SF 1402

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

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; providing for an
approved school finance system; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin SCHOOL FINANCE STUDY.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of education must contract with an
independent contractor that has extensive experience working
with various states on education finance systems to continue and
complete the work done by the governor's education funding task
force included in the June 2004 report, Investing in Our
Future. The commissioner must contract with a firm other than
the consulting firm performing services for and submitting a
report on behalf of the governor's education funding task force.
new text end

new text begin (b) The contractor must do the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) conduct an in-depth analysis of the governor's
education funding task force report, Investing in Our Future,
dated June 2004, focusing on the data produced by the
professional judgment panel study included in the report;
new text end

new text begin (2) convene a meeting in Minnesota to help gather any
necessary additional data that is not contained in the
governor's task force report or to further validate some of the
report's existing data;
new text end

new text begin (3) determine the dollar value of an instructional services
allocation, including cost estimates for each school district
adjusting the allocation for individual student and school
district characteristics; and
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new text begin (4) conduct outreach and support to explain its findings to
appropriate officials in Minnesota.
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new text begin (c) In addition to the requirements in paragraph (b), the
contractor must analyze data from Minnesota school districts
that have proven to be successful in educating their students to
meet the state's academic standards. The contractor must use a
statistical analysis to help explain differences in spending
across school districts while controlling for student
performance.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner must report on the findings on the
contract to the legislative committees having jurisdiction over
kindergarten through grade 12 finance before December 15, 2005.
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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 begin APPROPRIATION.
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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 Improved school finance system contract. new text end

new text begin For a
contract to follow up on the work of the governor's education
funding task force:
new text end

new text begin $175,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2006
new text end