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HF 4382

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 04/16/2018 04:46pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to education; providing for a special education online system addressing
achievement and opportunity gaps, funding special education cross-subsidy, teacher
recruitment and retention, school safety, and paraprofessional support; requiring
a report; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, sections
120B.11, subdivision 2; 120B.115; 120B.36, by adding a subdivision; 122A.70,
as amended; 125A.08; 126C.44; 136A.1791, subdivisions 4, 5; Minnesota Statutes
2017 Supplement, sections 120A.414, by adding a subdivision; 120B.31,
subdivision 4; 125A.083; 136A.1791, subdivisions 1, 2; Laws 2016, chapter 189,
article 25, section 56, by adding a subdivision; Laws 2017, First Special Session
chapter 5, article 2, section 57, subdivision 23; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapters 120A; 127A; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2016,
section 136A.1791, subdivision 3.

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

ARTICLE 1

SPECIAL EDUCATION ONLINE SYSTEM

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 125A.083, is amended to read:


125A.083 STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS; TRANSFERRING RECORDS.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin District student information systems. new text end

To efficiently and effectively
meet federal and state compliance and accountability requirements using an online case
management reporting system, beginning July 1, 2018, a school district may contract only
for a student information system that is Schools Interoperability Framework compliant.

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Statewide online system required. new text end

new text begin To ensure a strong focus on outcomes for
children with disabilities that informs federal and state compliance and accountability
requirements and to increase opportunities for special educators and related-services providers
to focus on teaching children with disabilities, the commissioner must customize a
streamlined, user-friendly, statewide online system, with a single model online form, for
effectively and efficiently collecting and reporting required special-education-related data
to individuals with a legitimate educational interest and who are authorized by law to access
the data.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Commissioner consultation required. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must consult with
qualified experts, including information technology specialists, licensed special education
teachers and directors of special education, related-services providers, third-party vendors,
a designee of the commissioner of human services, parents of children with disabilities,
representatives of advocacy groups representing children with disabilities, and representatives
of school districts and special education cooperatives on integrating, field testing,
customizing, and sustaining the simple, easily accessible, efficient, and effective online data
system for uniform statewide reporting of required due process compliance data.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Statewide online system goals. new text end

new text begin Among other outcomes, the system must:
new text end

new text begin (1) reduce special education teachers' paperwork burden and thereby increase the teachers'
opportunities to focus on teaching children;
new text end

new text begin (2) to the extent authorized by chapter 13 or other applicable state or federal law
governing access to and dissemination of educational records, provide for efficiently and
effectively transmitting the records of all transferring children with disabilities, including
highly mobile and homeless children with disabilities, among others, and avoid fragmented
service delivery;
new text end

new text begin (3) address language and other barriers and disparities that prevent parents from
understanding and communicating information about the needs of their children with
disabilities; and
new text end

new text begin (4) help continuously improve the interface among the online systems serving children
with disabilities in order to maintain and reinforce the children's ability to learn.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Compliance reporting. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must use the federal Office of
Special Education Programs model forms for the (1) individualized education program, (2)
notice of procedural safeguards, and (3) prior written notice that are consistent with Part B
of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to integrate and customize
a state-sponsored universal special education online case management system, consistent
with the requirements of state law and this section for customizing a statewide online
reporting system. The commissioner must use a request for proposal process to contract for
the technology and software needed for customizing the online system in order for the
system to be fully functional, consistent with the requirements of this section.
new text end

new text begin (b) The online system must be made available to school districts without charge beginning
in the 2019-2020 school year. For the 2019-2020 through 2020-2021 school years, school
districts may use this online system or may contract with an outside vendor for compliance
reporting. Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year and later, school districts must use the
online system for compliance reporting.
new text end

new text begin (c) A district's information system under this section must facilitate the seamless transfer
of student records for a student with disabilities who transfers between school districts,
including records containing the student's evaluation report, service plan, and other due
process forms and information, regardless of what information system any one district uses.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Data access; audit trail required; notice and consent. new text end

new text begin (a) All data on
individuals maintained in the statewide reporting system are classified as provided in chapter
13 or other applicable state or federal law. An authorized individual's ability to enter, update,
or access data must be limited through the use of role-based access codes corresponding to
that individual's official duties or training level, and the statutory authorization that grants
access for a particular purpose.
new text end

new text begin (b) Any action in which data in the system are entered, updated, accessed, or shared or
disseminated outside of the system must be recorded in an audit trail. The audit trail must
identify the specific user responsible for the action, the date and time the action occurred,
and the purpose for the action. Data contained in the audit trail maintain the same
classification as the underlying data affected by the action, provided the responsible authority
makes the data available to a student or the student's parent upon request, and the responsible
authority may access the data to audit the system's user activity and security safeguards.
new text end

new text begin (c) Before entering data on a student, the responsible authority must provide the student
or the student's parent written notice of the data practices rights and responsibilities required
by this section and a reasonable opportunity to refuse consent to have the student's data
included in the system. Upon receiving written refusal to consent from the student or the
student's parent, the school district must not enter data on that student into the system and
must delete any existing data on that student currently in the system.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Special education reports Web site. new text end

new text begin Consistent with this section, the
commissioner must establish a Web site to provide information to educators, parents, and
the public about the form and content of required special education reports, to respond to
queries from educators, parents, and the public about specific aspects of special education
reports and reporting, and to use the information garnered from the interface to streamline
and revise special education reporting on the online system under this section. The Web
site must have a prominently linked page describing the rights and responsibilities of students
and parents whose data are included in the statewide reporting system, and include
information on the data practices rights of students and parents provided by this section and
a form students or parents may use to refuse consent to have a student's data included in
the system. The Web site must not provide access to the educational records of any individual
child.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By February 1 of each year, the commissioner must submit a report
to the legislative committees having jurisdiction over early childhood through grade 12
education on the status, recent changes, and sustainability of the online system under this
section.
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

Sec. 2. new text beginAPPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sum indicated in this section is
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Special education online system. new text end

new text begin For the special education online system
under Minnesota Statutes, section 125A.083:
new text end

new text begin $
new text end
new text begin .......
new text end
new text begin .....
new text end
new text begin 2019
new text end

new text begin The base for fiscal year 2020 and later is $........
new text end

ARTICLE 2

SPECIAL EDUCATION CROSS-SUBSIDY

Section 1.

new text begin [127A.066] CROSS-SUBSIDY; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin There is annually appropriated from the general fund to the department the amount
necessary for each district's cross-subsidy as reported to the commissioner of education in
the report required by section 127A.065.
new text end

ARTICLE 3

ACHIEVEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY GAP

Section 1.

new text begin [120A.39] CLASS SIZE LIMITS.
new text end

new text begin A school district, charter school, intermediate school district, or other cooperative unit
is required to maintain classroom ratios of no more than:
new text end

new text begin (1) 17 students for each instructor in grades kindergarten through 3;
new text end

new text begin (2) 19 students for each instructor in grades 4 through 6;
new text end

new text begin (3) 21 students for each instructor in grades 7 through 9; and
new text end

new text begin (4) 23 students for each instructor in grades 10 through 12.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for the 2018-2019 school year and later.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 120B.11, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Adopting plans and budgets.

A school board, at a public meeting, shall adopt
a comprehensive, long-term strategic plan to support and improve teaching and learning
that is aligned with creating the world's best workforce and includes:

(1) clearly defined district and school site goals and benchmarks for instruction and
student achievement for all student subgroups identified in section 120B.35, subdivision 3,
paragraph (b), clause (2);

(2) a process to assess and evaluate each student's progress toward meeting state and
local academic standards, assess and identify students to participate in gifted and talented
programs and accelerate their instruction, and adopt early-admission procedures consistent
with section 120B.15, and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of instruction in pursuit
of student and school success and curriculum affecting students' progress and growth toward
career and college readiness and leading to the world's best workforce;

(3) a system to periodically review and evaluate the effectiveness of all instruction and
curriculum, taking into account strategies and best practices, student outcomes, school
principal evaluations under section 123B.147, subdivision 3, students' access to effective
teachers who are members of populations underrepresented among the licensed teachers in
the district or school and who reflect the diversity of enrolled students under section 120B.35,
subdivision 3
, paragraph (b), clause (2), and teacher evaluations under section 122A.40,
subdivision 8
, or 122A.41, subdivision 5;

(4) strategies for improving instruction, curriculum, and student achievement, including
the English and, where practicable, the native language development and the academic
achievement of English learners;

(5) a process to examine the equitable distribution of teachers and strategies to ensure
low-income and minority children are not taught at higher rates than other children by
inexperienced, ineffective, or out-of-field teachers;

(6) education effectiveness practices that integrate high-quality instruction, rigorous
curriculum, technology, and a collaborative professional culture that develops and supports
teacher quality, performance, and effectiveness; deleted text beginand
deleted text end

(7) an annual budget for continuing to implement the district plandeleted text begin.deleted text endnew text begin;
new text end

new text begin (8) strategies for implementing nonexclusionary disciplinary policies and practices as
alternatives to pupil removal and dismissal. For purposes of this section, "nonexclusionary
disciplinary policies and practices" means policies and practices that are alternatives to
removing a pupil from class or dismissing a pupil from school, including positive behavioral
interventions and supports and alternative education services that require school officials
to intervene in, redirect, and support a pupil's behavior before removing a pupil from class
or beginning dismissal proceedings. Nonexclusionary disciplinary policies and practices
include but are not limited to the policies and practices under sections 121A.031, subdivision
4, paragraph (a), clause (1); 121A.575, clauses (1) and (2); and 121A.61, subdivision 3,
paragraph (q);
new text end

new text begin (9) a process to provide home visits to children enrolled in preschool. The district must
create a rubric of assessing the need for home visits to families of children in kindergarten
through grade 12. The district must implement home visits to those families meeting the
criteria identified by the district;
new text end

new text begin (10) education programs for parents of new students to orient them to the learning values
and expectations of the school district and to allow the district to learn from the parents
about their family culture and needs of their students;
new text end

new text begin (11) a provision of accommodations for parent involvement. The district must incorporate
a plan for providing translator services, transportation, and medical services for parents to
facilitate access to their child's learning environment. Information regarding existing district
activities and curricular information must be made available to parents in multiple formats
including online, hard copies, and newsletters and in multiple languages;
new text end

new text begin (12) parent programs and services offered at flexible times so parents can attend; and
new text end

new text begin (13) coordination with community organizations. Districts must work with relevant
partners within their communities to stay informed of the concerns of the communities they
serve and to share information about how districts are meeting the needs of students.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 120B.31, subdivision 4, is amended
to read:


Subd. 4.

new text beginStatistical adjustments;new text end student performance data.

In developing policies
and assessment processes to hold schools and districts accountable for high levels of academic
standards under section 120B.021, the commissioner shall aggregate and disaggregate
student data over time to report summary student deleted text beginperformance anddeleted text end growth levels and, under
section 120B.11, subdivision 2, clause (2), student learning and outcome data measured at
the school, school district, and statewide level. The commissioner shall use the student
categories identified under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as most
recently reauthorized, and student categories of:

(1) homelessness;

(2) ethnicity under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (2);

(3) race under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (2);

(4) home language;

(5) English learners under section 124D.59;

(6) free or reduced-price lunch; and

(7) other categories designated by federal law to organize and report the data so that
state and local policy makers can understand the educational implications of changes in
districts' demographic profiles over time as data are available.

Any report the commissioner disseminates containing summary data on student deleted text beginperformancedeleted text endnew text begin
growth
new text end must integrate student deleted text beginperformancedeleted text endnew text begin growthnew text end and the demographic factors that strongly
correlate with that deleted text beginperformancedeleted text endnew text begin growthnew text end.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 120B.36, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:


new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Educator data teams. new text end

new text begin (a) A school district must establish a data team comprised
of teachers in the district. The data team must be responsible for analyzing the data identified
in this section. The data team must also be responsible for training all educators on how to
use the data, and the district must ensure one hour per week to review student data maintained
pursuant to this section.
new text end

new text begin (b) A school district must establish a longitudinal data system to ensure individual student
data follows an individual student through each year of the student's attendance.
new text end

ARTICLE 4

FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Section 1. new text beginAPPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sum indicated in this section is
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Full-service community schools. new text end

new text begin For full-service community schools under
Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.231:
new text end

new text begin $
new text end
new text begin .......
new text end
new text begin .....
new text end
new text begin 2019
new text end

new text begin The base for fiscal year 2020 and later is $........
new text end

ARTICLE 5

TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 122A.70, as amended by Laws 2017, First
Special Session chapter 5, article 12, section 22, is amended to read:


122A.70 TEACHER MENTORSHIPnew text begin AND RETENTION OF EFFECTIVE
TEACHERS
new text end.

Subdivision 1.

Teacher mentoringnew text begin, induction, and retentionnew text end programs.

new text begin(a) new text endSchool
districts are encouraged to develop teacher mentoring programs for teachers new to the
profession or district, including teaching residents, teachers new text beginwho are new text endof colordeleted text begin,deleted text end new text beginor American
Indian,
new text endteachers with special needs, or experienced teachers in need of peer coaching.

new text begin (b) Teacher mentoring programs should support districts' teacher evaluation and peer
review processes under sections 122A.40, subdivision 8, and 122A.41, subdivision 5. A
district may use staff development revenue under section 122A.61, special grant programs
established by the legislature, or another funding source to pay a stipend to a mentor who
may be a current or former teacher. Other initiatives using such funds or funds available
under sections 124D.861 and 124D.862 may include:
new text end

new text begin (1) additional stipends as incentives to mentors who are of color or who are American
Indian;
new text end

new text begin (2) financial supports for professional learning community affinity groups across schools
within and between districts for teachers from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups to
come together throughout the school year; or
new text end

new text begin (3) programs for induction and professional development during the first three years of
teaching, especially for teachers from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
new text end

new text begin (c) Schools or districts may provide financial incentives for teachers of color and teachers
who are American Indian to work in the school or district for at least five years and may
negotiate additional retention strategies or protection from layoffs in the beginning years
of employment for teachers of color and teachers who are American Indian.
new text end

Subd. 2.

Applications.

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must
make application forms available to sites interested in developing or expanding a mentorship
program. A school district, a group of school districts, or a coalition of districts, teachers
and teacher education institutions may apply for a teacher mentorship program grant. The
Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, in consultation with the teacher
mentoring task force, must approve or disapprove the applications. To the extent possible,
the approved applications must reflect effective mentoring components, include a variety
of coalitions and be geographically distributed throughout the state. The Professional
Educator Licensing and Standards Board must encourage the selected sites to consider the
use of its assessment procedures.

Subd. 3.

Criteria for selection.

At a minimum, applicants must express commitment
to:

(1) allow staff participation;

(2) assess skills of both beginning and mentor teachers;

(3) provide appropriate in-service to needs identified in the assessment;

(4) provide leadership to the effort;

(5) cooperate with higher education institutions;

(6) provide facilities and other resources;

(7) share findings, materials, and techniques with other school districts; and

(8) retain teachers of colornew text begin and teachers who are American Indiannew text end.

Subd. 4.

Additional funding.

Applicants are required to seek additional funding and
assistance from sources such as school districts, postsecondary institutions, foundations,
and the private sector.

Subd. 5.

Program implementation.

New and expanding mentorship sites that are funded
to design, develop, implement, and evaluate their program must participate in activities that
support program development and implementation. The Professional Educator Licensing
and Standards Board must provide resources and assistance to support new sites in their
program efforts. These activities and services may include, but are not limited to: planning,
planning guides, media, training, conferences, institutes, and regional and statewide
networking meetings. Nonfunded schools or districts interested in getting started may
participate. Fees may be charged for meals, materials, and the like.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 136A.1791, subdivision 1, is amended
to read:


Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

(a) The terms used in this section have the meanings given
them in this subdivision.

(b) "Qualified educational loan" means a government, commercial, or foundation loan
for actual costs paid for tuition and reasonable educational and living expenses related to a
teacher's preparation or further education.

(c) "School district" means an independent school district, special school district,
intermediate district, education district, special education cooperative, service cooperative,
a cooperative center for vocational education, or a charter school located in Minnesota.

(d) "Teacher" means an individual holding a teaching license issued by the Professional
Educator Licensing and Standards Board who is employed by a school district deleted text beginto provide
classroom instruction
deleted text end.

deleted text begin (e) "Teacher shortage area" means:
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) the licensure fields and economic development regions reported by the commissioner
of education as experiencing a teacher shortage; and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) economic development regions where there is a shortage of licensed teachers who
reflect the racial or ethnic diversity of students in the region as reported by the commissioner
of education.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (f)deleted text endnew text begin (e)new text end "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education
unless indicated otherwise.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 136A.1791, subdivision 2, is amended
to read:


Subd. 2.

Program established; administration.

The commissioner shall establish and
administer a teacher deleted text beginshortagedeleted text end loan forgiveness program. A teacher is eligible for the program
if the teacher is teaching in deleted text beginan identified teacher shortage area under subdivision 3 and
complies with the requirements of this section
deleted text endnew text begin a public school districtnew text end.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 136A.1791, subdivision 4, is amended to read:


Subd. 4.

Application for loan forgiveness.

Each applicant for loan forgiveness, according
to rules adopted by the commissioner, shall:

(1) apply for teacher deleted text beginshortagedeleted text end loan forgiveness and promptly submit any additional
information required by the commissioner; and

(2) submit to the commissioner a completed affidavit, prescribed by the commissioner,
affirming the teacher is teaching indeleted text begin: (i) a licensure field identified by the commissioner as
experiencing a teacher shortage; or (ii) an economic development region identified by the
commissioner as experiencing a teacher shortage
deleted text endnew text begin a public school districtnew text end.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 136A.1791, subdivision 5, is amended to read:


Subd. 5.

Amount of loan forgiveness.

(a) To the extent funding is available, the annual
amount of teacher deleted text beginshortagedeleted text end loan forgiveness for an approved applicant shall not exceed
deleted text begin $1,000deleted text endnew text begin $10,000new text end or the cumulative balance of the applicant's qualified educational loans,
including principal and interest, whichever amount is less.

(b) Recipients must secure their own qualified educational loans. Teachers who graduate
from an approved teacher preparation program or teachers who add a licensure field,
consistent with the deleted text beginteacher shortagedeleted text end requirements of this section, are eligible to apply for
the loan forgiveness program.

(c) No teacher shall receive more than five annual awards.

Sec. 6.

Laws 2017, First Special Session chapter 5, article 2, section 57, subdivision 23,
is amended to read:


Subd. 23.

deleted text beginParaprofessional pathwaydeleted text endnew text begin Grow Your Own pathwaysnew text end to teacher licensure.

(a) For grants to school districts for Grow Your Own new teacher programs:

$
1,500,000
.....
2018
$
deleted text begin 1,500,000
deleted text end new text begin 2,500,000
new text end
.....
2019

(b) new text beginOf this amount in 2019, $1,500,000 of new text endthe grants are for school districts with more
than 30 percent deleted text beginminoritydeleted text end students new text beginof color new text endfor deleted text begina Board of Teaching-approveddeleted text end new text beginestablished
and effective Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board-approved
new text end nonconventional teacher residency deleted text beginpilot programdeleted text endnew text begin programsnew text end. The deleted text beginprogramdeleted text endnew text begin programsnew text end must
provide tuition scholarships or stipends to enable school district employees or community
members affiliated with a school district who seek an education license to participate in a
nonconventional teacher preparation program. School districts that receive funds under this
subdivision deleted text beginare strongly encouraged todeleted text endnew text begin must have a program tonew text end recruit new text beginand retain new text endcandidates
of color and American Indian candidates to participate in the Grow Your Own new teacher
programs. Districts or schools providing financial support may require a commitment as
determined by the district to teach in the district or school for a reasonable amount of time
that does not exceed five years.

new text begin (c) Of this amount in 2019, $1,000,000 is for grants for schools or districts where more
than 25 percent of students are students of color or are American Indian to provide financial
assistance, mentoring, and experiences to enable persons who are of color or who are
American Indian and working or living in the local community to become teachers. Districts
or schools providing financial support may require a commitment as determined by the
district to teach in the district or school for a reasonable period of time that does not exceed
five years. Grants may be used for:
new text end

new text begin (1) tuition scholarships or stipends to eligible teaching assistants, cultural liaisons, or
other nonlicensed employees who are of color or who are American Indian enrolled in any
teacher preparation program approved by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards
Board; and
new text end

new text begin (2) supporting the development of innovative residency programs and any school, district,
or cooperative, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 123A.24, subdivision 2, for
persons of color and American Indians seeking an education license through a school-based,
board-approved program.
new text end

deleted text begin (c)deleted text endnew text begin (d)new text end School districts and charter schools may also apply for grants to develop innovative
expanded Grow Your Own programs that encourage secondary school students to pursue
teaching, including developing and offering dual-credit postsecondary course options in
schools for "Introduction to Teaching" or "Introduction to Education" courses consistent
with Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, subdivision 10new text begin, and supporting future teacher
clubs involving middle and high school students who are of color or who are American
Indian to have experiential learning, support the success of younger students, and pursue a
teaching career
new text end.

new text begin (e) A school district must apply for a grant in the form and manner specified by the
commissioner. The commissioner must review all grant applications by September 15 and
notify grant recipients of the amount of the grant by September 30 of each year.
new text end

deleted text begin (d)deleted text endnew text begin (f)new text end Programs must annually report to the commissioner by the date determined by
the commissioner on their activities under this section, including the number of participants,
the percentage of participants who are of color or who are American Indian, and an
assessment of program effectiveness, including participant feedback, areas for improvement,
the percentage of participants continuing to pursue teacher licensure, and the number of
participants hired in the school or district as teachers after completing preparation programs.

deleted text begin (e)deleted text endnew text begin (g)new text end The department may retain up to three percent of the appropriation amount to
monitor and administer the grant program.

new text begin (h) A grant recipient must spend any amounts received under this section within 18
months of the grant award.
new text end

deleted text begin (f)deleted text endnew text begin (i)new text end Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.new text begin
Any balance in fiscal year 2019 is available until June 30, 2020.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2018.
new text end

Sec. 7. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 136A.1791, subdivision 3, new text end new text begin is repealed.
new text end

ARTICLE 6

SCHOOL SAFETY

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 120B.115, is amended to read:


120B.115 REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

(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; deleted text beginand
deleted text end

(7) translating district forms and other information such as a multilingual glossary of
commonly used education terms and phrasesdeleted text begin.deleted text endnew text begin; and
new text end

new text begin (8) supporting training in and implementation of nonexclusionary disciplinary policies
and practices as alternatives to pupil removal and dismissal.
new text end

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.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 126C.44, is amended to read:


126C.44 SAFE SCHOOLS LEVY.

(a) Each district may make a levy on all taxable property located within the district for
the purposes specified in this section. The maximum amount which may be levied for all
costs under this section shall be equal to $36 multiplied by the district's adjusted pupil units
for the school year. The proceeds of the levy must be reserved and used for directly funding
the following purposes or for reimbursing the cities and counties who contract with the
district for the following purposes:

(1) to pay the costs incurred for the salaries, benefits, and transportation costs of peace
officers and sheriffs for liaison in services in the district's schools;

(2) to pay the costs for a drug abuse prevention program as defined in section 609.101,
subdivision 3
, paragraph (e), in the elementary schools;

(3) to pay the costs for a gang resistance education training curriculum in the district's
schools;

(4) to pay the costs for security in the district's schools and on school property;

(5) to pay the costs for other crime prevention, drug abuse, student and staff safety,
voluntary opt-in suicide prevention tools, and violence prevention measures taken by the
school district;

(6) to pay costs for licensed school counselors, licensed school nurses, licensed school
social workers, licensed school psychologists, and licensed alcohol and chemical dependency
counselors to help provide early responses to problems;

(7) to pay for facility security enhancements including laminated glass, public
announcement systems, emergency communications devices, and equipment and facility
modifications related to violence prevention and facility security;

(8) to pay for costs associated with improving the school climate; or

(9) to pay costs for colocating and collaborating with mental health professionals who
are not district employees or contractors.

(b) For expenditures under paragraph (a), clause (1), the district must initially attempt
to contract for services to be provided by peace officers or sheriffs with the police department
of each city or the sheriff's department of the county within the district containing the school
receiving the services. If a local police department or a county sheriff's department does
not wish to provide the necessary services, the district may contract for these services with
any other police or sheriff's department located entirely or partially within the school district's
boundaries.

(c) A school district that is a member of an intermediate school district may include in
its authority under this section the costs associated with safe schools activities authorized
under paragraph (a) for intermediate school district programs. This authority must not exceed
$15 times the adjusted pupil units of the member districts. This authority is in addition to
any other authority authorized under this section. Revenue raised under this paragraph must
be transferred to the intermediate school district.

new text begin (d) There is annually appropriated from the general fund to the department the amount
necessary for the amount levied by each district pursuant to paragraph (a) for the purposes
identified therein.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Laws 2016, chapter 189, article 25, section 56, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:


new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Ratios. new text end

new text begin A school district, charter school, intermediate school district, or other
cooperative unit is obligated to ensure that it employs one counselor, psychologist, or social
worker for each 290 students enrolled.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text beginAPPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sum indicated in this section is
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Support our students grant program. new text end

new text begin (a) For grants to eligible schools under
the support our students grant program:
new text end

new text begin $
new text end
new text begin 26,000,000
new text end
new text begin .....
new text end
new text begin 2019
new text end

new text begin (b) To the extent practicable, the commissioner should allot amounts in each year of the
six-year grant period to ensure that adequate funds are available for the entirety of the grant.
Up to $100,000 in each fiscal year may be retained by the commissioner for administration
of the grant program. The base in fiscal year 2020 and later is $13,000,000.
new text end

new text begin (c) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the fiscal year 2018
appropriation is available until June 30, 2023, and the fiscal year 2019 appropriation is
available until June 30, 2024. Any remaining balances shall cancel to the general fund.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text beginREVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.
new text end

new text begin The revisor of statutes shall codify Laws 2016, chapter 189, article 25, section 56, as
amended, in the next publication of Minnesota Statutes as section 121A.395.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2018.
new text end

ARTICLE 7

PARAPROFESSIONAL SUPPORT

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 120A.414, is amended by adding
a subdivision to read:


new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Noncertified staff. new text end

new text begin Noncertified staff shall not lose compensation in the event
that the district declares an e-learning day.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 125A.08, is amended to read:


125A.08 INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

(a) At the beginning of each school year, each school district shall have in effect, for
each child with a disability, an individualized education program.

(b) As defined in this section, every district must ensure the following:

(1) all students with disabilities are provided the special instruction and services which
are appropriate to their needs. Where the individualized education program team has
determined appropriate goals and objectives based on the student's needs, including the
extent to which the student can be included in the least restrictive environment, and where
there are essentially equivalent and effective instruction, related services, or assistive
technology devices available to meet the student's needs, cost to the district may be among
the factors considered by the team in choosing how to provide the appropriate services,
instruction, or devices that are to be made part of the student's individualized education
program. The individualized education program team shall consider and may authorize
services covered by medical assistance according to section 256B.0625, subdivision 26.
Before a school district evaluation team makes a determination of other health disability
under Minnesota Rules, part 3525.1335, subparts 1 and 2, item A, subitem (1), the evaluation
team must seek written documentation of the student's medically diagnosed chronic or acute
health condition signed by a licensed physician or a licensed health care provider acting
within the scope of the provider's practice. The student's needs and the special education
instruction and services to be provided must be agreed upon through the development of
an individualized education program. The program must address the student's need to develop
skills to live and work as independently as possible within the community. The individualized
education program team must consider positive behavioral interventions, strategies, and
supports that address behavior needs for children. During grade 9, the program must address
the student's needs for transition from secondary services to postsecondary education and
training, employment, community participation, recreation, and leisure and home living. In
developing the program, districts must inform parents of the full range of transitional goals
and related services that should be considered. The program must include a statement of
the needed transition services, including a statement of the interagency responsibilities or
linkages or both before secondary services are concluded. If the individualized education
program meets the plan components in section 120B.125, the individualized education
program satisfies the requirement and no additional transition plan is needed;

(2) children with a disability under age five and their families are provided special
instruction and services appropriate to the child's level of functioning and needs;

(3) children with a disability and their parents or guardians are guaranteed procedural
safeguards and the right to participate in decisions involving identification, assessment
including assistive technology assessment, and educational placement of children with a
disability;

(4) eligibility and needs of children with a disability are determined by an initial
evaluation or reevaluation, which may be completed using existing data under United States
Code, title 20, section 33, et seq.;

(5) to the maximum extent appropriate, children with a disability, including those in
public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are not
disabled, and that special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with a
disability from the regular educational environment occurs only when and to the extent that
the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use
of supplementary services cannot be achieved satisfactorily;

(6) in accordance with recognized professional standards, testing and evaluation materials,
and procedures used for the purposes of classification and placement of children with a
disability are selected and administered so as not to be racially or culturally discriminatory;
and

(7) the rights of the child are protected when the parents or guardians are not known or
not available, or the child is a ward of the state.

(c) For all paraprofessionals employed to work in programs whose role in part is to
provide direct support to students with disabilities, the school board in each district shall
ensure that:

(1) before or beginning at the time of employment, each paraprofessional must develop
sufficient knowledge and skills in emergency procedures, building orientation, roles and
responsibilities, confidentiality, vulnerability, and reportability, among other things, to begin
meeting the needs, especially disability-specific and behavioral needs, of the students with
whom the paraprofessional works;

(2) annual training opportunities are required to enable the paraprofessional to continue
to further develop the knowledge and skills that are specific to the students with whom the
paraprofessional works, including understanding disabilities, the unique and individual
needs of each student according to the student's disability and how the disability affects the
student's education and behavior, following lesson plans, and implementing follow-up
instructional procedures and activities;

new text begin (3) a minimum of 16 hours of paid orientation or professional development is provided
annually to all paraprofessionals, Title I aides, and other instructional support staff before
the first instructional day of the school year. The orientation or professional development
must be relevant to the employee's occupation and may include collaboration time with
classroom teachers and planning for the school year. For paraprofessionals who provide
direct support to students, at least 50 percent of the professional development or orientation
must be dedicated to meeting the requirements of this section. Professional development
for paraprofessionals may also address the requirements of section 120B.363, subdivision
3. A school administrator must provide an annual certification of compliance with this
requirement to the commissioner;
new text endand

deleted text begin (3)deleted text endnew text begin (4)new text end a districtwide process obligates each paraprofessional to work under the ongoing
direction of a licensed teacher and, where appropriate and possible, the supervision of a
school nurse.

APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 18-7488

136A.1791 TEACHER SHORTAGE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM.

Subd. 3.

Use of report on teacher shortage areas.

The commissioner of education shall use the teacher supply and demand report to the legislature to identify the licensure fields and economic development regions in Minnesota experiencing a teacher shortage.