1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; modifying staff development to 
  1.3             include environmental education; amending Minnesota 
  1.4             Statutes 1994, section 126.70, subdivision 2a. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 126.70, 
  1.7   subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 
  1.8      Subd. 2a.  [STAFF DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES.] (a) The staff 
  1.9   development committee shall adopt a staff development plan for 
  1.10  improving student achievement of education outcomes.  The plan 
  1.11  must be consistent with education outcomes that the school board 
  1.12  determines.  The plan shall include activities that enhance 
  1.13  staff skills for achieving the following outcomes: 
  1.14     (1) foster readiness for learning for all pupils; 
  1.15     (2) increase pupils' educational progress by using 
  1.16  appropriate outcomes and personal learning goals and by 
  1.17  encouraging pupils and their parents to assume responsibility 
  1.18  for their education; 
  1.19     (3) meet pupils' individual needs by using alternative 
  1.20  instructional opportunities, accommodations, modifications, 
  1.21  after-school child care programs, and family and community 
  1.22  resources; 
  1.23     (4) effectively meet the needs of children with 
  1.24  disabilities within the regular classroom and other settings by 
  1.25  improving the knowledge of school personnel about the legal and 
  2.1   programmatic requirements affecting students with disabilities, 
  2.2   and by improving staff ability to collaborate, consult with one 
  2.3   another, and resolve conflicts; and 
  2.4      (5) provide equal educational opportunities for all 
  2.5   students that are consistent with the school 
  2.6   desegregation/integration and inclusive education policies 
  2.7   adopted by school districts and approved by the state. 
  2.8      (b) The staff development committee is strongly encouraged 
  2.9   to include in its plan activities for achieving the following 
  2.10  outcomes: 
  2.11     (1) facilitate organizational changes by enabling a 
  2.12  site-based team composed of pupils, parents, school personnel, 
  2.13  representatives of children with disabilities, and community 
  2.14  members who generally reflect the racial composition of the 
  2.15  school to address the pupils' needs; 
  2.16     (2) evaluate the effectiveness of education policies, 
  2.17  processes, and products through appropriate evaluation 
  2.18  procedures that include multiple criteria and indicators; 
  2.19     (3) provide effective mentorship oversight and peer review 
  2.20  of probationary, continuing contract, and nonprobationary 
  2.21  teachers; 
  2.22     (4) assist elementary and secondary students in learning to 
  2.23  resolve conflicts in effective, nonviolent ways; 
  2.24     (5) effectively teach and model violence prevention policy 
  2.25  and curricula that address issues of sexual, racial, and 
  2.26  religious harassment; and 
  2.27     (6) implement the recommendations of the Minnesota 
  2.28  environmental education advisory board as contained in its 1993 
  2.29  report, A GreenPrint for Minnesota:  State Plan for 
  2.30  Environmental Education; and 
  2.31     (7) provide challenging instructional activities and 
  2.32  experiences, including advanced placement and international 
  2.33  baccalaureate programs, that recognize and cultivate students' 
  2.34  advanced abilities and talents.