SF 1904

1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; appropriating money to the independent Office of
Educational Accountability through the University of Minnesota; directing
the Office of Educational Accountability to convene measurement experts to
consider how school performance report card data are most usefully displayed;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 120B.31, subdivision 3; 120B.36,
subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120B.31, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Educational accountability.

(a) The Independent Office of Educational
Accountability, as authorized by Laws 1997, First Special Session chapter 4, article 5,
section 28, subdivision 2, is established new text begin , and shall be funded through the Board of Regents
of the University of Minnesota new text end . The office shall advise the education committees of
the legislature and the commissioner of education, at least on a biennial basis, on the
degree to which the statewide educational accountability and reporting system includes a
comprehensive assessment framework that measures school accountability for students
achieving the goals described in the state's results-oriented graduation rule. The office
shall consider whether the statewide system of educational accountability utilizes multiple
indicators to provide valid and reliable comparative and contextual data on students,
schools, districts, and the state, and if not, recommend ways to improve the accountability
reporting system.

(b) When the office reviews the statewide educational accountability and reporting
system, it shall also consider:

(1) the objectivity and neutrality of the state's educational accountability system; and

(2) the impact of a testing program on school curriculum and student learning.

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 2006, section 120B.36, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

School performance report cards.

(a) The commissioner shall
use objective criteria based on levels of student performance to deleted text begin identify four to six
designations applicable to high and low performing public schools. The objective criteria
shall include deleted text end new text begin report new text end at least student academic performance, school safety, and staff
characteristics, with a value-added growth component added by the 2006-2007 school
year. new text begin The report must indicate a school's adequate yearly progress status.
new text end

(b) The commissioner shall develop, annually update, and post on the department
Web site school performance report cards. deleted text begin A school's designation must be clearly stated
on each school performance report card.
deleted text end

(c) The commissioner must make available the first deleted text begin school designations and deleted text end school
performance report cards by November 2003, and during the beginning of each school
year thereafter.

(d) deleted text begin A school or district may appeal in writing a designation under this section to the
commissioner within 30 days of receiving the designation. The commissioner's decision
to uphold or deny an appeal is final.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (e) School performance report cards are nonpublic data under section 13.02,
subdivision 9, until not later than ten days after the appeal procedure described in
paragraph (d) concludes. deleted text end The department shall annually post school performance report
cards to its public Web site no later than September 1.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment
and applies to the school performance report cards for the 2006-2007 school year and later.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin SCHOOL PERFORMANCE REPORT CARDS; ADVISORY GROUP
RECOMMENDATIONS.
new text end

new text begin (a) To sustain equity and excellence in education, the director of the independent
Office of Educational Accountability under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.31,
subdivision 3, must convene and chair an advisory group of measurement experts
to consider and recommend how to structure school performance data and school
performance report cards under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.36, subdivision 1, to
fully, fairly, and accurately report student achievement and emphasize school excellence
under Minnesota's system of educational accountability and public reporting. The advisory
group at least must consider and recommend how to: evaluate student achievement using
multiple measures of growth that take into account student demographic characteristics,
consistent with Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.31, subdivision 4; and identify
outstanding schools based on student achievement and achievement growth and using
multiple performance measures that are objective and consistent with the highest standards
in the field of educational measurements and accountability. The advisory group shall
prepare any draft legislation necessary to implement its recommendations. The advisory
group, at its discretion, may also consider and make recommendations on other, related
statewide accountability and reporting matters.
new text end

new text begin (b) Advisory group members under paragraph (a) include: two qualified experts in
measurement in education selected by the State Council on Measurement in Education;
three regionally diverse school district research and evaluation directors selected by the
Minnesota Assessment Group; one school superintendent selected by the Minnesota
Association of School Administrators; one University of Minnesota faculty member
selected by the dean of the college of education and human development; and the director
of evaluation and testing at the Minnesota Department of Education. Advisory group
members' terms and other advisory group matters are subject to Minnesota Statutes,
section 15.059, subdivision 6. The Office of Educational Accountability must present the
advisory group's recommendations under paragraph (a) to the education policy and finance
committees of the legislature by February 15, 2008. The advisory group expires when the
report is filed and any accompanying draft legislation is submitted.
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. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION; OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2008 and $....... in fiscal year 2009 are appropriated from the
general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Office of
Educational Accountability under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.31, subdivision 3.
The base appropriation for the Office of Educational Accountability in fiscal years 2010
and 2011 is $....... each year.
new text end