SF 2912

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; reducing elementary and secondary class sizes
through a voluntary, incentive-based funding program; appropriating money;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 120B.36, subdivision 1; 126C.20;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 126C; repealing
Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 126C.12.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, 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 identify four to six
designations applicable to high and low performing public schools. The objective criteria
shall include at least student academic performance, school safety, new text begin student-to-teacher
ratios, new text end and staff characteristics, with a value-added growth component added by the
2006-2007 school year.

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

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

(d) 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.

(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. 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 for report cards issued after July
1, 2006.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [126C.105] CLASS SIZE REDUCTION PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin "Classroom teacher" means a public employee
licensed by the Board of Teaching who is authorized to teach all subjects to children
in any grade in kindergarten through grade 12 and whose duties are full-time regular
classroom instruction, excluding a teacher for whom federal aids are received or for
whom categorical aids are received under section 125A.76 or who is an itinerant teacher
or provides instruction outside of the regular classroom. Except as provided in section
122A.68, subdivision 6, classroom teacher does not include supervisory and support
personnel defined in section 122A.15.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Full funding eligibility. new text end

new text begin To qualify for funding under this section, a
school district shall maintain in each participating class an annual average class size not
exceeding the ratios established in subdivision 3 during the instructional time qualifying
the class for funding.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Class size ratios. new text end

new text begin The class size ratios are as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) for students in kindergarten to grade 3, a school district shall maintain a ratio
of not more than 20 students for each classroom teacher;
new text end

new text begin (2) for students in grades 4 to 6, a school district shall maintain a ratio of not more
than 22 students for each classroom teacher;
new text end

new text begin (3) for students in grades 7 to 9 in English, mathematics, science, and social studies
classes, a school district shall maintain a ratio of not more than 25 students for each
classroom teacher;
new text end

new text begin (4) for students in grades 10 to 12 in English, mathematics, science, and social
studies classes, a school district shall maintain a ratio of not more than 28 students for
each classroom teacher; and
new text end

new text begin (5) for students in grades 7 to 12, in classrooms that are designated as laboratory
classrooms, a school district shall maintain a ratio of not more than 24 students for each
classroom teacher.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Class size determination. new text end

new text begin A school district's class size may exceed the
class size ratios established in subdivision 3 on a particular school day, but the average
class size for the school year must not exceed the maximum class size.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Revenue. new text end

new text begin A school district that certifies to the Department of Education
that it is eligible for full funding under subdivision 2 is eligible for class size reduction
revenue of $500 times the number of elementary students in each qualifying classroom in
kindergarten through grade 6, and $100 times the number of secondary students.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Use of revenue. new text end

new text begin Revenue received through the class size reduction
program at the secondary level shall be used to maintain the ratios specified in subdivision
3, clauses (3) and (4), for English, mathematics, science, and social studies classrooms.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin State aid. new text end

new text begin Class size reduction revenue is provided entirely through
state aid.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal years 2007
and later.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 126C.20, is amended to read:

126C.20 ANNUAL GENERAL EDUCATION AID APPROPRIATION.

There is annually appropriated from the general fund to the department the amount
necessary for general education aid new text begin and class size reduction aid under section 126C.105 new text end .
This amount must be reduced by the amount of any money specifically appropriated for
the same purpose in any year from any state fund.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2007.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $300,000,000 in fiscal year 2007 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of education for class size reduction revenue according to section 2.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 126C.12, new text end new text begin is repealed.
new text end