SF 150

as introduced - 91st Legislature, 2020 1st Special Session (2019 - 2020) Posted on 06/20/2020 10:03am

A bill for an act
relating to education; extending the maximum number of e-learning days; modifying
school year start date for 2020-2021 school year; requiring the commissioner of
human services to apply for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant
authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act; requiring
the commissioner of education to apply for the Education Stabilization
Fund-Rethink K-12 Education Models Grant authorized under the Coronavirus
Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018,
sections 120A.41; 120A.414, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 120A.41, is amended to read:

120A.41 LENGTH OF SCHOOL YEAR; HOURS OF INSTRUCTION.

(a) A school board's annual school calendar must include at least 425 hours of instruction
for a kindergarten student without a disability, 935 hours of instruction for a student in
grades 1 through 6, and 1,020 hours of instruction for a student in grades 7 through 12, not
including summer school. The school calendar for all-day kindergarten must include at least
850 hours of instruction for the school year. The school calendar for a prekindergarten
student under section 124D.151, if offered by the district, must include at least 350 hours
of instruction for the school year. A school board's annual calendar must include at least
165 days of instruction for a student in grades 1 through 11 unless a four-day week schedule
has been approved by the commissioner under section 124D.126.

(b) A school board's annual school calendar may deleted text begin include plans for up to five deleted text end new text begin have an
unlimited number of e-learning new text end days of instruction provided through online instruction due
to inclement weather new text begin or an infectious disease outbreak new text end . The inclement weather plans must
be developed according to section 120A.414.

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.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 120A.414, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Days.

"E-learning day" means a school day where a school offers full
access to online instruction provided by students' individual teachers due to inclement
weather. A school district or charter school that chooses to have e-learning days may have
deleted text begin up to five deleted text end new text begin an unlimited number of new text end e-learning days in one school year new text begin due to inclement
weather new text end . new text begin E-learning days may be used in the event that the governor authorizes the
commissioner of education to alter school schedules, curtail school schedules, or order
schools closed under section 12.21 due to an infectious disease outbreak. new text end An e-learning day
is counted as a day of instruction and included in the hours of instruction under section
120A.41. new text begin A superintendent or charter school may decide to close a school due to an infectious
disease outbreak in the community and use as many e-learning days as necessary. The school
district or charter school must report the closure due to infectious disease outbreak, including
its length, to the commissioner.
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. 3. new text begin 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR START.
new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 120A.40, a school district or charter school
may start the school year as early as August 3, 2020, if they exclusively use distance learning
or e-learning days to provide instruction to their students during the first four weeks of the
school year.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2020.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin FEDERAL GRANT APPLICATION REQUIRED.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services must apply for the Distance Learning and
Telemedicine Grant authorized under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security Act. The application must propose to use the grant to fund additional children's
school-linked mental health grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 245.4901. The
Department of Human Services may use no more than three percent of the grant award to
administer the program 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. 5. new text begin RETHINK K-12 EDUCATION MODELS GRANT APPLICATION.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education must apply for the Education Stabilization Fund-Rethink
K-12 Education Models Grant authorized under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security Act. The application must propose to use the grant to establish and fund
a partnership with an online school provider whose online course instruction substantially
aligns with Minnesota academic standards and offers a comprehensive curriculum for
kindergarten through grade 12. A student's participation in a course offered through or in
partnership with an online school provider is counted in average daily membership under
Minnesota Statutes, section 126C.05, subdivision 8, and excluded from revenue calculations
under Minnesota Statutes, sections 124D.095, subdivision 8; 124D.096; and 126C.05,
subdivision 19. Participation in this program does not reduce the amount of state aid a school
would otherwise generate. A school or student must not be charged a fee for participation
in a course offered through or in partnership with an online school provider funded under
this grant.
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