SF 2137

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; directing the commissioner of education to report to the
legislature on Department of Education efforts to obtain waivers from and
changes in the No Child Left Behind Act, and on evaluating school performance
data.

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

Section 1. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE
ON WAIVERS FROM AND CHANGES IN THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin No Child Left Behind Act; waivers, changes, and report. new text end

new text begin (a)
The commissioner of education must petition the federal government to make changes
in or grant Minnesota waivers from specific No Child Left Behind Act requirements,
consistent with paragraph (b). The commissioner must report to the education policy
and finance committees of the legislature by March 15, 2008, on the extent to which the
federal government made changes in or granted Minnesota waivers from specific No
Child Left Behind Act requirements and, if the No Child Left Behind Act is reauthorized
by the date of the report, recommend whether or not to continue to comply with the
requirements of the act.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of education must petition the federal government to make
changes in or grant Minnesota waivers from, as appropriate, the No Child Left Behind
Act, consistent with the following:
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new text begin (1) providing sufficient infrastructure resources to fully implement the law and
increase student achievement;
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new text begin (2) requiring that all students demonstrate reading and math proficiency by the
2016-2017 school year;
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new text begin (3) ensuring that all states require high academic standards for all students;
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new text begin (4) allowing greater flexibility in providing school choice programs, including
removing federal constraints on the programs;
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new text begin (5) imposing meaningful accountability measures on supplemental service providers;
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new text begin (6) giving school districts the option to provide supplemental services to
academically at-risk students or to all students;
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new text begin (7) expecting a minimum three-year time frame for implementing school
improvement plans that include specific actions for specific areas of improvement;
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new text begin (8) imposing differentiated consequences for schools and school districts based on
the number of years a school or school district is designated as not making adequate
yearly progress;
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new text begin (9) accommodating a student growth model component in a state accountability
system that expects academic rigor and is aligned with state academic standards;
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new text begin (10) creating sufficient flexibility to enable a state accountability system to
appropriately accommodate students with disabilities and students with limited English
proficiency;
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new text begin (11) creating sufficient flexibility to enable a state to define and identify highly
qualified teachers and enhance teacher performance;
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new text begin (12) continuing early literacy programs and providing additional resources for and
emphasis on mathematics and science education;
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new text begin (13) improving high schools without supplanting other education programs or
requiring additional student testing; and
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new text begin (14) providing additional federal funding for the additional federally imposed
responsibilities for accountability.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin State academic performance requirements. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.36, or other law to the contrary, the commissioner
must adjust performance data used to identify high and low performing schools on the
school performance report cards by incorporating a statewide student growth model.
The commissioner also must determine the feasibility of using an index model that
is independent of the state's adequate yearly progress index model to report school
performance that accommodates statewide student achievement test data and student
demographic information, reflects the availability to students of advanced academic
opportunities and other academic programs, and the extent of school safety. In
determining the feasibility of using the independent index model, the commissioner must
convene an advisory task force composed of individuals representing teachers, school
administrators, business interests, parents, and other interested and qualified stakeholders
selected by the commissioner. The commissioner must report to the education policy and
finance committees of the legislature by January 15, 2008, on the feasibility of using
the independent index model to report school performance, consistent with Minnesota
Statutes, section 120B.36, subdivision 1, paragraph (a).
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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