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1.1A bill for an act \n\line \n\line
1.2relating to education; establishing a pilot project to examine how school districts \n\line 1.3might operate jointly to provide innovative delivery of programs and activities \n\line 1.4and share resources. \n\line 1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: \n\line \n\line 1.6 Section 1. {\ul INNOVATIVE DELIVERY OF EDUCATION SERVICES AND } \n\line 1.7{\ul SHARING OF DISTRICT RESOURCES; PILOT PROJECT.} \n\line 1.8 {\ul Subdivision 1.} {\ul Establishment; requirements for participation.} {\ul (a) A five-year } \n\line 1.9{\ul pilot project for the 2013-2014 through 2017-2018 school years is established to improve } \n\line 1.10{\ul student and school outcomes by allowing groups of school districts to work together to } \n\line 1.11{\ul provide innovative education programs and activities and share district resources.} \n\line 1.12{\ul (b) To participate in this pilot project to improve student and school outcomes, a } \n\line 1.13{\ul group of two or more school districts must consult with school staff and receive formal } \n\line 1.14{\ul school board approval to form a partnership. The partnership must develop a plan to } \n\line 1.15{\ul provide challenging programmatic options for students, create professional development } \n\line 1.16{\ul opportunities for educators, increase student engagement and connection and challenging } \n\line 1.17{\ul learning opportunities for students, or demonstrate efficiencies in delivering financial and } \n\line 1.18{\ul other services. The plan must establish:} \n\line 1.19{\ul (1) collaborative educational goals and objectives;} \n\line 1.20{\ul (2) strategies and processes to implement those goals and objectives, including a } \n\line 1.21{\ul budget process with periodic expenditure reviews;} \n\line 1.22{\ul (3) valid and reliable measures to evaluate progress in realizing the goals and } \n\line 1.23{\ul objectives;} \n\line 1.24{\ul (4) an implementation timeline; and} \n\line 2.1{\ul (5) other applicable conditions, regulations, responsibilities, duties, provisions, fee } \n\line 2.2{\ul schedules, and legal considerations needed to fully implement the plan.} \n\line 2.3{\ul A partnership, with the education commissioner's approval, may invite additional } \n\line 2.4{\ul districts to join the partnership during the pilot project term.} \n\line 2.5{\ul (c) A partnership of interested districts must apply by February 1, 2013, to the } \n\line 2.6{\ul education commissioner in the form and manner the commissioner determines, consistent } \n\line 2.7{\ul with this section. The application must contain the formal approval adopted by the school } \n\line 2.8{\ul board in each district to participate in the plan.} \n\line 2.9{\ul (d) Notwithstanding other law to the contrary, during the term of the pilot project } \n\line 2.10{\ul participating districts may begin the school year before Labor Day, may adopt an extended } \n\line 2.11{\ul school calendar, or may schedule staff development days throughout the calendar year.} \n\line 2.12{\ul (e) Notwithstanding other law to the contrary, a participating school district under } \n\line 2.13{\ul this section continues to receive revenue and maintain its taxation authority and be } \n\line 2.14{\ul organized and governed by an elected school board with general powers under Minnesota } \n\line 2.15{\ul Statutes, section 123B.02.} \n\line 2.16 {\ul Subd. 2.} {\ul Commissioner's role.} {\ul The education commissioner, using available } \n\line 2.17{\ul education department staff and resources, must select between three and six qualified } \n\line 2.18{\ul applicants under subdivision 1 on a first-come, first-served basis to participate in this pilot } \n\line 2.19{\ul project. The commissioner must select only those applicants that fully comply with the } \n\line 2.20{\ul requirements in subdivision 1. The commissioner must terminate a project participant that } \n\line 2.21{\ul fails to effectively implement the goals and objectives contained in its application and } \n\line 2.22{\ul according to its stated timeline.} \n\line 2.23 {\ul Subd. 3.} {\ul Pilot project evaluation.} {\ul Participating school districts must submit pilot } \n\line 2.24{\ul project data to the commissioner in the form and manner determined by the commissioner. } \n\line 2.25{\ul The education commissioner must analyze participating districts' progress in realizing } \n\line 2.26{\ul their educational goals and objectives to work together in providing innovative education } \n\line 2.27{\ul programs and activities and sharing resources. The commissioner must include the } \n\line 2.28{\ul analysis in a report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten } \n\line 2.29{\ul through grade 12 education finance and policy on the efficacy of this pilot project. The } \n\line 2.30{\ul commissioner may submit an interim project report at any time and must submit a final } \n\line 2.31{\ul report to the legislature by February 1, 2018, recommending whether or not to continue or } \n\line 2.32{\ul expand the pilot project.} \n\line 2.33{\ul EFFECTIVE DATE.}{\ul This section is effective the day following final enactment } \n\line 2.34{\ul and applies to the 2013-2014 through 2017-2018 school years.} \n\line \n\line