1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; modifying charter school authorizer review requirements;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 124E.05, subdivision 5.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 124E.05, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
1.6 		Subd. 5.Review by commissioner. (a) The commissioner shall review an authorizer's 
1.7 	performance every five years in a manner and form determined by the commissioner, subject 
1.8 	to paragraphs (b) and (c), and may review an authorizer's performance more frequently at 
1.9 	the commissioner's own initiative or at the request of a charter school operator, charter 
1.10 	school board member, or other interested party. The commissioner, after completing the 
1.11 	review, shall transmit a report with findings to the authorizer.
1.12 	(b) Consistent with this subdivision, the commissioner must:
1.13 	(1) use criteria appropriate to the authorizer and the schools it charters to review the 
1.14 	authorizer's performance; and
1.15 	(2) consult with authorizers, charter school operators, and other charter school 
1.16 	stakeholders in developing review criteria under this paragraph.
1.17 	(c) The commissioner's form must use existing department data on the authorizer to 
1.18 	minimize duplicate reporting to the extent practicable. When reviewing an authorizer's 
1.19 	performance under this subdivision, the commissioner must not:
1.20 	(1) fail to credit;
1.21 	(2) withhold points; or
2.1 	(3) otherwise penalize an authorizer for failing to charter additional schools or for the 
2.2 	absence of complaints against the authorizer's current portfolio of charter schools.
2.3 	(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) or (b), an authorizer that is a school district may 
2.4 	satisfy the requirements of this subdivision and any requirements governing: (1) a conflict 
2.5 	of interest between an authorizer and its charter schools; (2) ongoing evaluation; or (3) 
2.6 	continuing education of an administrator or other professional support staff by submitting 
2.7 	to the commissioner a written promise to comply with the requirements.

2.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2021.