SF 1791

3rd Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; integrating instruction about the contributions of Minnesota
American Indian tribes and communities into student learning and teacher
preparation and licensing requirements; establishing committees on American
Indian education programs; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections
120B.021, subdivision 1; 122A.09, subdivision 4.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120B.021, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:

Subdivision 1.

Required academic standards.

The following subject areas are
required for statewide accountability:

(1) language arts;

(2) mathematics;

(3) science;

(4) social studies, including history, geography, economics, and government and
citizenship;

(5) health and physical education, for which locally developed academic standards
apply; and

(6) the arts, for which statewide or locally developed academic standards apply, as
determined by the school district. Public elementary and middle schools must offer at least
three and require at least two of the following four arts areas: dance; music; theater; and
visual arts. Public high schools must offer at least three and require at least one of the
following five arts areas: media arts; dance; music; theater; and visual arts.

The commissioner must submit proposed standards in science and social studies to
the legislature by February 1, 2004.

For purposes of applicable federal law, the academic standards for language arts,
mathematics, and science apply to all public school students, except the very few students
with extreme cognitive or physical impairments for whom an individualized education
plan team has determined that the required academic standards are inappropriate.
An individualized education plan team that makes this determination must establish
alternative standards.

A school district, no later than the 2007-2008 school year, must adopt graduation
requirements that meet or exceed state graduation requirements established in law or
rule. A school district that incorporates these state graduation requirements before the
2007-2008 school year must provide students who enter the 9th grade in or before
the 2003-2004 school year the opportunity to earn a diploma based on existing locally
established graduation requirements in effect when the students entered the 9th grade.
District efforts to develop, implement, or improve instruction or curriculum as a result
of the provisions of this section must be consistent with sections 120B.10, 120B.11,
and 120B.20.

new text begin The commissioner must include the contributions of Minnesota American Indian
tribes and communities as they relate to the academic standards during the review and
revision of the required academic standards.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for the 2008-2009 school year and
later.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 122A.09, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

License and rules.

(a) The board must adopt rules to license public school
teachers and interns subject to chapter 14.

(b) The board must adopt rules requiring a person to successfully complete a skills
examination in reading, writing, and mathematics as a requirement for initial teacher
licensure. Such rules must require college and universities offering a board-approved
teacher preparation program to provide remedial assistance to persons who did not
achieve a qualifying score on the skills examination, including those for whom English is
a second language.

(c) The board must adopt rules to approve teacher preparation programs. The board,
upon the request of a postsecondary student preparing for teacher licensure or a licensed
graduate of a teacher preparation program, shall assist in resolving a dispute between the
person and a postsecondary institution providing a teacher preparation program when the
dispute involves an institution's recommendation for licensure affecting the person or the
person's credentials. At the board's discretion, assistance may include the application
of chapter 14.

(d) The board must provide the leadership and shall adopt rules for the redesign of
teacher education programs to implement a research based, results-oriented curriculum
that focuses on the skills teachers need in order to be effective. The board shall implement
new systems of teacher preparation program evaluation to assure program effectiveness
based on proficiency of graduates in demonstrating attainment of program outcomes. new text begin
The board must require that persons enrolled in a teacher preparation program receive
instruction in historical and cultural competencies related to Minnesota American
Indian tribes and communities and their contributions to Minnesota, consistent with
sections 120B.021, subdivision 1, and 124D.71 to 124D.82. The competencies related
to Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities must include, among other
components, standards for instructional practices most effective for successfully teaching
elementary and secondary American Indian students.
new text end

(e) The board must adopt rules requiring successful completion of an examination
of general pedagogical knowledge and examinations of licensure-specific teaching
skills. The rules shall be effective on the dates determined by the board but not later
than September 1, 2001.

(f) The board must adopt rules requiring teacher educators to work directly with
elementary or secondary school teachers in elementary or secondary schools to obtain
periodic exposure to the elementary or secondary teaching environment.

(g) The board must grant licenses to interns and to candidates for initial licenses.

(h) The board must design and implement an assessment system which requires a
candidate for an initial license and first continuing license to demonstrate the abilities
necessary to perform selected, representative teaching tasks at appropriate levels.

(i) The board must receive recommendations from local committees as established
by the board for the renewal of teaching licenses.

(j) The board must grant life licenses to those who qualify according to requirements
established by the board, and suspend or revoke licenses pursuant to sections 122A.20 and
214.10. The board must not establish any expiration date for application for life licenses.

(k) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation in
the areas of using positive behavior interventions and in accommodating, modifying, and
adapting curricula, materials, and strategies to appropriately meet the needs of individual
students and ensure adequate progress toward the state's graduation rule.

(l) In adopting rules to license public school teachers who provide health-related
services for disabled children, the board shall adopt rules consistent with license or
registration requirements of the commissioner of health and the health-related boards who
license personnel who perform similar services outside of the school.

(m) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further reading
preparation, consistent with section 122A.06, subdivision 4. The rules do not take effect
until they are approved by law. Teachers who do not provide direct instruction including, at
least, counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, school social workers, audiovisual
directors and coordinators, and recreation personnel are exempt from this section.

(n) The board must adopt rules that require all licensed teachers who are renewing
their continuing license to include in their renewal requirements further preparation
in understanding the key warning signs of early-onset mental illness in children and
adolescents.

new text begin (o) The board must adopt rules to include instruction and other development
activities to improve the understanding and effective instruction of and communication
with Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities, consistent with paragraph (d)
and sections 120B.021, subdivision 1, and 124D.71 to 124D.82, in the 125 clock hours
of professional development that teachers must complete to renew their professional
teaching license.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for the 2007-2008 school year and
later.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin ADVISORY TASK FORCE ON MINNESOTA AMERICAN INDIAN
TRIBES AND COMMUNITIES AND K-12 STANDARDS-BASED REFORM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin An advisory task force on Minnesota American Indian tribes
and communities and K-12 standards-based reform is established to examine the impact of
state and federal standards-based reform on Minnesota's K-12 students, with particular
attention to the impacts on American Indian students enrolled in Minnesota schools.
The task force, in consultation with American Indian educators, parents, and others who
advocate for American Indian children, must determine if:
new text end

new text begin (1) state education standards and assessments are appropriate for American Indian
students;
new text end

new text begin (2) American Indian students are fairly compared;
new text end

new text begin (3) American Indian students receive the assistance they need to achieve the state
standards; and
new text end

new text begin (4) schools receive financial and technical assistance sufficient to meet the
educational needs of American Indian students.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of education shall appoint
representatives from the following organizations and agencies to the task force:
new text end

new text begin (1) Department of Education staff experienced in working with American Indian
students and programs;
new text end

new text begin (2) Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities;
new text end

new text begin (3) the Minnesota School Board Association;
new text end

new text begin (4) school administrators;
new text end

new text begin (5) Education Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (6) the state Board of Teaching;
new text end

new text begin (7) the Minnesota Council on Indian Affairs;
new text end

new text begin (8) postsecondary faculty who serve as instructors in teacher preparation programs;
and
new text end

new text begin (9) local community service providers who work with Minnesota American Indian
tribes and communities.
new text end

new text begin (b) After the task force has been convened, the commissioner of education may
appoint additional public members recommended by members of the task force.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Organization; compensation. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall complete
appointments to the task force, under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), by September 1, 2007.
The commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee shall convene the first
meeting of the task force within 30 days after the appointments are completed. The task
force shall select a chair from its membership at the first meeting.
new text end

new text begin (b) Vacancies, renewal, and compensation of members are as provided in Minnesota
Statutes, section 15.059, subject to the availability of appropriations.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner of education must provide the task force with administrative
and clerical support.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Recommendations. new text end

new text begin By February 15, 2008, the task force must report
recommendations and suggest implementing legislation to the legislative committees and
divisions with jurisdiction over education policy and finance regarding the changes, if
any, to the state's educational performance standards, content requirements, assessments
measures, and teacher preparation programs that will enable Minnesota schools to most
effectively meet the educational needs of American Indian students.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section expires the day following the submission of the
report required by subdivision 4.
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