1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to education; providing middle school 
  1.3             students with access to upper school courses; 
  1.4             proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.5             chapter 120B. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [120B.15] [ACCESS TO ABOVE GRADE-LEVEL 
  1.8   COURSES.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS.] A student in grade 
  1.10  8 may, with the approval of the student, the student's parent or 
  1.11  guardian, and local school officials, enroll in a course taught 
  1.12  to students in any of grades 10 through 12.  Local school 
  1.13  officials must determine if the eighth grade student has the 
  1.14  academic skills necessary to succeed in the course taught to 
  1.15  students in grades 10 through 12. 
  1.16     Subd. 2.  [SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS.] A student in grade 6 may, 
  1.17  with the approval of the student, the student's parent or 
  1.18  guardian, and local school officials, enroll in a course taught 
  1.19  to students in any of grades 7 through 9.  Local school 
  1.20  officials must determine if the sixth grade student has the 
  1.21  academic skills necessary to succeed in the course taught to 
  1.22  students in grades 7 through 9. 
  1.23     Subd. 3.  [ACCESS TO COURSES.] If a course is approved 
  1.24  under this section, local school officials must provide a 
  1.25  student with access to the course but are not required to 
  2.1   provide additional transportation services. 
  2.2      <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective for the 
  2.3   2004-2005 school year and later.