SF 2220

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

A bill for an act
relating to education; expanding postsecondary enrollment options program
to include ninth and tenth grade students; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006,
section 124D.09, subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.09, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:

Subd. 3.

Definitions.

For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given to them.

(a) "Eligible institution" means a Minnesota public postsecondary institution, a
private, nonprofit two-year trade and technical school granting associate degrees, an
opportunities industrialization center accredited by the North Central Association of
Colleges and Schools, or a private, residential, two-year or four-year, liberal arts,
degree-granting college or university located in Minnesota.

(b) "Course" means a course or program.

new text begin (c) "Qualified" means a student who scores better on the postsecondary institution
entrance test than the 75th percentile of students enrolled at that eligible institution to
which the student is applying for entrance.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.09, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Alternative pupil.

"Alternative pupil" means new text begin a qualified 9th or 10th
grade student or new text end an 11th or 12th grade student not enrolled in a public school district, and
includes students attending nonpublic schools and students who are home schooled. An
alternative pupil is considered a pupil for purposes of this section only. An alternative pupil
must register with the commissioner of education before participating in the postsecondary
enrollment options program. The commissioner shall prescribe the form and manner of
the registration, in consultation with the Nonpublic Education Council under section
123B.445, and may request any necessary information from the alternative pupil.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.09, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Authorization; notification.

Notwithstanding any other law to the
contrary, new text begin a qualified 9th or 10th grade pupil or new text end an 11th or 12th grade pupil enrolled in a
school or an American Indian-controlled tribal contract or grant school eligible for aid
under section 124D.83, except a foreign exchange pupil enrolled in a district under a
cultural exchange program, may apply to an eligible institution, as defined in subdivision
3, to enroll in nonsectarian courses offered by that postsecondary institution. If an
institution accepts a secondary pupil for enrollment under this section, the institution shall
send written notice to the pupil, the pupil's school or school district, and the commissioner
within ten days of acceptance. The notice must indicate the course and hours of enrollment
of that pupil. If the pupil enrolls in a course for postsecondary credit, the institution must
notify the pupil about payment in the customary manner used by the institution.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.09, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Dissemination of information; notification of intent to enroll.

By March
1 of each year, a district must provide general information about the program to all pupils
in grades deleted text begin 10 and 11 deleted text end new text begin 8 and 9 new text end . To assist the district in planning, a pupil shall inform the
district by March 30 of each year of the pupil's intent to enroll in postsecondary courses
during the following school year. A pupil is not bound by notifying or not notifying
the district by March 30.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.09, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Limit on participation.

new text begin A qualified pupil who first enrolls in grade 9 may
not enroll in postsecondary courses under this section for secondary credit for more than
the equivalent of four academic years. A qualified pupil who first enrolls in grade 10 may
not enroll in postsecondary courses under this section for secondary credit for more than
the equivalent of three academic years. new text end A pupil who first enrolls in grade 11 may not
enroll in postsecondary courses under this section for secondary credit for more than the
equivalent of two academic years. A pupil who first enrolls in grade 12 may not enroll in
postsecondary courses under this section for secondary credit for more than the equivalent
of one academic year. If a pupil in grade 11 or 12 first enrolls in a postsecondary course
for secondary credit during the school year, the time of participation shall be reduced
proportionately. If a pupil is in a learning year or other year-round program and begins
each grade in the summer session, summer sessions shall not be counted against the time of
participation. A pupil who has graduated from high school cannot participate in a program
under this section. A pupil who has completed course requirements for graduation but
who has not received a diploma may participate in the program under this section.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.09, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Enrollment priority.

A postsecondary institution shall give priority to
its postsecondary students when enrolling new text begin qualified 9th and 10th grade pupils and new text end 11th
and 12th grade pupils in its courses. A postsecondary institution may provide information
about its programs to a secondary school or to a pupil or parent, but it may not advertise or
otherwise recruit or solicit the participation of secondary pupils to enroll in its programs
on financial grounds. An institution must not enroll secondary pupils, for postsecondary
enrollment options purposes, in remedial, developmental, or other courses that are not
college level. Once a pupil has been enrolled in a postsecondary course under this section,
the pupil shall not be displaced by another student.