HF 2899

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 03/27/2025 02:45pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; creating a fully funded summer school program; establishing
a voluntary integration and inclusion program; establishing a voluntary metro-wide
interdistrict integration program; establishing a diverse magnet school program;
establishing a credit recovery pilot program; requiring an evidence-based strategies
and family information system; requiring minimum pay for teachers; requiring
reports; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections
124D.68, subdivision 2; 126C.10, subdivision 2a; proposing coding for new law
in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 124F; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 124D.861;
124D.862; 124D.896; Minnesota Rules, parts 3535.0100; 3535.0110; 3535.0120;
3535.0130; 3535.0140; 3535.0150; 3535.0160; 3535.0170; 3535.0180.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 124D.68, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Eligible pupils.

(a) A pupil under the age of 21 or who meets the requirements
of section 120A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), and a pupil with a disability until the pupil
is 22 years of age, is eligible to participate in the graduation incentives program, if the pupil:

(1) performs substantially below the performance level for pupils of the same age in a
locally determined achievement test;

(2) is behind in satisfactorily completing coursework or obtaining credits for graduation;

(3) is pregnant or is a parent;

(4) has been assessed as having substance use disorder;

(5) has been excluded or expelled according to sections 121A.40 to 121A.56;

(6) has been referred by a school district for enrollment in an eligible program or a
program pursuant to section 124D.69;

(7) is a victim of physical or sexual abuse;

(8) has experienced mental health problems;

(9) has experienced homelessness sometime within six months before requesting a
transfer to an eligible program;

(10) speaks English as a second language or is an English learner;

(11) has withdrawn from school or has been chronically truant; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(12) is being treated in a hospital in the seven-county metropolitan area for cancer or
other life threatening illness or is the sibling of an eligible pupil who is being currently
treated, and resides with the pupil's family at least 60 miles beyond the outside boundary
of the seven-county metropolitan area deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (13) is eligible for a free or reduced-price meal according to federal National School
Lunch Program standards.
new text end

(b) A pupil is eligible to participate in the graduation incentives program under section
124D.68 and in concurrent enrollment courses offered under section 124D.09, subdivision
10, and is funded in the same manner as other pupils under this section if the pupil otherwise
qualifies under paragraph (a), is at least 21 years of age and not yet 22 years of age, and:

(1) is an English learner with a limited or interrupted formal education according to
section 124D.59, subdivision 2a; or

(2) meets three of the following four requirements:

(i) comes from a home where the language usually spoken is other than English, or
usually speaks a language other than English;

(ii) enters school in the United States after grade 6;

(iii) functions at least two years below expected grade level in reading and mathematics;
and

(iv) may be preliterate in the English learner's native language.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for fiscal year 2027 and later.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [124D.691] SUMMER SCHOOL.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "summer school" means
educational opportunities offered to eligible students by a school district or a charter school
during the period of time between two consecutive school years.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin A student is eligible to participate in a summer school program if
the student:
new text end

new text begin (1) performs substantially below the performance level for pupils of the same age in a
locally determined achievement test or performs below grade level on a state assessment;
new text end

new text begin (2) is behind in satisfactorily completing coursework or obtaining credits for graduation;
new text end

new text begin (3) is eligible for a free or reduced-price meal according to federal National School
Lunch Program standards; or
new text end

new text begin (4) is an English learner under section 124D.59.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Funding. new text end

new text begin (a) A district providing instruction in a summer school program is
eligible for extended time revenue. The revenue equals the general education basic formula
allowance for that year times the hours of instruction, but not to exceed an additional pupil
weight of 0.50, in accordance with section 126C.10, subdivision 2a.
new text end

new text begin (b) A district participating in the voluntary integration and inclusion program under
section 124F.03 is eligible for additional revenue in accordance with paragraph (a).
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Additional services. new text end

new text begin A school district that operates a summer school program
is encouraged to provide health, including mental health and dental health, services at the
site.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Charter schools. new text end

new text begin A charter school may provide summer school instruction
under this section to students enrolled in the charter school during the previous school year
if the charter school participates in the voluntary metro-wide interdistrict integration program
under section 124F.04. A participating charter school is eligible for funding for summer
school instruction under subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for fiscal year 2027 and later.
new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [124F.01] DEFINITIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Scope. new text end

new text begin For purposes of sections 124F.01 to 124F.08, the following terms
have the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Commissioner. new text end

new text begin "Commissioner" means the commissioner of education.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Culturally responsive teaching. new text end

new text begin "Culturally responsive teaching" means using
a combination of teaching, pedagogy, curriculum, theories, attitudes, practices, and
instructional materials that center students' culture, identities, and contexts through
educational systems.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Department. new text end

new text begin "Department" means the Minnesota Department of Education.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Disparities. new text end

new text begin "Disparities" means a pattern of educational differences, including
but not limited to the following, in which historically underserved students:
new text end

new text begin (1) underachieve academically relative to white students;
new text end

new text begin (2) are underrepresented in rigorous courses, gifted and talented programs, and honors
courses; or
new text end

new text begin (3) are overrepresented in exclusionary discipline, including suspensions and expulsions
relative to white students.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin District. new text end

new text begin "District" means an independent school district, special school district,
or charter school.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Diverse student body. new text end

new text begin "Diverse student body" means a student body containing
students from a mix of racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Historically underserved students. new text end

new text begin "Historically underserved students" means
students of color, Indigenous students, and students in poverty.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Inclusion. new text end

new text begin "Inclusion" means providing education that recognizes, honors, and
responds to demographic differences; a school climate that is welcoming of all students and
their families; curriculum that names and values diversity of many kinds; pedagogical
practices that explore multiple ways of teaching and learning; staffing and services that
include a broad range of professionals; and teacher education that prepares educators with
the skills to create and teach within inclusive environments. Inclusion requires schools to
ensure historically underserved students may fully participate in all aspects of a school's
programming, especially access to rigorous courses, and are not subject to discriminatory
and disproportionate disciplinary practices.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Indigenous students. new text end

new text begin "Indigenous students" means students who identify as
American Indian.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 11. new text end

new text begin Integration. new text end

new text begin "Integration" means uniting students and staff from multiple
racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural, or sociolinguistic backgrounds to create innovative
opportunities for cross-cultural cooperation and respect for cultural differences within and
across schools.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 12. new text end

new text begin Magnet school. new text end

new text begin "Magnet school" means a public elementary, middle, or
secondary school with a theme, including but not limited to science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics (STEM); international baccalaureate; dual-language immersion; or a set
of curricular themes implemented to attract a diverse student body and provide access to
opportunity. A diverse student body typically is attained through a combination of lottery
and zoned enrollment.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 13. new text end

new text begin Positive behavioral interventions and supports. new text end

new text begin "Positive behavioral
interventions and supports" has the meaning given in section 122A.627.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 14. new text end

new text begin Restorative practices. new text end

new text begin "Restorative practices" means a social science that
studies how to strengthen relationships between individuals as well as social connections
within communities. Restorative practices includes restorative justice, a process involving
the primary stakeholders in determining how best to repair the harm done by an offense.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 15. new text end

new text begin Social-emotional learning. new text end

new text begin "Social-emotional learning" means a process
where students and teachers build strong, respectful relationships grounded in collaborative
solutions to community building and participatory democracy in the classroom.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 16. new text end

new text begin Students in poverty. new text end

new text begin "Students in poverty" means students eligible for free
or reduced-price meals in the federal National School Lunch Program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 17. new text end

new text begin Students of color. new text end

new text begin "Students of color" means students who identify as:
new text end

new text begin (1) Asian;
new text end

new text begin (2) Black;
new text end

new text begin (3) Pacific Islander, including Micronesian or Hawaiian;
new text end

new text begin (4) Hispanic; or
new text end

new text begin (5) two or more races.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2025.
new text end

Sec. 4.

new text begin [124F.02] TIERED MODEL TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS.
new text end

new text begin (a) By the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year, the commissioner must develop a
tiered model using census data and multiple measurements to identify areas where students
live in the most challenging environments. Multiple measurements must include but are not
limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) median household income;
new text end

new text begin (2) percent of home ownership;
new text end

new text begin (3) percent of single-parent households; and
new text end

new text begin (4) average educational attainment of population.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner may include other economic criteria the commissioner determines are
likely to disadvantage a student's preparedness and ability to learn.
new text end

new text begin (b) The model must include five tiers, with tiers one and two identifying areas with the
least challenging environments and tiers four and five identifying areas with the most
challenging environments. Development of the tiered model is exempt from the requirements
of chapter 14 and section 14.386. Homeless children must be assigned to tier five regardless
of where they reside.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2025.
new text end

Sec. 5.

new text begin [124F.03] VOLUNTARY INTEGRATION AND INCLUSION PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For purposes of sections 124F.01 to 124F.08, the terms
defined in section 124F.01 have the same meanings.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Program. new text end

new text begin (a) The voluntary integration and inclusion program is established
to improve opportunities, increase student academic achievement, and reduce disparities
for historically underserved students.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner must develop a plan to draw attendance zones of participating
school districts to reduce segregation in the districts. The attendance zones must establish
schools with four grade bands: (1) kindergarten through grade 2; (2) grades 3 through 5;
(3) grades 6 through 8; and (4) grades 9 through 12. The commissioner's plan must, to the
extent practicable, avoid commute times longer than 30 minutes for students.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin District participation. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must review all school districts
to determine the districts eligible to participate in the program.
new text end

new text begin (b) The following school districts are eligible to participate in the program:
new text end

new text begin (1) isolated districts, which are school districts with an enrollment of historically
underserved students greater than a 20 percentage point variance of an adjoining district's
enrollment, as measured by the most recent three years of student data;
new text end

new text begin (2) exempt districts, which are school districts with an enrollment of historically
underserved students between 40 and 60 percent. Exempt districts are not considered isolated.
These districts must implement a plan under subdivision 5 and comply with all provisions
of this section, including addressing any identifiable schools within the district, other than
any requirement to implement an interdistrict plan;
new text end

new text begin (3) identifiable schools, which are schools within a school district with an enrollment
in one or more grade levels of historically underserved students with a greater than 20
percentage point variance of the district average enrollment at the same grade level, or any
school within a school district with enrollment of historically underserved students over 80
percent; and
new text end

new text begin (4) charter schools with an enrollment in one or more grade levels of historically
underserved students with a greater than 20 percentage point variance of the school district
average at the same grade level in the district in which the charter school is located, or any
charter school with enrollment of historically underserved students over 80 percent.
new text end

new text begin (c) A district or charter school that decides to participate must remain in the voluntary
integration and inclusion program for at least three consecutive school years.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Participation incentives. new text end

new text begin A school district or charter school that participates
in the voluntary integration and inclusion program is eligible for additional state aid. The
state aid equals the sum of:
new text end

new text begin (1) 20 percent of the general education basic formula allowance for that year times the
district's or charter school's pupil units for that year;
new text end

new text begin (2) for a participating school district or charter school operating a dual immersion
program, additional state aid equal to 30 percent of the general education basic formula
allowance for that year times the dual immersion school site's pupil units for that year;
new text end

new text begin (3) 20 percent of the general education basic formula allowance for that year times the
number of pupil units completing coursework or obtaining credits for graduation at the end
of a school year and successfully completing a course for dual credit under section 124D.09
during the summer;
new text end

new text begin (4) 300 percent of the school district's English learner revenue per pupil unit times the
district's English learner pupil units served by the district for that school year;
new text end

new text begin (5) 200 percent of the district's student support personnel aid for that year times the
district's pupil units for that year; and
new text end

new text begin (6) intradistrict pupil transportation aid equal to the district's qualifying intradistrict pupil
transportation costs in the preceding year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Plans for participating school districts or charter schools. new text end

new text begin (a) Before deciding
to participate, a school board must hold at least one meeting to determine whether to
participate in the voluntary integration and inclusion program, and must provide the public
an opportunity to be heard.
new text end

new text begin (b) The school board of a participating district must adopt a plan to increase integration
and inclusion. The plan must emphasize culturally responsive teaching and improving
student academic achievement. The board must publicly report on progress in realizing the
goals identified in the plan and provide the public with longitudinal data demonstrating
district and school progress in increasing integration and inclusion. At least 30 days before
adopting the plan, the board must post the plan, preliminary analysis, relevant student
performance data, and other longitudinal data on the district's website.
new text end

new text begin (c) In developing a plan, a participating school district must identify a leadership team,
conduct a needs assessment, conduct an equity and diversity impact assessment, and identify
processes to measure fidelity of implementation, continuously monitor improvement, and
conduct program evaluation.
new text end

new text begin (d) Plans must include evidence-based strategies and measurable goals and outcomes
based on disaggregated data. Plans must have clear annual measurable goals and outcomes
and three-year targets and measures.
new text end

new text begin (e) The plan must identify and increase inclusion within school buildings, including but
not limited to eliminating disparities.
new text end

new text begin (f) The district must submit the proposal plan to the department for approval, and the
department must approve or deny the plan within sixty days. When the plan is approved, a
district must incorporate the plan into the district's comprehensive strategic plan under
section 120B.11.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2027 and later.
new text end

Sec. 6.

new text begin [124F.04] VOLUNTARY METRO-WIDE INTERDISTRICT INTEGRATION
PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must establish a program to create
pathways and incentivize voluntary interdistrict enrollment that contributes to integration
and inclusion. The program must utilize the tiered model in section 124F.02. Students living
in tier four or five areas in participating districts may transfer to a school in another
participating school district if the school has a majority of student enrollment living in tier
one or two areas. Students living in tier one or two areas in participating districts may
transfer to a school in another participating school district if the majority of the receiving
school's students live in tier four or five areas.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Application and approval. new text end

new text begin A school district must apply to the commissioner
for approval to participate in the program. The application must demonstrate:
new text end

new text begin (1) evidence of a plan to develop and implement culturally responsive staff, programming,
and curricula;
new text end

new text begin (2) evidence of inclusive practices, policies, and curricula;
new text end

new text begin (3) evidence of integrative practices within the school and district;
new text end

new text begin (4) how curricula and programming will enhance academic outcomes for historically
underserved students;
new text end

new text begin (5) recruitment and retention of culturally competent teachers, administrators, and staff
who have received culturally validating pedagogy and leadership training;
new text end

new text begin (6) recruitment and retention of teachers, administrators, and staff of color and Indigenous
teachers, administrators, and staff;
new text end

new text begin (7) equitable and nonexclusionary disciplinary policies and practices;
new text end

new text begin (8) restorative practices, social-emotional learning, and positive behavioral interventions
and supports; and
new text end

new text begin (9) family engagement training through the department, the University of Minnesota
Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center, or an equivalent quality training approved
by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Interdistrict funding. new text end

new text begin (a) A serving district must provide transportation to
participating students. A serving district's interdistrict transportation aid equals the approved
interdistrict transportation costs for the previous year. The district must submit the
expenditure data to the department in the form and manner specified by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (b) A serving district or charter school must receive an additional 25 percent general
education basic formula allowance for that year times the number of nonresident pupil units
participating in the program for that year. This funding must be used to enhance programming
at the serving school district. At least 85 percent of this additional revenue must be spent
at the school site in which the participating student is enrolled.
new text end

new text begin (c) A resident district must receive an additional 25 percent of the general education
basic formula allowance for that year times the number of resident pupil units served by a
participating school district. This funding is available for the first three years the student is
enrolled in a serving school district under this program.
new text end

new text begin (d) The participating resident and serving school district must report the necessary pupil
data to the department in the form and manner specified by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Accountability. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must collect longitudinal data on students
participating in the program. Longitudinal data must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) consistent attendance;
new text end

new text begin (2) retention of transfer students;
new text end

new text begin (3) academic achievement and growth;
new text end

new text begin (4) Minnesota student survey responses about teachers caring for students;
new text end

new text begin (5) four- and seven-year graduation rates;
new text end

new text begin (6) discipline disparities;
new text end

new text begin (7) parent satisfaction;
new text end

new text begin (8) access and participation in rigorous courses, including in gifted and talented programs;
new text end

new text begin (9) special education referral representation and disparities; and
new text end

new text begin (10) postsecondary outcomes data on completion of a two- or four-year degree.
new text end

new text begin The department must also analyze data to identify districts where participation in the program
is causing larger than average numbers of students to enroll in other districts.
new text end

new text begin (b) After initial approval, participating districts must be reevaluated by the commissioner
every three years to ensure the districts meet the eligibility criteria in subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for state aid for fiscal year 2027 and
later.
new text end

Sec. 7.

new text begin [124F.05] DIVERSE MAGNET SCHOOL PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For purposes of sections 124F.01 to 124F.08, the terms
defined in section 124F.01 have the same meanings.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must establish, using the process described
in this section, four initial magnet schools designed to attract a diverse student body and
excel with historically underserved students. The magnet schools must be operational and
serving students by the 2027-2028 school year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Enrollment. new text end

new text begin (a) The magnet schools must be schools of choice, open to any
student who attends a school district or charter school located wholly or partially in the
seven-county metropolitan area. A magnet school must enroll any eligible student who
submits a timely application, unless the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a
program, class, grade level, or building. In this case, pupils must be accepted by lot. A
magnet school must develop and publish, including on its website, a lottery policy and
process that it must use when accepting pupils by lot. The magnet schools are prohibited
from using as criteria for establishing enrollment preferences:
new text end

new text begin (1) any academic assessment or measure of achievement;
new text end

new text begin (2) parent or student interviews; or
new text end

new text begin (3) commitment forms.
new text end

new text begin (b) A magnet school must give enrollment preference first to students residing in tier
four and five areas, as defined by the commissioner under section 124F.02. A magnet school
must also give enrollment preference to a sibling of an enrolled pupil and to a foster child
of that pupil's parent or guardian. A magnet school must enroll no less than 40 percent and
no more than 60 percent of students from tier four and five areas.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Magnet Innovation Oversight Board. new text end

new text begin (a) The Magnet Innovation Oversight
Board members must serve four-year terms unless otherwise indicated in this subdivision.
Subsequent appointment terms must be for four years unless otherwise indicated in this
subdivision. The board must report to the commissioner and must include the following
members:
new text end

new text begin (1) two members appointed by the governor. Initial terms of the governor's appointees
must be three-year terms;
new text end

new text begin (2) one member appointed by the chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities;
new text end

new text begin (3) two members appointed by the board of the Association of Metropolitan School
Districts. The board must select one of the two members to serve an initial three-year term;
new text end

new text begin (4) two members appointed by the executive director of the Minnesota Education Equity
Partnership;
new text end

new text begin (5) two or more parents appointed by the department;
new text end

new text begin (6) two members appointed by the Tribal Nations Education Committee;
new text end

new text begin (7) one member appointed by the board of the Minnesota Business Partnership or
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. The Minnesota Business Partnership must appoint the
member for the initial term. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce must appoint the member
for the subsequent term, and subsequent terms must rotate between the Minnesota Business
Partnership and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce;
new text end

new text begin (8) two members who are plaintiffs to the Cruz-Guzman vs. State of Minnesota lawsuit
appointed by the plaintiff attorneys; and
new text end

new text begin (9) one member who was a plaintiff from the Saint Cloud Education Rights Advocacy
Council vs. Minnesota Department of Education lawsuit appointed by the plaintiff attorneys.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner must appoint a student advisory panel that must provide advice
and student input to the board. The student advisory panel must include one member from
Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, as determined by the Minneapolis School District
Board of Directors; one member from Independent School District No. 625, St. Paul, as
determined by the St. Paul School District Board of Directors; and one member from each
magnet school established in this section. A student who graduates or is otherwise no longer
enrolled in a Minnesota high school must be replaced on the student advisory panel.
new text end

new text begin (c) The department must employ an adequate number of staff to coordinate state-level
magnet school operations, and must provide technical assistance and support to the board
and magnet schools. One staff member must serve as executive director of the diverse
magnet school program. The commissioner may establish minimum and preferred
qualifications. The executive director reports directly to the board chair and the other staff
members report to the executive director.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Magnet school selection. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must create an application
process and review rubric in consultation with the Magnet Innovation Oversight Board and
staff. The board must identify priority regions in the seven-county metropolitan area and
suggested themes, and must solicit applications from school districts. No less than two of
the four magnet schools must be established within the boundaries of Special School District
No. 1, Minneapolis, or Independent School District No. 625, St. Paul.
new text end

new text begin (b) The oversight board and staff must complete an initial review of district applications
and recommend up to six sites, in ranked order, for commissioner and department review.
The commissioner must approve four magnet school sites.
new text end

new text begin (c) Magnet innovation applications must:
new text end

new text begin (1) propose a theme and clear rationale for selecting that theme;
new text end

new text begin (2) have a plan for student enrollment consistent with the criteria in subdivision 3;
new text end

new text begin (3) demonstrate how the school will be separate from other district schools. Magnet
schools must not be programs within an existing school or a school-within-a-school model;
new text end

new text begin (4) demonstrate community support and a market demand for the magnet theme. This
may include enlisting the support of one or more nonprofit partners;
new text end

new text begin (5) identify a viable site suitable for the grades served and magnet school theme; and
new text end

new text begin (6) demonstrate how the school's programming will focus on four areas: (i) culturally
responsive teaching; (ii) achievement; (iii) integration; and (iv) inclusion. This must include
a description of how the programming will attract a diverse student body and excel with
historically underserved students, an equity and diversity impact assessment, evidence of
culturally responsive staff, and equitable disciplinary policies and practices.
new text end

new text begin (d) Once an application is approved by the commissioner, the magnet school shall operate
as a district-created site-governed school under section 123B.045. The requirement of 60
percent teacher support in section 123B.045, subdivision 1, does not apply to the diverse
magnet schools.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Accountability and oversight. new text end

new text begin All magnet schools are subject to state
accountability and oversight in accordance with section 124F.07.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Funding. new text end

new text begin (a) Districts approved to start a diverse magnet school are eligible
for multiyear start-up grants to phase in subsequent grade levels, upgrade facilities, purchase
equipment, and hire initial staff to develop curricula and programming.
new text end

new text begin (b) To provide enhanced programming at the magnet school, districts hosting a
state-approved diverse magnet school receive additional aid equal to 25 percent of the
general education basic formula allowance for that year times the number of pupil units
attending the magnet school for that year. At least 85 percent of this additional funding must
be spent at the school level.
new text end

new text begin (c) The revenue allocated to the magnet school site includes the general education revenue
generated by the students at the site from state, local, and private sources; referendum
revenue; and federal revenue from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act, Carl Perkins Act, and other federal programs as agreed to
by the school board and site council.
new text end

new text begin (d) The district may retain an administrative fee for managing the federal programs,
private revenues, and general administrative functions, including the school board,
superintendent, district legal counsel, finance, accountability and self-governed school
contract oversight, facilities maintenance, districtwide special education programs, and
other such services as agreed to by the site and school board. The administrative fee, if
retained, must be included in the agreement.
new text end

new text begin (e) As part of the agreement, the district may provide specific services for the site and
may specify the amount to be paid for each service and retain the revenues for that amount.
The formula or procedures for determining the amount of revenue to be allocated to the site
each year must be consistent with this subdivision and incorporated in the site budget
annually following a timeline and process included in the agreement with the school board.
The site is responsible for allocating revenue for all staff at the site and for the other
provisions of the agreement with the district board.
new text end

new text begin (f) All unspent revenue may be carried over to following years for the sole use of the
site.
new text end

new text begin (g) Resident districts receive additional aid equal to 25 percent of the general education
basic formula allowance for that year times the number of pupil units for that year served
by a magnet school district under this section. Resident districts must report to the department
the number of resident students being served by other districts under this program in the
form and manner specified by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (h) The state must reimburse resident districts the cost of transporting students to and
from the magnet schools. Eligible transportation costs include to and from school
transportation and late activities transportation for students participating in sports and other
extracurricular activities.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2028 and later.
new text end

Sec. 8.

new text begin [124F.06] EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES AND FAMILY
INFORMATION SYSTEM.
new text end

new text begin (a) The department must develop a repository of evidence-based strategies focused on
improving outcomes and eliminating disparities for historically underserved students. These
strategies may include but are not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) increasing the percentages of teachers of color and Indigenous teachers;
new text end

new text begin (2) working with full-service community schools;
new text end

new text begin (3) implementing equitable and nonexclusionary disciplinary practices. The Department
of Human Rights must continue its work to ensure that districts are implementing discipline
in an equitable manner. The department must provide technical assistance;
new text end

new text begin (4) hiring additional school support staff, including counselors, nurses, social workers,
psychologists, and chemical health counselors;
new text end

new text begin (5) working with programs focused on addressing homelessness and housing instability,
such as the Homework Starts with Home program;
new text end

new text begin (6) requiring all districts to take a social-emotional learning assessment;
new text end

new text begin (7) offering multitiered systems of behavioral support, including restorative practices,
social-emotional learning, and positive behavioral interventions and supports;
new text end

new text begin (8) providing access to culturally relevant and inclusive programming and curricula;
new text end

new text begin (9) prioritizing recruitment and retention of culturally competent staff who have received
culturally validating pedagogy and leadership training;
new text end

new text begin (10) promoting training on family engagement strategies through the department, the
University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center, or an equivalent
quality training approved by the commissioner;
new text end

new text begin (11) improving student engagement and dropout prevention strategies; and
new text end

new text begin (12) using technology and other resources to provide equitable distance learning.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner must develop and maintain a web-based, state-level family
information system that allows user-friendly, school-by-school comparisons as well as easy
to understand district and statewide data in multiple languages. To the extent allowable
under chapter 13, the system must include the ability to disaggregate student data by race
and ethnicity; disability status; free and reduced-price lunch eligibility; housing status,
including homeless and foster care settings; and English learner status. Data to be included
in the information system may include:
new text end

new text begin (1) consistent attendance;
new text end

new text begin (2) student survey responses about teachers caring about students;
new text end

new text begin (3) academic achievement and growth;
new text end

new text begin (4) four- and seven-year graduation rates;
new text end

new text begin (5) rigorous courses availability and completion rates in high schools;
new text end

new text begin (6) preschool enrollment and participation data in prekindergarten through grade 5;
new text end

new text begin (7) progress toward English language proficiency;
new text end

new text begin (8) college-acceptance rates and need for remedial coursework;
new text end

new text begin (9) access to effective, experienced, and in-field teachers;
new text end

new text begin (10) progress toward teachers, administrators, and staff of color and Indigenous teachers,
administrators, and staff matching statewide student demographics;
new text end

new text begin (11) fiscal transparency regarding how money is allocated from districts to schools and
students;
new text end

new text begin (12) course offerings and participation in career and technical education; arts education;
and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses;
new text end

new text begin (13) discipline disparities;
new text end

new text begin (14) retention of paraprofessionals, teachers, and administration staff broken down by
gender and race; and
new text end

new text begin (15) grade 9 course completion.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2025.
new text end

Sec. 9.

new text begin [124F.07] ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENFORCEMENT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Accountability division. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must establish within the
department an Office of Integration and Inclusion Support and Accountability to ensure the
provisions of this chapter are implemented in accordance with the law, in collaboration with
a University of Minnesota research team focused on the data collection, analysis, and findings
relating to integration and inclusion programs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Voluntary integration and inclusion program. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner may
require a district participating in the voluntary integration and inclusion program to submit
the district's budget to the commissioner for review, and may require a district to modify
its budget to comply with program requirements.
new text end

new text begin (b) A district participating in the voluntary integration and inclusion program must
submit to the commissioner the district's integration and inclusion program in the form and
manner determined by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Magnet school program. new text end

new text begin (a) All magnet schools in the program under section
124F.05 must have an annual performance review, completed by the oversight board and
staff, for each of the first four years of operation to ensure evidence-based practices are
implemented with fidelity. After the first four years of operation, the oversight board and
staff must review and reauthorize magnet schools in year five of operation and every three
years thereafter. School performance must be evaluated under the criteria set forth by the
commissioner and the oversight board, including both academic and nonacademic measures.
The oversight board may require a review of a school to be conducted at any time if the
board determines one is warranted.
new text end

new text begin (b) If a review concludes that a magnet school is not meeting the performance
expectations of the board and commissioner, the board, in consultation with the
commissioner, must issue findings and corrective action. The magnet school must have one
year to complete the corrective action. If corrective action is not satisfied, the commissioner,
in consultation with the board, may revoke the authorization of the magnet school to operate.
new text end

new text begin (c) By October 1 each year, the oversight board must provide an annual report to the
commissioner. By February 1 each year, the commissioner must provide a report to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
education. The report may include a recommendation to expand the diverse magnet school
program if the oversight board demonstrates to the legislature that the existing magnets are
successfully attracting a diverse student body and excelling with historically underserved
students.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Office of the Inspector General. new text end

new text begin Nothing in this section limits the authority
of the Office of the Inspector General under section 127A.21.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2027.
new text end

Sec. 10.

new text begin [124F.08] MINIMUM PAY FOR TEACHERS.
new text end

new text begin By January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the commissioner of education must establish
a minimum salary for each licensed classroom teacher working in a school site participating
in a program established under section 124F.03, 124F.04, or 124F.05. Notwithstanding any
law to the contrary, a district or charter school employing a teacher working at a participating
school site must pay the teacher at least the minimum salary established by the commissioner.
new text end

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 126C.10, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:

Subd. 2a.

Extended time revenue.

(a) A school district's extended time allowance equals
$5,117 for fiscal deleted text begin year 2023 deleted text end new text begin years 2025 and 2026. For fiscal year 2027 new text end and later new text begin , a school
district's extended time allowance equals the extended time allowance for the previous year
times the ratio in the basic formula allowance for the current year to the basic formula
allowance for the previous year new text end .

(b) A school district's extended time revenue is equal to the product of the extended time
allowance in paragraph (a) and the sum of the adjusted pupil units of the district for each
pupil in average daily membership in excess of 1.0 and less than 1.2 according to section
126C.05, subdivision 8.

(c) Extended time revenue for pupils placed in an on-site education program at the Prairie
Lakes Education Center or the Lake Park School, located within the borders of Independent
School District No. 347, Willmar, for instruction provided after the end of the preceding
regular school year and before the beginning of the following regular school year equals
membership hours divided by the minimum annual instructional hours in section 126C.05,
subdivision 15, not to exceed 0.20, times the pupil unit weighting in section 126C.05,
subdivision 1, times the extended time allowance in paragraph (a).

(d) A school district qualifies for extended time revenue for instruction provided after
the end of the preceding regular school year and before the beginning of the following
regular school year for (1) every pupil attending a day treatment program, and (2) every
pupil placed in a children's residential facility, whether the education services are provided
on-site or off-site. Extended time revenue under this paragraph equals total membership
hours in summer instruction divided by the minimum annual instructional hours in section
126C.05, subdivision 15, not to exceed deleted text begin 0.20 deleted text end new text begin 0.50 new text end , times the pupil unit weighting in section
126C.05, subdivision 1, times the extended time allowance.

(e) For purposes of this subdivision, "children's residential facility" means a residential
facility for children, including a psychiatric residential treatment facility, licensed by the
Department of Human Services or the Department of Corrections and subject to Minnesota
Rules, chapter 2960, or an inpatient hospitalization that includes mental health services.

(f) For purposes of this subdivision, "day treatment program" means:

(1) a site-based structured mental health program consisting of psychotherapy for three
or more individuals and individual or group skills training provided by a team, under the
treatment supervision of a mental health professional; or

(2) any other day treatment program designated by the commissioner of education
consistent with the Minnesota Automated Reporting Student System manual, procedure 27.

(g) A school district's extended time revenue may be used for extended day programs,
extended week programs, summer school, vacation break academies such as spring break
academies and summer term academies, and other programming authorized under the
learning year program.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2027 and later.
new text end

Sec. 12. new text begin CREDIT RECOVERY PILOT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Pilot program. new text end

new text begin A pilot program is established at the University of
Minnesota to determine the impact of providing students the opportunity to participate in
credit recovery on a college campus. Students participating in the pilot program must
complete a personal learning plan before starting the program, and must update the plan
after completing the program. The program expires on September 1, 2029.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin School district. new text end

new text begin (a) A school district may identify students who are behind in
obtaining credits for graduation and refer the students to the pilot program. The district must
provide a student participating in the program access to a school counselor to assist the
student in completing a personal learning plan before starting the program, identifying goals
the student will meet through the program, and updating the personal learning plan after
completing the program to ensure the student has made progress toward obtaining credits
for graduation.
new text end

new text begin (b) A school district must not require a student to participate in the pilot program.
new text end

new text begin (c) A school district is eligible for $....... for each student who successfully completes
credits needed for graduation through the pilot program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin University of Minnesota. new text end

new text begin (a) The University of Minnesota must collaborate
with districts that refer students to the pilot program to ensure students are able to access
the coursework necessary to obtain credits for graduation.
new text end

new text begin (b) The University of Minnesota must report to the chairs and ranking minority members
of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education
and higher education on the results of the pilot program, including the number of students
that participated and the number of credits they obtained each summer. The University of
Minnesota must submit the report no later than December 15, 2027, in accordance with
Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195.
new text end

Sec. 13. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal years
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin University of Minnesota pilot program. new text end

new text begin (a) For transfer to the University of
Minnesota for the credit recovery pilot program:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2026 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2027 new text end

new text begin (b) This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Voluntary integration and inclusion program. new text end

new text begin (a) For the voluntary integration
and inclusion program under Minnesota Statutes, section 124F.03:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2026 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2027 new text end

new text begin (b) Of the amounts appropriated, $....... is reserved for the Department of Education for
administration. The base appropriation for fiscal year 2028 and later is $........
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Voluntary metro-wide interdistrict integration program. new text end

new text begin (a) For the voluntary
metro-wide interdistrict integration program under Minnesota Statutes, section 124F.04:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2026 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2027 new text end

new text begin (b) Of the amounts appropriated, $....... is reserved for the Department of Education for
administration. The base appropriation for fiscal year 2028 and later is $........
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Diverse magnet school program. new text end

new text begin (a) For the diverse magnet school program
under Minnesota Statutes, section 124F.05:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2026 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2027 new text end

new text begin (b) Of the amounts appropriated, $....... annually is for the Magnet Innovation Oversight
Board for administration.
new text end

new text begin (c) Of the amounts appropriated, $....... is for the Department of Education for
administration. The base appropriation for fiscal year 2028 and later is $........
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Evidence-based strategies and family information system. new text end

new text begin (a) For the
evidence-based strategies and family information system under Minnesota Statutes, section
124F.06:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2026 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2027 new text end

new text begin (b) Of the amounts appropriated, the Department of Education may retain up to ... percent
for administration.
new text end

Sec. 14. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin (a) new text end new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 124D.861; 124D.862; and 124D.896, new text end new text begin are repealed
effective June 30, 2026.
new text end

new text begin (b) new text end new text begin Minnesota Rules, parts 3535.0100; 3535.0110; 3535.0120; 3535.0130; 3535.0140;
3535.0150; 3535.0160; 3535.0170; and 3535.0180, new text end new text begin are repealed effective June 30, 2026.
new text end

APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 25-04965

124D.861 ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEGRATION FOR MINNESOTA.

Subdivision 1.

Program to close the academic achievement and opportunity gap; revenue uses.

(a) The "Achievement and Integration for Minnesota" program is established to pursue racial and economic integration and increase student academic achievement, create equitable educational opportunities, and reduce academic disparities based on students' diverse racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds in Minnesota public schools.

(b) For purposes of this section and section 124D.862, "eligible district" means a district required to submit a plan to the commissioner under Minnesota Rules governing school desegregation and integration, or be a member of a multidistrict integration collaborative that files a plan with the commissioner.

(c) Eligible districts must use the revenue under section 124D.862 to pursue academic achievement and racial and economic integration through:

(1) integrated learning environments that give students improved and equitable access to effective and more diverse teachers, prepare all students to be effective citizens, and enhance social cohesion;

(2) policies and curricula and trained instructors, administrators, school counselors, and other advocates to support and enhance integrated learning environments under this section, including through magnet schools, innovative, research-based instruction, differentiated instruction, improved and equitable access to effective and diverse teachers, and targeted interventions to improve achievement; and

(3) rigorous career and college readiness programs and effective and more diverse instructors for underserved student populations, consistent with section 120B.307; integrated learning environments to increase student academic achievement; cultural fluency, competency, and interaction; graduation and educational attainment rates; and parent involvement.

(d) Consistent with paragraph (c), eligible districts may adopt policies to increase the diversity of district teachers and administrators using the revenue under section 124D.862 for recruitment, retention, and hiring incentives or additional compensation.

Subd. 2.

Plan implementation; components.

(a) The school board of each eligible district must formally develop and implement a long-term plan under this section. The plan must be incorporated into the district's comprehensive strategic plan under section 120B.11.

(b) The plan must contain goals for:

(1) reducing the disparities in academic achievement and in equitable access to effective and more diverse teachers among all students and specific categories of students under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), excluding the student categories of gender, disability, and English learners; and

(2) increasing racial and economic diversity and integration in schools and districts.

(c) The plan must include strategies to validate, affirm, embrace, and integrate cultural and community strengths of all students, families, and employees in the district's curriculum as well as learning and work environments. The plan must address issues of institutional racism as defined in section 120B.11, subdivision 1, in schools that create opportunity and achievement gaps for students, families, and staff who are of color or who are American Indian. Examples of institutional racism experienced by students who are of color or who are American Indian include policies and practices that intentionally or unintentionally result in disparate discipline referrals and suspension, inequitable access to advanced coursework, overrepresentation in lower-level coursework, inequitable participation in cocurricular activities, inequitable parent involvement, and lack of equitable access to racially and ethnically diverse teachers who reflect the racial or ethnic diversity of students because it has not been a priority to hire or retain such teachers.

(d) School districts must use local data, to the extent practicable, to develop plan components and strategies. Plans may include:

(1) innovative and integrated prekindergarten through grade 12 learning environments that offer students school enrollment choices;

(2) family engagement initiatives that involve families in their students' academic life and success and improve relations between home and school;

(3) opportunities for students, families, staff, and community members who are of color or American Indian to share their experiences in the school setting with school staff and administration and to inform the development of specific proposals for making school environments more validating, affirming, embracing, and integrating of their cultural and community strengths;

(4) professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators focused on improving the academic achievement of all students, including knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to be antiracist and culturally sustaining as defined in section 120B.11, subdivision 1, for serving students who are from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds;

(5) recruitment and retention of teachers, administrators, cultural and family liaisons, paraprofessionals, and other staff from racial, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds represented in the student population to strengthen relationships with all students, families, and other members of the community;

(6) collection, examination, and evaluation of academic and discipline data for institutional racism as defined in section 120B.11, subdivision 1, in structures, policies, and practices that result in the education disparities, in order to propose antiracist changes as defined in section 120B.11, subdivision 1, that increase access, meaningful participation, representation, and positive outcomes for students of color and American Indian students;

(7) increased programmatic opportunities and effective and more diverse instructors focused on rigor and college and career readiness for students who are impacted by racial, gender, linguistic, and economic disparities, including students enrolled in area learning centers or alternative learning programs under section 123A.05, state-approved alternative programs under section 126C.05, subdivision 15, and contract alternative programs under section 124D.69, among other underserved students;

(8) instruction in ethnic studies, as defined in section 120B.25, to provide all students with opportunities to learn about their own and others' cultures and historical experiences; or

(9) examination and revision of district curricula in all subjects to be inclusive of diverse racial and ethnic groups while meeting state academic standards and being culturally sustaining as defined in section 120B.11, subdivision 1, ensuring content being studied about any group is accurate and based in knowledge from that group.

(e) Among other requirements, an eligible district must implement effective, research-based interventions that include multiple measures of assessment and engagement in order to eliminate academic disparities for students impacted by racial, gender, linguistic, and economic inequities as aligned with section 120B.11.

(f) Eligible districts must create efficiencies and eliminate duplicative programs and services under this section, which may include forming collaborations or a single, seven-county metropolitan areawide partnership of eligible districts for this purpose.

Subd. 3.

Public engagement; progress report and budget process.

(a) To receive revenue under section 124D.862, the school board of an eligible district must incorporate school and district plan components under section 120B.11 into the district's comprehensive integration plan.

(b) A school board must hold at least one formal annual hearing to publicly report its progress in realizing the goals identified in its plan. At the hearing, the board must provide the public with longitudinal data demonstrating district and school progress in reducing the disparities in student academic performance among the specified categories of students, in improving students' equitable access to effective and more diverse teachers, and in realizing racial and economic diversity and integration, consistent with the district plan and the measures in paragraph (a). At least 30 days before the formal hearing under this paragraph, the board must post its plan, its preliminary analysis, relevant student performance data, and other longitudinal data on the district's website. A district must hold one hearing to meet the hearing requirements of both this section and section 120B.11.

(c) The district must submit a detailed budget to the commissioner by March 15 in the year before it implements its plan. The commissioner must review, and approve or disapprove the district's budget by June 1 of that year.

(d) The longitudinal data required under paragraph (b) must be based on student growth and progress in reading and mathematics, as defined under section 120B.303, and student performance data and achievement reports from fully adaptive reading and mathematics assessments for grades 3 through 7 beginning in the 2015-2016 school year under section 120B.302, and either (i) school enrollment choices, (ii) the number of world language proficiency or high achievement certificates awarded under section 120B.022, subdivision 1a, or the number of state bilingual and multilingual seals issued under section 120B.022, subdivision 1b, or (iii) school safety and students' engagement and connection at school under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (d). Additional longitudinal data may be based on: students' progress toward career and college readiness under section 120B.307; or rigorous coursework completed under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (2).

Subd. 4.

Timeline and implementation.

A board must approve its plan and submit it to the department by March 15. If a district that is part of a multidistrict council applies for revenue for a plan, the individual district shall not receive revenue unless it ratifies the plan adopted by the multidistrict council. Each plan has a term of three years. For the 2014-2015 school year, an eligible district under this section must submit its plan to the commissioner for review by March 15, 2014. For the 2013-2014 school year only, an eligible district may continue to implement its current plan until the commissioner approves a new plan under this section.

Subd. 5.

Evaluation.

The commissioner must evaluate the efficacy of district plans in reducing the disparities in student academic performance among the specified categories of students within the district, improving students' equitable access to effective and diverse teachers, and in realizing racial and economic diversity and integration. The commissioner shall report evaluation results to the kindergarten through grade 12 education committees of the legislature by February 1 of every odd-numbered year.

124D.862 ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEGRATION REVENUE.

Subdivision 1.

Initial achievement and integration revenue.

(a) An eligible district's initial achievement and integration revenue equals the lesser of 100.3 percent of the district's expenditures under the budget approved by the commissioner under section 124D.861, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), excluding expenditures used to generate incentive revenue under subdivision 2, or the sum of (1) $350 times the district's adjusted pupil units for that year times the ratio of the district's enrollment of protected students for the previous school year to total enrollment for the previous school year and (2) the greater of zero or 66 percent of the difference between the district's integration revenue for fiscal year 2013 and the district's integration revenue for fiscal year 2014 under clause (1).

(b) In each year, an amount equal to 0.3 percent of each district's initial achievement and integration revenue for the second prior fiscal year is transferred to the department for the oversight and accountability activities required under this section and section 124D.861.

Subd. 2.

Incentive revenue.

An eligible school district's maximum incentive revenue equals $10 per adjusted pupil unit. A district's incentive revenue equals the lesser of the maximum incentive revenue or the district's expenditures for implementing a voluntary plan to reduce racial and economic enrollment disparities through intradistrict and interdistrict activities that have been approved as a part of the district's achievement and integration plan under the budget approved by the commissioner under section 124D.861, subdivision 3, paragraph (c).

Subd. 3.

Achievement and integration revenue.

Achievement and integration revenue equals the sum of initial achievement and integration revenue and incentive revenue.

Subd. 4.

Achievement and integration aid.

For fiscal year 2015 and later, a district's achievement and integration aid equals 70 percent of its achievement and integration revenue.

Subd. 5.

Achievement and integration levy.

A district's achievement and integration levy equals its achievement and integration revenue times 30 percent. For Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis; Independent School District No. 625, St. Paul; and Independent School District No. 709, Duluth, 100 percent of the levy certified under this subdivision is shifted into the prior calendar year for purposes of sections 123B.75, subdivision 5, and 127A.441.

Subd. 6.

Revenue uses.

(a) At least 80 percent of a district's achievement and integration revenue received under this section must be used for innovative and integrated learning environments, school enrollment choices, family engagement activities, and other approved programs providing direct services to students.

(b) Up to 20 percent of the revenue may be used for professional development and staff development activities and placement services.

(c) No more than ten percent of the total amount of revenue may be spent on administrative services.

Subd. 7.

Revenue reserved.

Integration revenue received under this section must be reserved and used only for the programs authorized in subdivision 2.

Subd. 8.

Commissioner authority to withhold revenue.

(a) The commissioner must review the results of each district's integration and achievement plan by August 1 at the end of the third year of implementing the plan and determine if the district met its goals.

(b) If a district met its goals, it may submit a new three-year plan to the commissioner for review.

(c) If a district has not met its goals, the commissioner must:

(1) guide the district in the development of an improvement plan and timeline that identifies strategies and practices designed to meet the district's goals under this section and section 120B.11; and

(2) use up to 20 percent of the district's integration revenue, until the district's goals are reached, to implement the improvement plan.

124D.896 DESEGREGATION/INTEGRATION AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION RULES.

(a) The commissioner shall propose rules relating to desegregation/integration and inclusive education, consistent with sections 124D.861 and 124D.862.

(b) In adopting a rule related to school desegregation/integration, the commissioner shall address the need for equal educational opportunities for all students and racial balance as defined by the commissioner.

Repealed Minnesota Rule: 25-04965

3535.0100 PURPOSE.

The purpose of parts 3535.0100 to 3535.0180 is to:

A.

recognize that the primary goal of public education is to enable all students to have opportunities to achieve academic success;

B.

reaffirm the state of Minnesota's commitment to the importance of integration in its public schools;

C.

recognize that while there are societal benefits from schools that are racially balanced, there are many factors which can impact the ability of school districts to provide racially balanced schools, including housing, jobs, and transportation;

D.

recognize that providing parents a choice regarding where their children should attend school is an important component of Minnesota's education policy;

E.

recognize that there are parents for whom having their children attend integrated schools is an essential component of their children's education;

F.

prevent segregation, as defined in part 3535.0110, subpart 9, in public schools;

G.

encourage districts to provide opportunities for students to attend schools that are racially balanced when compared to other schools within the district;

H.

provide a system that identifies the presence of racially isolated districts and encourage adjoining districts to work cooperatively to improve cross-district integration, while giving parents and students meaningful choices; and

I.

work with rules that address academic achievement, including graduation standards under chapter 3501 and inclusive education under part 3500.0550, by providing equitable access to resources.

3535.0110 DEFINITIONS.

Subpart 1.

Scope.

As used in parts 3535.0100 to 3535.0180, the terms defined in this part have the meanings given them.

Subp. 2.

Enrolled American Indian students.

"Enrolled American Indian students" means students who live on or off a reservation and are enrolled in a federally recognized tribe. Enrolled American Indian students have dual status as protected students under subpart 4 and members of sovereign nations.

Subp. 3.

Commissioner.

"Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department of Education.

Subp. 4.

Protected students.

"Protected students" means:

A.

students who self-identify or are identified in the general racial categories of African/Black Americans, Asian/Pacific Americans, Chicano/Latino Americans, and American Indian/Alaskan Native; and

B.

multiracial students who self-identify or are identified as having origins in more than one of the categories described in item A or as having origins in one of the categories described in item A and in the category of Caucasian.

Subp. 5.

Racial balance.

"Racial balance" means the increased interaction of protected students and white students within schools and between districts that is consistent with the purposes of parts 3535.0160 to 3535.0180.

Subp. 6.

Racially identifiable school within a district.

"Racially identifiable school within a district" means a school where the enrollment of protected students at the school within a district is more than 20 percentage points above the enrollment of protected students in the entire district for the grade levels served by that school.

Subp. 7.

Racially isolated school district.

"Racially isolated school district" means a district where the districtwide enrollment of protected students exceeds the enrollment of protected students of any adjoining district by more than 20 percentage points.

Subp. 8.

School.

"School" means a site in a public school district serving any of kindergarten through grade 12. For purposes of parts 3535.0160 to 3535.0180 only, school does not mean:

A.

charter schools under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124E;

B.

area learning centers under Minnesota Statutes, section 123A.05;

C.

public alternative programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 126C.05, subdivision 15;

D.

contracted alternative programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.69;

E.

school sites specifically designed to address limited English proficiency;

F.

school sites specifically designed to address the needs of students with an individualized education program (IEP); and

G.

secure and nonsecure treatment facilities licensed by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Corrections.

Subp. 9.

Segregation.

"Segregation" means the intentional act or acts by a school district that has the discriminatory purpose of causing a student to attend or not attend particular programs or schools within the district on the basis of the student's race and that causes a concentration of protected students at a particular school.

A.

It is not segregation for a concentration of protected students or white students to exist within schools or school districts:

(1)

if the concentration is not the result of intentional acts motivated by a discriminatory purpose;

(2)

if the concentration occurs at schools providing equitable educational opportunities based on the factors identified in part 3535.0130, subpart 2; and

(3)

if the concentration of protected students has occurred as the result of choices by parents, students, or both.

B.

In addition to the factors in item A, it is not segregation for concentrations of enrolled American Indian students to exist within schools or school districts:

(1)

if the concentration exists as a result of attempting to meet the unique academic and culturally related educational needs of enrolled American Indian students through programs developed pursuant to the federal government's trust relationship with American Indian tribes or through an agreement with an American Indian tribal government; and

(2)

the concentration exists as the result of voluntary choices made by American Indian parents, enrolled American Indian students, or both.

3535.0120 DUTIES OF DISTRICTS.

Subpart 1.

Report.

A school district shall annually submit to the commissioner, concerning each school site within its district, a report that includes:

A.

the racial composition of each school within its district; and

B.

the racial composition of the grade levels served by each of the schools.

The report shall be submitted according to the Minnesota Automated Reporting Student System (MARSS) deadlines as established annually by the commissioner and noticed to all districts.

Subp. 2.

Data collection.

A district shall collect for all students except American Indian students in subpart 3, the information required in subpart 1 by using one of the following racial identification procedures in the following order:

A.

parent or guardian identification;

B.

age-appropriate student self-identification, when parent or guardian identification is not an option;

C.

if parent, guardian, or student self-identification methods are not possible, sight counts administered by the principal or designee, pursuant to written guidelines developed by the district.

Subp. 3.

American Indian students.

In districts where the American Indian population is ten or more students, the parent education committee under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.78, subdivision 1, in consultation with the American Indian parents the committee represents, may select as their identification procedure one of the following:

A.

parent or guardian self-identification;

B.

the process for identification specified in United States Code, title 20, section 7491; or

C.

the racial identification procedure used by the district for other students.

3535.0130 DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER.

Subpart 1.

Review of data.

The commissioner shall review the data provided by a school district under part 3535.0120 within 60 days of its receipt. If the commissioner determines that there is a racially identifiable school within a district, or if the commissioner receives a complaint alleging that a district is engaged in acts of segregation, the commissioner shall request further information to determine whether the racial composition at the school or schools in question results from acts motivated at least in part by a discriminatory purpose. The commissioner's finding of a discriminatory purpose must be based on one or more of the following except that the commissioner shall not rely solely on item D or E, or both:

A.

the historical background of the acts which led to the racial composition of the school, including whether the acts reveal a series of official actions taken for discriminatory purposes;

B.

whether the specific sequence of events resulting in the school's racial composition reveals a discriminatory purpose;

C.

departures from the normal substantive or procedural sequence of decision making, as evidenced, for example, by the legislative or administrative history of the acts in question, especially if there are contemporary statements by district officials, or minutes or reports of meetings that demonstrate a discriminatory purpose;

D.

whether the racial composition of the school is the result of acts which disadvantage one race more than another, as evidenced, for example, when protected students are bused further or more frequently than white students; and

E.

whether the racially identifiable composition of the school was predictable given the policies or practices of the district.

Subp. 2.

District information.

In order to determine whether a racially identifiable school exists as the result of acts motivated by a discriminatory purpose, the commissioner shall request and the district shall provide the following information related to the factors described in subpart 1:

A.

information about how students are assigned to schools within the district, including:

(1)

for schools which have been newly added or renovated or if attendance zones have changed, a description of what the attendance zones were and what the racial composition of each zone was at the time the school was planned and added or renovated;

(2)

a description of the assignment and transfer options at each of the schools serving the grade levels in question, and the outreach efforts that were made to ensure parents received information about and were able to understand the availability of those options; and

(3)

a comparison of the racial composition of the attendance area of the school in question as it relates to the composition of the district as a whole;

B.

a list of curricular offerings;

C.

a list of the extracurricular options available at each of the schools serving the grade levels in question;

D.

a list that breaks down, by race and school, the teachers assigned to all of the schools serving the grade levels in question and, considering the average percentage of teachers of color in the district, an explanation of any concentration of teachers of color assigned at a school at issue;

E.

a list that shows how the qualifications and experience of the teachers at the racially identifiable school compares to teachers at the sites which are not racially identifiable;

F.

evidence that the racially identifiable school has been provided financial resources on an equitable basis with other schools which are not racially identifiable;

G.

a comparison of the facilities, materials, and equipment at the racially identifiable school with schools that are not racially identifiable;

H.

information that would allow the commissioner to determine whether the extent of busing is disproportionate between white students and protected students; and

I.

any nondiscriminatory circumstances that explain why a particular school has exceeded the districtwide enrollment of protected students by more than 20 percentage points.

Subp. 3.

Integrated alternatives.

If the enrollment of protected students at a school is more than 25 percent above the enrollment of protected students in the entire district, or if the enrollment of protected students exceeds 90 percent at any given school, whichever is less, the district must provide affirmative evidence to the commissioner that all students in that school have alternatives to attend schools with a protected student enrollment that is comparable to the districtwide average.

3535.0140 RESPONSE OF DISTRICTS.

School districts shall respond to the commissioner's request for information under part 3535.0130 within 60 days of its receipt. If supplemental information is requested by the commissioner, the district must respond within 30 days of the receipt of the request.

3535.0150 DEVELOPMENT OF PLAN FOR MANDATORY DESEGREGATION; ENFORCEMENT.

Subpart 1.

District plan.

If the commissioner determines that segregation exists, the district shall provide a plan within 60 days that proposes how it shall remedy the segregation. The plan shall address the specific actions that were found by the commissioner to contribute to the segregation. The plan shall be developed in consultation with the commissioner. If the commissioner rejects any or all of the plan, the commissioner shall provide technical assistance to help the district revise the plan. However, if the district and the commissioner cannot agree on a plan within 45 days after the original plan was rejected, the commissioner shall develop a revised plan to remedy the segregation that the district shall implement in the time frame specified by the commissioner. A finding of segregation, or a finding that the district's initial plan is inadequate, shall be based on written findings of fact and conclusions of law issued by the commissioner.

Subp. 2.

Remedy.

If the commissioner has made a finding of segregation, student assignments based on race that are made to remedy the finding of segregation are permissible in a plan for mandatory desegregation, so long as they are narrowly tailored to remedy the act of segregation.

Subp. 3.

Extension.

The commissioner may extend the time for response from a district under parts 3535.0140 and 3535.0150 if compliance with the deadline for response would impose an undue hardship on the district, for example, if the information is not easily ascertainable or the plan requires a complex remedy that includes consultation with outside sources.

Subp. 4.

Enforcement of desegregation.

If the district fails to submit data required by the commissioner, fails to provide or implement a plan to remedy the segregation, or fails to implement a plan developed by the commissioner as provided in subpart 1, the commissioner must:

A.

notify the district that its aid shall be reduced pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.42;

B.

refer the finding of segregation to the Department of Human Rights for investigation and enforcement; and

C.

report the district's actions to the education committees of the legislature by March 15 of the next legislative session with recommendations for financial or other appropriate sanctions.

3535.0160 INTEGRATION OF RACIALLY IDENTIFIABLE SCHOOLS NOT THE RESULT OF SEGREGATION.

Subpart 1.

Notice to district of plan including voluntary measures.

A.

If a racially identifiable school reviewed under part 3535.0130 is not the result of segregation, the district shall be notified that it must develop and submit a plan to the commissioner for review that provides options to help integrate the racially identifiable school. The format of the plan shall be determined by the commissioner.

B.

A racially identifiable school is not required to develop and submit a plan if the school is racially identifiable only as a result of:

(1)

a concentration of enrolled American Indian students that exists as a result of attempting to meet the unique academic and culturally related educational needs of enrolled American Indian students through programs developed pursuant to the federal government's trust relationship with American Indian tribes or through an agreement with an American Indian tribal government; and

(2)

the concentration exists as the result of voluntary choices made by American Indian parents, enrolled American Indian students, or both.

A racially identifiable school with a concentration of enrolled American Indian students is required to develop and submit a plan if the school is also racially identifiable as a result of the enrollment of other protected students excluding the enrollment of American Indian students.

Subp. 2.

Community collaboration council.

The district shall establish and use a community collaboration council to assist in developing the district's plan under this part. The council shall be reasonably representative of the diversity of the district. In communities with ten or more American Indian students, representation from the American Indian parent committee under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.78 is required on the community collaboration council. If a district has an existing committee whose composition reasonably reflects the diversity of the district, for example, school site councils or district curriculum advisory councils, that committee may be used to provide the planning required by this part. The community collaboration council shall identify ways of creating increased opportunities for interracial contact, and establish goals for meeting this objective. After identifying these opportunities and goals, the council shall develop a plan for integration at each school that may include, for example, options under subpart 3.

Subp. 3.

District plan.

A.

After receiving the plan required under subpart 2 from its community collaboration council, the district shall provide a plan to the commissioner that describes how the goal of increased opportunities for interracial contact between students will be met, and the integration efforts the district plans to implement at each racially identifiable school. The plan shall be written and adopted by the end of the academic year in which the district received notice under subpart 1, or six months later, whichever is longer. The plan shall include:

(1)

the extent of community outreach that preceded the plan;

(2)

integration issues identified;

(3)

action goals of the integration effort;

(4)

how the action goals will be or are being accomplished.

B.

All plans under this part must be educationally justifiable and contain options for intradistrict integration that may include, for example:

(1)

duplicating programs that have demonstrated success in improving student learning at schools that are racially identifiable;

(2)

providing incentives to help balance racially identifiable schools, for example, providing:

(a)

incentives to low-income students to transfer to schools that are not racially identifiable;

(b)

transportation; and

(c)

interdistrict opportunities and collaborative efforts with other districts;

(3)

providing incentives to teachers to improve the distribution of teachers of all races at schools across the district, including:

(a)

staff development opportunities;

(b)

strategies for attracting and retaining staff who serve as role models; and

(c)

strategies for attracting and retaining staff who have a record of success in teaching protected students, low-income students, or both;

(4)

greater promotion of programs provided at racially identifiable schools designed to attract a wide range of students;

(5)

providing smaller class sizes, greater counseling and support services, and more extracurricular opportunities and other resources at racially identifiable schools as compared to schools that are not racially identifiable or at schools with a higher concentration of low-income students; and

(6)

providing programs promoting instruction about different cultures, including options uniquely relevant to American Indian students, including, for example, American Indian language and culture programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.74.

The format of the integration plan shall be consistent with, and if possible included into, a district's comprehensive plan.

Subp. 4.

Commissioner's duties.

A.

The commissioner shall:

(1)

evaluate any plans developed under this part at the end of each academic year after which a plan is implemented to determine whether the collaboration plan was implemented and whether the goals have been substantially met;

(2)

each academic year after a plan is implemented, report to the house and senate education committees any reduction in the percentage of protected students at racially identifiable schools; and

(3)

each academic year after a plan is implemented, report to the house and senate education committees if the enrollment of protected students remains constant or increases at racially identifiable schools.

B.

The commissioner may recommend financial incentives that are aimed at compensating or rewarding districts for programs or activities that have been successful.

C.

The commissioner may recommend legislative action to address the condition of racially identifiable schools within the district.

Subp. 5.

Timeline.

Each integration plan shall remain in place for three years from the date of review by the commissioner, unless earlier modified by the district and reviewed by the commissioner. Schools that are newly identified as racially identifiable or that were included in a plan under this part but remain racially identifiable after three years from the date of review by the commissioner shall be subject to the procedures outlined in parts 3535.0130 to 3535.0160.

Subp. 6.

Schools that did not meet earlier goals.

Schools that were included in a plan under this part but remain racially identifiable after three years from the date of review by the commissioner shall work in consultation with the commissioner to develop a new plan that shall include an analysis of why the previous plan did not achieve its goals, a list and explanation of new or continuing barriers to achieving the plan's goals, and a new plan and rationale for achieving the goals of the plan.

3535.0170 INTEGRATION OF RACIALLY ISOLATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

Subpart 1.

Evaluation.

A.

The commissioner shall annually evaluate the enrollment of protected students in each district to determine whether the district as a whole is racially isolated. If the commissioner determines that a district is racially isolated, as defined in part 3535.0110, subpart 7, the commissioner shall immediately notify the district and its adjoining districts. The commissioner may also send notice to other districts that are not adjoining if the commissioner determines that it would be geographically feasible for such districts to participate in cross-district planning. Districts that are not adjoining may choose whether to participate in the cross-district planning.

B.

A racially isolated district shall not be required to follow subparts 2 to 8 if the district is isolated only as a result of the enrollment of American Indian students whose unique academic and culturally related educational needs are being addressed by district programs and the district has established a parent committee under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.78. A district racially isolated as a result of the enrollment of American Indian students shall be required to follow subparts 2 to 8, if the district is also racially isolated as a result of the enrollment of other protected students excluding the enrollment of American Indian students.

Subp. 2.

Establishment of multidistrict collaboration council.

Upon receiving notice under subpart 1, the isolated and adjoining districts shall establish a multidistrict collaboration council, as provided in subpart 3, to develop a plan under this part. The council shall work as provided under subpart 5 to identify ways to offer cross-district opportunities to improve integration.

Subp. 3.

Membership of multidistrict collaboration council.

Each isolated district and each of its adjoining districts shall appoint individuals to participate in the multidistrict collaboration council. The council shall be reasonably representative of the diversity of the participating districts. If any of the participating districts have an American Indian parent committee formed under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.78, a representative of those committees shall also be appointed.

Subp. 4.

Alternatives to a multidistrict collaboration council.

A.

Participating districts that are members of joint powers boards that have advisory councils meeting the requirements of subpart 3 may use those joint powers boards and advisory councils in lieu of creating a new council under subpart 2.

B.

Participating districts that have an existing committee whose composition reflects the membership requirements of subpart 3, may use this committee in lieu of creating a new council under subpart 2.

Subp. 5.

Council cooperation and plan.

The multidistrict collaboration council shall identify ways of creating increased opportunities for interracial contact and establish goals for meeting this objective. After identifying these opportunities and goals, the council shall develop a joint collaboration plan for cross-district integration that may include the incentives contained in subpart 6, item B.

Subp. 6.

District plan.

A.

After receiving the plan required in subpart 5 from its council, each district shall review, modify if necessary, and ratify the integration plan. Each district shall provide a plan to the commissioner that describes how the goal of greater opportunities for interracial contact between students will be met and that describes the interdistrict integration efforts the district plans to implement. The plan shall be completed and ratified no longer than 12 months after the district receives notice under part 3535.0180, subpart 1. The plan shall include:

(1)

the extent of community outreach that preceded the interdistrict plan;

(2)

cross-district integration issues identified;

(3)

goals of the integration effort; and

(4)

how the goals will be or are being accomplished.

B.

All collaboration plans under this part must be educationally justifiable and contain options for interdistrict integration that may include, for example:

(1)

providing cooperative transportation that helps balance racially isolated districts;

(2)

providing incentives for low-income students to transfer to districts that are not racially isolated;

(3)

developing cooperative magnet programs or schools designed to increase racial balance in the affected districts;

(4)

designing cooperative programs to enhance the experience of students of all races and from all backgrounds and origins;

(5)

providing cooperative efforts to recruit teachers of color, and encouraging teacher exchanges, parent exchanges, and cooperative staff development programs;

(6)

encouraging shared extracurricular opportunities, including, for example, community education programs that promote understanding, respect, and interaction among diverse community populations; and

(7)

documenting, in districts with ten or more American Indian students, how American Indian students are able to participate in program options uniquely relevant to American Indian students, including, for example, language and culture programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.74, and how the students may participate in the district's voluntary integration efforts.

Subp. 7.

Limits on participation in multidistrict collaboration councils.

Notwithstanding subpart 2:

A.

an isolated school district shall not be required to be part of two or more collaboration councils;

B.

adjoining districts shall not be required to be part of two or more collaboration councils;

C.

two adjoining racially isolated school districts shall not be required to participate together on the same collaboration council;

D.

if a racially isolated district is a member of a joint powers board under subpart 4, its adjoining districts shall not be required to participate on the joint powers board; and

E.

if an adjoining district is a racially isolated district exempted from subparts 2 to 8 under subpart 1, item B, the district shall not be required to be part of an interdistrict collaboration council and shall not be required to provide a plan of interdistrict integration efforts to the commissioner.

Subp. 8.

Timeline for reports.

Once a multidistrict collaboration plan has been filed with the commissioner, it does not need to be renewed for a period of four years from the date of filing.

3535.0180 EVALUATION OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS.

The commissioner shall biennially evaluate the results of collaborative efforts under part 3535.0170 to determine whether the collaboration plan was implemented and whether the action goals have been substantially met. After reviewing the results, the commissioner shall report to the house and senate education committees whether a district implemented its collaboration plan and substantially met its action goals. The commissioner may also make recommendations for appropriate legislative action.