1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; creating the Cultural and Ethnic Leadership Communities 
1.3 	Council for the Department of Education; proposing coding for new law in 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119A.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [119A.60] CULTURAL AND ETHNIC COMMUNITIES LEADERSHIP 
1.7 	COUNCIL.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; purpose. There is hereby established the Cultural 
1.9 	and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council for the Department of Education. The 
1.10 	purpose of the council is to advise the commissioner of education on reducing disparities 
1.11 	that affect racial and ethnic groups.
1.12 		Subd. 2.Members. (a) The council must consist of no fewer than 15 and no more 
1.13 	than 25 members appointed by the commissioner of education, in consultation with school 
1.14 	districts; tribal, cultural, and ethnic communities; and diverse program participants and 
1.15 	their parents. The commissioner shall direct the development of guidelines defining 
1.16 	the membership of the council; setting out definitions; and developing duties of the 
1.17 	commissioner, the council, and council members regarding racial and ethnic disparities 
1.18 	reduction. The guidelines must be developed in consultation with:
1.19 	(1) the chairs of relevant committees; and
1.20 	(2) school district, tribal, and cultural communities and program participants from 
1.21 	these communities.
1.22 	(b) Members must be appointed to allow for representation of the following groups:
1.23 	(1) racial and ethnic minority groups;
1.24 	(2) tribal service providers;
2.1 	(3) culturally and linguistically specific advocacy groups and service providers;
2.2 	(4) public and private institutions;
2.3 	(5) parents of education program participants;
2.4 	(6) students;
2.5 	(7) members of the faith community;
2.6 	(8) Department of Education employees;
2.7 	(9) chairs of relevant legislative committees; and
2.8 	(10) any other group the commissioner deems appropriate to facilitate the goals 
2.9 	and duties of the council.
2.10 	(c) Each member of the council must be appointed to either a one-year or two-year 
2.11 	term. The commissioner shall appoint one member as chair.
2.12 	(d) Notwithstanding section 15.059, members of the council shall receive no 
2.13 	compensation for their services.
2.14 		Subd. 3.Duties of commissioner. (a) The commissioner of education or the 
2.15 	commissioner's designee shall:
2.16 	(1) maintain the council established in this section;
2.17 	(2) supervise and coordinate policies for persons from racial, ethnic, cultural, 
2.18 	linguistic, and tribal communities who experience disparities in education access and 
2.19 	outcomes;
2.20 	(3) identify education rules or statutes affecting persons from racial, ethnic, cultural, 
2.21 	linguistic, and tribal communities that may need to be revised;
2.22 	(4) investigate and recommend cost-effective models of education services and 
2.23 	strategies for increasing the number of culturally relevant educational services available to 
2.24 	currently underserved populations; 
2.25 	(5) based on recommendations of the council, review identified department 
2.26 	policies that maintain racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and tribal disparities, and make 
2.27 	adjustments to ensure those disparities are not perpetuated; and
2.28 	(6) based on recommendations of the council, submit legislation to reduce disparities 
2.29 	affecting racial and ethnic groups, increase access to programs, and promote better 
2.30 	outcomes.
2.31 	(b) The commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee shall consult 
2.32 	with the council and receive recommendations from the council when meeting the 
2.33 	requirements of this section.
2.34 		Subd. 4.Duties of council. The Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership 
2.35 	Council shall:
3.1 	(1) recommend to the commissioner for review identified policies in the Department 
3.2 	of Education that maintain racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and tribal disparities;
3.3 	(2) identify issues regarding disparities by engaging diverse populations in education 
3.4 	programs;
3.5 	(3) engage in mutual learning essential for achieving education parity for students 
3.6 	and staff;
3.7 	(4) raise awareness about education disparities to the legislature and media;
3.8 	(5) provide technical assistance and consultation support to school districts, 
3.9 	nonpublic schools, private nonprofit agencies, and other service providers to build their 
3.10 	capacity to provide equitable education for students and staff from racial, ethnic, cultural, 
3.11 	linguistic, and tribal communities who experience disparities in access and outcomes;
3.12 	(6) provide technical assistance to promote statewide development of culturally and 
3.13 	linguistically appropriate, accessible, and cost-effective education services and related 
3.14 	policies;
3.15 	(7) provide training and outreach to facilitate access to culturally and linguistically 
3.16 	appropriate, accessible, and cost-effective education services and opportunities to prevent 
3.17 	disparities;
3.18 	(8) form work groups that include, but are not limited to, persons who provide and 
3.19 	receive educational services and representatives of advocacy groups, to help carry out the 
3.20 	duties of the council and provide the work groups with clear guidelines, standardized 
3.21 	parameters, and tasks for the work groups to accomplish; and
3.22 	(9) promote information-sharing in the education community and statewide.
3.23 		Subd. 5.Duties of council members. The members of the council shall:
3.24 	(1) attend and participate in scheduled meetings and be prepared by reviewing 
3.25 	meeting notes;
3.26 	(2) maintain open communication channels with respective constituencies;
3.27 	(3) identify and communicate issues and risks that could impact the timely 
3.28 	completion of tasks;
3.29 	(4) collaborate on education disparity reduction efforts;
3.30 	(5) communicate updates of the council's work progress and status on the 
3.31 	Department of Education Web site; and
3.32 	(6) participate in any activities the council or chair deems appropriate and necessary 
3.33 	to facilitate the goals and duties of the council. 
3.34 		Subd. 6.Expiration. Notwithstanding section 15.059, the council does not expire 
3.35 	unless directed by the commissioner.