1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education finance; establishing a 
  1.3             laboratory school to develop innovative teaching 
  1.4             techniques that enhance student learning under the 
  1.5             direction of the Little Falls school district at the 
  1.6             Randall school building in the Little Falls school 
  1.7             district; authorizing the renovation of the Randall 
  1.8             facility; appropriating money.  
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10     Section 1.  [LABORATORY SCHOOL; INNOVATIVE TEACHING 
  1.11  TECHNIQUES.] 
  1.12     Subdivision 1.  [PURPOSE.] The purpose of this section is 
  1.13  to ensure that the school children in kindergarten through grade 
  1.14  5 in the Randall area, elsewhere in the Little Falls school 
  1.15  district, and in all school districts in the state have access 
  1.16  to a high quality, innovative education experience. 
  1.17     Subd. 2.  [JOINT OFFICE ESTABLISHED.] Independent school 
  1.18  district No. 482, Little Falls; the department of children, 
  1.19  families, and learning; Minnesota state colleges and 
  1.20  universities; and St. Cloud State University's school of 
  1.21  education shall establish a joint office to evaluate curriculum, 
  1.22  instruction, and testing.  The office shall be located at the 
  1.23  Dr. S. G. Knight school in Randall.  
  1.24     Subd. 3.  [LABORATORY SCHOOL.] The office, under authority 
  1.25  of independent school district No. 482, Little Falls, shall 
  1.26  operate a laboratory school program for elementary students in 
  1.27  kindergarten through grade 5 at the Dr. S. G. Knight school.  
  2.1   The laboratory school must be used to develop innovative 
  2.2   teaching techniques that enhance students' learning 
  2.3   experiences.  The office must make the innovative teaching 
  2.4   techniques developed at the laboratory school available to all 
  2.5   school districts in the state. 
  2.6      <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective July 1, 2001. 
  2.7      Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.8      (a) $550,000 in fiscal year 2002 and $250,000 in fiscal 
  2.9   year 2003 are appropriated from the general fund to the 
  2.10  commissioner of children, families, and learning for a grant to 
  2.11  independent school district No. 482, Little Falls, for the 
  2.12  expenses associated with operating the Dr. S. G. Knight School 
  2.13  located in Randall.  
  2.14     (b) Up to $300,000 of the amount appropriated in fiscal 
  2.15  year 2002 is for remodeling expenses.  This portion of the grant 
  2.16  is available until expended.