SF 784

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; providing for a state
coordinator for school world languages programs;
providing for grants to model extended world languages
programs; appropriating money; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 127A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [127A.21] STATE COORDINATOR FOR WORLD
LANGUAGES.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of education shall designate a
full-time state coordinator for world languages education within
the Department of Education by July 1, 2005. The commissioner
shall seek input from the Quality Teaching Network before
designating or hiring the coordinator who must have classroom
experience teaching world languages. The coordinator, at a
minimum, shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) survey school districts in the state to:
new text end

new text begin (i) identify the types of existing world language programs
and exemplary model extended world languages programs; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) in consultation with Minnesota postsecondary
institutions, identify and address staff development needs of
current world language teachers and preservice teachers;
new text end

new text begin (2) identify successful extended world language programs
from other states;
new text end

new text begin (3) award grants for model extended world languages
programs under section 2;
new text end

new text begin (4) establish guidelines for a variety of model extended
world languages programs;
new text end

new text begin (5) research and recommend the funding necessary to
implement various models of extended world languages programs in
different languages; and
new text end

new text begin (6) support and monitor, using the most recent information
available, current world language programs.
new text end

new text begin (b) For the purposes of this section, "extended world
languages program" means a world languages program with a
sequence of consecutive years in any of kindergarten through
grade 12, including for example sequences of kindergarten
through grade 12, grades 5 through 12, and grades 7 through 12.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin MODEL EXTENDED WORLD LANGUAGE PROGRAM GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of education shall award six
three-year grants to school districts and charter schools to
develop model extended world languages programs including at
least model plans for implementing world languages to close the
achievement gap between groups of students. The commissioner
shall award grants only for the 2006-2007 through 2008-2009
school years. The commissioner should award grants for a
variety of language programs, if possible.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall award grants to four school
districts or charter schools in the seven-county metropolitan,
Rochester, and Duluth areas, including two urban and two
suburban school districts or charter schools, and two school
districts or charter schools outside the seven-county
metropolitan, Rochester, and Duluth areas, to:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop a model extended world languages program; or
new text end

new text begin (2) extend an existing world language program to a model
extended program.
new text end

new text begin (c) A school district and charter school shall apply for a
grant in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner. A
school district and charter school must use the grant money to
develop and implement or to extend existing world languages
programs according to the terms of the grant application and the
criteria under paragraph (a).
new text end

new text begin (d) For the purposes of this section, "extended world
languages program" means a world languages program with a
sequence of consecutive years in any of kindergarten through
grade 12, including for example sequences of kindergarten
through grade 12, grades 5 through 12, and grades 7 through 12.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; MODEL EXTENDED WORLD LANGUAGES
PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in this section are appropriated from
the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal
years designated for grants for model extended world languages
programs under section 2:
new text end

new text begin $.,...,... new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2006
new text end

new text begin $.,...,... new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2007
new text end

new text begin These appropriations do not cancel but are available until
expended.
new text end