1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; requiring the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited in English; 
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 121A.11, subdivision 3.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 121A.11, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.6 		Subd. 3.Pledge of Allegiance. (a) All public and charter school students shall 
1.7 	recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America in English one 
1.8 	or more times each week. The recitation shall be conducted:
1.9 	(1) by each individual classroom teacher or the teacher's surrogate; or
1.10 	(2) over a school intercom system by a person designated by the school principal or 
1.11 	other person having administrative control over the school.
1.12 	A local school board or a charter school board of directors may annually, by majority 
1.13 	vote, waive this requirement.
1.14 	(b) Any student or teacher may decline to participate in recitation of the pledge.
1.15 	(c) A school district or charter school that has a student handbook or school policy 
1.16 	guide must include a statement that anyone who does not wish to participate in reciting the 
1.17 	Pledge of Allegiance for any personal reasons may elect not to do so and that students 
1.18 	must respect another person's right to make that choice.
1.19 	(d) A local school board or a charter school board of directors that waives the 
1.20 	requirement to recite the Pledge of Allegiance under paragraph (a) may adopt a district or 
1.21 	school policy regarding the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.