challenging deleted text end educational deleted text begin programs deleted text end new text begin services that are challenging and appropriate to the
intellectual, academic, social, and emotional needs of the students. School districts may
provide services to gifted and talented students such as pull-out and classroom-based
programs that are in addition to the services required under this section. School districts
may use gifted and talented revenue under section 126C.10, subdivision 2b, and local
revenue for purposes of this section new text end .

(b) new text begin The terms defined in this paragraph apply to this section and have the following
meanings:
new text end

new text begin (1) "policies" means general statements of intent and guiding principles regarding
gifted and talented services;
new text end

new text begin (2) "procedures" means the detailed explanations of the processes, measures, time
tables, and personnel involved in making decisions about gifted and talented student
services; and
new text end

new text begin (3) "criteria" means the quantitative and other objective standards that educators use
to make decisions about providing gifted and talented services.
new text end

new text begin (c) new text end School districts deleted text begin may deleted text end new text begin must new text end adopt deleted text begin guidelines deleted text end new text begin policies, procedures, and criteria new text end for
assessing and identifying students deleted text begin for participation in deleted text end new text begin eligible for academic acceleration
and other new text end gifted and talented programs new text begin and services new text end . deleted text begin The guidelines should include the deleted text end new text begin
School districts must new text end use deleted text begin of deleted text end :

(1) multiple and objective criteria; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(2) assessments and procedures that are valid and reliable, fair, and based on deleted text begin current deleted text end new text begin
best gifted educational practices supported by research, new text end theory new text begin , new text end and deleted text begin research deleted text end new text begin experience;
and
new text end

new text begin (3) written policies, procedures, and criteria that are publicly accessible new text end .

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end School districts must adopt new text begin policies, new text end procedures new text begin , and criteria new text end for the academic
acceleration of gifted and talented students. These new text begin policies, new text end procedures new text begin , and criteria new text end must
include how the district will:

(1) assess a student's readiness deleted text begin and motivation deleted text end for acceleration; and

(2) match the level, complexity, and pace of the curriculum to a student to achieve
the best deleted text begin type deleted text end new text begin types new text end of academic acceleration for that student.

new text begin (e) School districts must familiarize teachers and administrators with these policies,
procedures, and criteria and may provide additional staff development opportunities to
enable educators to implement the requirements of this section.
new text end

new text begin (f) School districts must provide gifted and talented student services under this
section without regard to a student's gender, race, culture, socioeconomic level, or
disability, consistent with best practices in gifted education.
new text end

new text begin (g) Beginning July 1, 2010, each school district or group of school districts must
develop and publish an evaluation plan to assess the district's effectiveness in meeting
the requirements of this section, with the goal of continuously improving the district's
gifted education services. The district or group of districts annually must review, revise,
and publish an evaluation plan.
new text end

new text begin (h) A school district or a group of school districts that are members of an educational
cooperative must establish a new advisory council or may use an existing advisory council
to increase the involvement of educators, parents, and the community in developing
and implementing services to gifted and talented students. At least one-half of council
members must be parents of enrolled students who are eligible for gifted and talented
services. Each local council must meet at least annually. The district or group of districts
must determine the number of council members, the frequency of council meetings, and
the council's operational procedures.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Paragraphs (c) and (d) apply beginning July 1, 2009. Paragraph (e) applies beginning
August 31, 2009. Paragraph (g) applies beginning July 1, 2010.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 126C.10, subdivision 2b, is
amended to read:

Subd. 2b.

Gifted and talented revenue.

new text begin (a) new text end Gifted and talented revenue for each
district equals the district's adjusted marginal cost pupil units for that school year times
$12 for fiscal year 2008 and later.

new text begin (b) new text end A school district must reserve gifted and talented revenue and, consistent with
section 120B.15, must spend the revenue only to:

(1) identify gifted and talented students;

(2) provide deleted text begin education programs deleted text end new text begin educational services, including personnel,
curriculum, and other resources new text end for gifted and talented students; or

(3) provide staff development to prepare teachers new text begin and other licensed staff new text end to best
meet the unique needs of gifted and talented students.

new text begin (c) Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, each school district annually must
locally publish and also file a report with the department, recording the:
new text end

new text begin (1) number of gifted and talented students the district identified and served under
this subdivision;
new text end

new text begin (2) types of educational services, identification, and staff development the district
provided under this subdivision;
new text end

new text begin (3) amount of gifted and talented revenue the district received; and
new text end

new text begin (4) line item budget detailing how the district spent its gifted and talented revenue.
new text end

new text begin (d) The department must use the district reports under paragraph (c) to identify the
types of and levels of spending for gifted and talented services throughout Minnesota. The
department may request that a district provide additional information about gifted and
talented services and expenditures.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end