1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; requiring public school students to complete service 
1.3 	learning hours as a condition of graduating from high school;amending 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 120B.024.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 120B.024, is amended to read:
1.7 	120B.024 GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS; COURSE CREDITS.
1.8 	(a) Students beginning 9th grade in the 2004-2005 school year and later must 
1.9 	successfully complete the following high school level course credits for graduation:
1.10 	(1) four credits of language arts;
1.11 	(2) three credits of mathematics, encompassing at least algebra, geometry, statistics, 
1.12 	and probability sufficient to satisfy the academic standard;
1.13 	(3) three credits of science, including at least one credit in biology;
1.14 	(4) three and one-half credits of social studies, encompassing at least United 
1.15 	States history, geography, government and citizenship, world history, and economics or 
1.16 	three credits of social studies encompassing at least United States history, geography, 
1.17 	government and citizenship, and world history, and one-half credit of economics taught in 
1.18 	a school's social studies, agriculture education, or business department;
1.19 	(5) one credit in the arts; and
1.20 	(6) a minimum of seven elective course credits.; and
1.21 	(7) at least 75 hours of student service credit that includes preparation, action, and 
1.22 	reflection components and that may be a locally designed experiential program approved 
1.23 	by the commissioner and may begin during the middle grades, at the discretion of the local 
1.24 	school district or charter school.
2.1 	A course credit is equivalent to a student successfully completing an academic 
2.2 	year of study or a student mastering the applicable subject matter, as determined by the 
2.3 	local school district.
2.4 	(b) An agriculture science course may fulfill a science credit requirement in addition 
2.5 	to the specified science credits in biology and chemistry or physics under paragraph (a), 
2.6 	clause (3).
2.7 	(c) A career and technical education course may fulfill a science, mathematics, or 
2.8 	arts credit requirement in addition to the specified science, mathematics, or arts credits 
2.9 	under paragraph (a), clause (2), (3), or (5).
2.10 	(d) Students may acquire student service hours required under paragraph (a), 
2.11 	clause (7), in curriculum-based courses with identified service learning outcomes and 
2.12 	activities during the school day, through school-sponsored cocurricular activities, through 
2.13 	organizations approved by the commissioner that offer service learning opportunities, and 
2.14 	through out-of-school service learning activities offered by community organizations 
2.15 	approved by the commissioner. A student interested in acquiring service hours in a 
2.16 	manner not consistent with this paragraph must present a written proposal to the chief 
2.17 	school administrator or school service learning committee and receive approval before the 
2.18 	student proceeds with any service learning activity. Each school district and charter school 
2.19 	must establish a verification process to confirm those student service hours that students 
2.20 	complete through cocurricular activities, community organizations, and special activities.

2.21 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for students beginning 9th grade in 
2.22 	the 2008-2009 school year and later.