SF 995

2nd Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 08/27/2015 03:48pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; providing for concurrent enrollment; appropriating money;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 120B.13, subdivision 4; 124D.09,
subdivisions 5, 8, by adding subdivisions; 124D.091, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120B.13, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Rigorous course taking information; AP, IB, and PSEO.

The
commissioner shall submit the following information on rigorous course taking,
disaggregated by student subgroup, school district, and postsecondary institution, to the
education committees of the legislature each year by February 1:

(1) the number of pupils enrolled in postsecondary enrollment options under section
124D.09, including concurrent enrollment, career and technical education courses offered
as a concurrent enrollment course, advanced placement, and international baccalaureate
courses in each school district;

(2) the number of teachers in each district attending training programs offered by the
college board, International Baccalaureate North America, Inc., or Minnesota concurrent
enrollment programs;

(3) the number of teachers in each district participating in support programs;

(4) recent trends in the field of postsecondary enrollment options under section
124D.09, including concurrent enrollment, advanced placement, and international
baccalaureate programs;

(5) expenditures for each category in this section and under sections 124D.09 and
124D.091, including career and technical education courses offered as a concurrent
enrollment course; and

(6) other recommendations for the state program or the postsecondary enrollment
options under section 124D.09, including concurrent enrollment.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.09, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Authorization; notification.

Notwithstanding any other law to the
contrary, an 11th or 12th grade pupil enrolled in a school or an American Indian-controlled
tribal contract or grant school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, except a foreign
exchange pupil enrolled in a district under a cultural exchange program, may apply to an
eligible institution, as defined in subdivision 3, to enroll in nonsectarian courses offered by
that postsecondary institution. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a 9th or 10th
grade pupil enrolled in a district or an American Indian-controlled tribal contract or grant
school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, except a foreign exchange pupil enrolled in
a district under a cultural exchange program, may apply to enroll in nonsectarian courses
offered under subdivision 10, if after all 11th and 12th grade students have applied for a
course, additional students are necessary to offer the course. A 9th or 10th grade pupil's
eligibility to participate in the course is at the discretion of the school district and the
eligible postsecondary institution providing the course offered under subdivision 10. If an
institution accepts a secondary pupil for enrollment under this section, the institution shall
send written notice to the pupil, the pupil's school or school district, and the commissioner
within ten days of acceptance. The notice must indicate the course and hours of enrollment
of that pupil. If the pupil enrolls in a course for postsecondary credit, the institution must
notify the pupil about payment in the customary manner used by the institution.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.09, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Limit on participation.

A pupil who first enrolls in grade 9 may not
enroll in postsecondary courses under this section for secondary credit for more than
the equivalent of four academic years. A pupil who first enrolls in grade 10 may not
enroll in postsecondary courses under this section for secondary credit for more than
the equivalent of three academic years. A pupil who first enrolls in grade 11 may not
enroll in postsecondary courses under this section for secondary credit for more than the
equivalent of two academic years. A pupil who first enrolls in grade 12 may not enroll in
postsecondary courses under this section for secondary credit for more than the equivalent
of one academic year. If a pupil in grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 first enrolls in a postsecondary
course for secondary credit during the school year, the time of participation shall be
reduced proportionately. If a pupil is in a learning year or other year-round program and
begins each grade in the summer session, summer sessions shall not be counted against
the time of participation. If a school district determines a pupil is not on track to graduate,
the limit on participation does not apply to that pupil. A pupil who has graduated from
high school cannot participate in a program under this section. A pupil who has completed
course requirements for graduation but who has not received a diploma may participate in
the program under this section.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.09, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

Subd. 10a.

Concurrent enrollment participant survey.

(a) Postsecondary
institutions offering courses taught by the secondary teacher according to subdivision
10, and are members in the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships
(NACEP), must report all required NACEP evaluative survey results by September 1 of
each year to the commissioners of the Office of Higher Education and the Department of
Education. The commissioners must report by December 1 of each year to the committees
of the legislature having jurisdiction over early education through grade 12 education.

(b) Postsecondary institutions that have not adopted and implemented the NACEP
program standards and required evidence for accreditation, are required to conduct an
annual survey of concurrent enrolled students who successfully completed the course
who are one year out of high school, beginning with the high school graduating class
of 2016. By September 1 of each year, the postsecondary institutions must report the
evaluative survey results to the commissioners of the Office of Higher Education and the
Department of Education. The commissioner must report by December 1 of each year to
the committees of the legislature having jurisdiction over early education through grade
12 education. The survey must include, at a minimum, the following student information:

(1) what are their future education plans, including the highest degree or certification
planned;

(2) whether they are enrolled or plan to enroll in a Minnesota postsecondary
institution, either public or private;

(3) the number of credits accepted or denied by postsecondary institutions;

(4) the college or university attended;

(5) the participant's satisfaction level with the concurrent enrollment program;

(6) the participant's demographics, such as gender, parent education level,
qualification for free or reduced-price lunch in high school, Pell grant qualification and
ethnicity; and

(7) a place for participants to provide comments.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.09, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

Subd. 10b.

Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board; membership; duties.

(a)
A postsecondary institution offering courses taught by the secondary teacher according
to subdivision 10, must establish an advisory board. The purpose of the advisory board
is to engage stakeholders in concurrent enrollment decisions. The duties of the board
must include the following:

(1) providing strategic advice and input relating to concurrent enrollment issues;

(2) recommend and review proposals for concurrent enrollment course offerings;

(3) serve as a coordinating entity between secondary education and postsecondary
institutions; and

(4) increase the understanding and collaboration among concurrent enrollment
partners, stakeholders, the legislature, and the public.

(b) The advisory board at each institution must consist of 16 members in addition
to a concurrent enrollment faculty coordinator who shall serve as the chair and convene
the meetings. Advisory board members must serve three-year staggered terms. Advisory
board members, appointed by the postsecondary institution, must be balanced based on
geography, school size, and include representatives from the following:

(1) postsecondary faculty members;

(2) school superintendents;

(3) high school principals;

(4) concurrent enrollment teachers;

(5) high school counselors;

(6) charter school administrators;

(7) school board members;

(8) secondary academic administrators;

(9) parents; and

(10) other local organizations.

(c) Members of the board serve without compensation.

(d) The board will report to the postsecondary institution periodically as requested by
the postsecondary institution to provide advice and proposals described in paragraph (a).

(e) The postsecondary institution will provide administrative services and meeting
space for the board to do its work.

(f) A board established under this section expires when the postsecondary institution
no longer offers concurrent enrollment course offerings.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 124D.091, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Accreditation.

To establish a uniform standard by which
concurrent enrollment courses and professional development activities may be measured,
postsecondary institutions are encouraged to apply for accreditation by must adopt and
implement the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnership Partnership's
program standards and required evidence for accreditation by the 2020-2021 school year
and later.

Sec. 7. CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT ADVISORY BOARD FIRST
APPOINTMENTS STAGGERED TERMS.

The postsecondary institution will appoint the first members by October 31, 2015.
The postsecondary institution that establishes a concurrent enrollment advisory board
shall designate the terms of the first members as follows: five members to serve a term
of one year; five members to serve a term of two years; and six members to serve a term
of three years.

Sec. 8. OFFICE OF HIGHER EDUCATION; APPROPRIATION.

Subdivision 1.

Office of Higher Education.

The sums indicated in this section
are appropriated from the general fund to the Office of Higher Education for the fiscal
years designated.

Subd. 2.

Concurrent enrollment courses.

For postsecondary institutions to
develop new concurrent enrollment courses under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09,
subdivision 10, that satisfy the elective standard for career and technical education.

	$	1,000,000	.....	2016
	$	1,000,000	.....	2017

Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.

Subd. 3.

Concurrent enrollment expansion grants.

For grants to postsecondary
institutions currently sponsoring a concurrent enrollment course to expand existing
programs:

	$	150,000	.....	2016
	$	150,000	.....	2017

The commissioner shall determine the application process and the grant amounts.
The commissioner must give preference to expanding programs that are at capacity. Any
balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.

Sec. 9. APPROPRIATION.

Subdivision 1.

Department of Education.

The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years
designated.

Subd. 2.

Concurrent enrollment program.

For concurrent enrollment programs
under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.091:

	$	9,000,000	.......	2016
	$	9,000,000	.......	2017

If the appropriation is insufficient, the commissioner must proportionately reduce
the aid payment to each district. Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is
available in the second year.

Subd. 3.

Dual-credit program information grants.

For grants to community
organizations to disseminate information to students and their families about dual-credit
opportunities in high school.

$

200,000

.......

2016

The commissioner shall give priority in awarding grants that are targeted to diverse
ethnic, racial, and geographic groups in Minnesota. The commissioner must consider
awarding grants to applicant organizations which demonstrate previous successful
outreach experience to diverse groups. The commissioner shall determine the application
process and the grant amounts.

Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.

Subd. 4.

Concurrent enrollment start-up grants.

For grants to school districts
to develop concurrent enrollment courses under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09,
subdivision 10, that satisfy the elective standard for career and technical education.

	$	1,000,000	.......	2016
	$	1,000,000	.......	2017

The commissioner shall determine the application process and the grant amounts. Any
balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.

Subd. 5.

Concurrent enrollment teacher training.

For school districts to
send teachers to training programs and follow-up workshops provided by an eligible
postsecondary institution for courses offered under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09,
subdivision 10.

	$	250,000	.......	2016
	$	250,000	.......	2017

The commissioner shall determine the payment process and the amount of the subsidy.
Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.

Subd. 6.

Concurrent enrollment teacher qualification.

For teacher coursework,
prior learning assessments, and training necessary to be qualified to teach college courses
through concurrent enrollment:

	$	500,000	.....	2016
	$	500,000	.....	2017

A school district may apply to the commissioner for a grant on behalf of a teacher for
coursework, prior learning assessments, and training necessary to teach college courses
offered through concurrent enrollment. The commissioner shall determine the payment
process and the amount of the subsidy. Any balance in the first year does not cancel but
is available in the second year.