1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; providing for a statewide 
  1.3             system of accountability; permitting a single 
  1.4             statewide form of assessment; creating the educational 
  1.5             accountability center; creating the council on 
  1.6             educational accountability; creating a pilot program 
  1.7             for accountability reporting technology; appropriating 
  1.8             money; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 
  1.9             121.11, subdivision 7c; 121.1115, subdivision 2, and 
  1.10            by adding a subdivision; 123.97; and 123.972, 
  1.11            subdivision 5; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.12            Minnesota Statutes, chapter 4A. 
  1.13  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.14     Section 1.  [4A.08] [EDUCATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER.] 
  1.15     Subdivision 1.  [PURPOSE.] The purpose of the educational 
  1.16  accountability center is to provide independent analysis and 
  1.17  credible information to the public on the condition of 
  1.18  prekindergarten through grade 12 education in the state.  The 
  1.19  center is responsible for maintaining a framework of educational 
  1.20  indicators reported at the state and school district levels.  To 
  1.21  the extent possible, the director shall coordinate data 
  1.22  collection with the necessary state departments to avoid the 
  1.23  duplication of reports. 
  1.24     Subd. 2.  [REPORT.] By October 15 of each odd-numbered 
  1.25  year, the director shall develop and publish a report on the 
  1.26  performance of students and the condition of education in 
  1.27  Minnesota to the extent permitted under chapter 13.  The 
  1.28  director shall send a copy of the report to the commissioner of 
  1.29  children, families, and learning by November 1 of each 
  2.1   odd-numbered year.  The director shall make a copy of the report 
  2.2   available to any interested person for inspection. 
  2.3      Sec. 2.  [4A.082] [COUNCIL ON EDUCATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.] 
  2.4      Subdivision 1.  [CREATION.] A state council on educational 
  2.5   accountability consists of 12 members.  The council shall 
  2.6   annually elect from its membership a chair and other officers it 
  2.7   deems necessary.  The council may organize and appoint 
  2.8   committees as it considers necessary. 
  2.9      Subd. 2.  [MEMBERSHIP.] The council shall consist of the 
  2.10  following members:  one member from each congressional district 
  2.11  appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the 
  2.12  senate; the remaining members are appointed at large by the 
  2.13  governor.  Three of the members must be selected on the basis of 
  2.14  professional experience and knowledge of educational assessment 
  2.15  and measurement.  The membership terms, compensation, removal of 
  2.16  members, and filling vacancies are as provided in section 15.059.
  2.17     Subd. 3.  [DUTIES.] The council must advise the director 
  2.18  and the educational accountability center on the analysis and 
  2.19  reporting of information on the needs of learners and the 
  2.20  condition and progress of the state's educational system.  The 
  2.21  council must advise the state board of education on changes in 
  2.22  measures used to collect essential information and standards for 
  2.23  analysis and reporting. 
  2.24     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.11, 
  2.25  subdivision 7c, is amended to read: 
  2.26     Subd. 7c.  [RESULTS-ORIENTED GRADUATION RULE.] (a) The 
  2.27  legislature is committed to establishing a rigorous, 
  2.28  results-oriented graduation rule for Minnesota's public school 
  2.29  students.  To that end, the state board shall use its rulemaking 
  2.30  authority under subdivision 7b to adopt a statewide, 
  2.31  results-oriented graduation rule to be implemented starting with 
  2.32  students beginning ninth grade in the 1996-1997 school year.  
  2.33  The board shall not prescribe in rule or otherwise the delivery 
  2.34  system~~,~~ or form of instruction~~, or a single statewide form of~~ 
  2.35  ~~assessment~~ that local sites must use to meet the requirements 
  2.36  contained in this rule. 
  3.1      (b) To successfully accomplish paragraph (a), the state 
  3.2   board shall set in rule high academic standards for all 
  3.3   students.  The standards must contain the foundational skills in 
  3.4   the three core curricular areas of reading, writing, and 
  3.5   mathematics while meeting requirements for high school 
  3.6   graduation.  The standards must also provide an opportunity for 
  3.7   students to excel by meeting higher academic standards through a 
  3.8   profile of learning that uses curricular requirements to allow 
  3.9   students to expand their knowledge and skills beyond the 
  3.10  foundational skills.  All state board actions regarding the rule 
  3.11  must be premised on the following:  
  3.12     (1) the rule is intended to raise academic expectations for 
  3.13  students, teachers, and schools; 
  3.14     (2) any state action regarding the rule must evidence 
  3.15  consideration of school district autonomy; and 
  3.16     (3) the department of children, families, and learning, 
  3.17  with the assistance of school districts, must make available 
  3.18  information about all state initiatives related to the rule to 
  3.19  students and parents, teachers, and the general public in a 
  3.20  timely format that is appropriate, comprehensive, and readily 
  3.21  understandable. 
  3.22     (c) For purposes of adopting the rule, the state board, in 
  3.23  consultation with the department, recognized psychometric 
  3.24  experts in assessment, and other interested and knowledgeable 
  3.25  educators, using the most current version of professional 
  3.26  standards for educational testing, shall evaluate the 
  3.27  alternative approaches to assessment.  
  3.28     (d) The content of the graduation rule must differentiate 
  3.29  between minimum competencies reflected in the basic requirements 
  3.30  assessment and rigorous profile of learning standards.  When 
  3.31  fully implemented, the requirements for high school graduation 
  3.32  in Minnesota must include both basic requirements and the 
  3.33  required profile of learning.  The profile of learning must 
  3.34  measure student performance using performance-based assessments 
  3.35  compiled over time that integrate higher academic standards, 
  3.36  higher order thinking skills, and application of knowledge from 
  4.1   a variety of content areas.  The profile of learning shall 
  4.2   include a broad range of academic experience and accomplishment 
  4.3   necessary to achieve the goal of preparing students to function 
  4.4   effectively as purposeful thinkers, effective communicators, 
  4.5   self-directed learners, productive group participants, and 
  4.6   responsible citizens. 
  4.7      (e) The state board shall periodically review and report on 
  4.8   the assessment process and student achievement with the 
  4.9   expectation of raising the standards and expanding high school 
  4.10  graduation requirements. 
  4.11     (f) The state board shall report in writing to the 
  4.12  legislature annually by January 15 on its progress in developing 
  4.13  and implementing the graduation requirements according to the 
  4.14  requirements of this subdivision and section 123.97 until such 
  4.15  time as all the graduation requirements are implemented. 
  4.16     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.1115, 
  4.17  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  4.18     Subd. 2.  [STATISTICAL ADJUSTMENTS.] In developing policies 
  4.19  and assessment processes to hold schools and school districts 
  4.20  accountable for high levels of academic standards, including the 
  4.21  profile of learning, the commissioner shall aggregate student 
  4.22  data over time to report student performance levels measured at 
  4.23  the school district, regional, or statewide level.  When 
  4.24  collecting and reporting the data, the commissioner shall:  (1) 
  4.25  acknowledge the impact of significant demographic factors such 
  4.26  as residential instability, the number of single parent 
  4.27  families, parents' level of education, and parents' income level 
  4.28  on school outcomes; and (2) organize and report the data so that 
  4.29  state and local policymakers can understand the educational 
  4.30  implications of changes in districts' demographic profiles over 
  4.31  time.  Any report the commissioner disseminates containing 
  4.32  summary data on student performance must integrate student 
  4.33  performance and the demographic factors that strongly correlate 
  4.34  with that performance.  The report must include multiple 
  4.35  educational indicators as part of the assessment process.  The 
  4.36  indicators shall assess the status, needs, and achievement of 
  5.1   Minnesota students.  The indicators shall also assess the 
  5.2   characteristics and performance of Minnesota schools and school 
  5.3   districts.  The data must be analyzed and reported to allow for 
  5.4   comparisons on multiple indicators to be made between districts. 
  5.5      Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.1115, is 
  5.6   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  5.7      Subd. 3.  [EDUCATION ASSESSMENT.] Each year, all districts 
  5.8   must give the Minnesota comprehensive assessments to all pupils 
  5.9   in grades 3 and 5.  The test must be given in the spring of each 
  5.10  year consistent with the guidelines established by the 
  5.11  commissioner.  Each year, all districts must give the Minnesota 
  5.12  test of basic skills to all pupils in grade 8.  Each pupil's 
  5.13  test score must be reported in a form required by the 
  5.14  commissioner.  The department must adopt a single, statewide 
  5.15  passing score for pupils taking the Minnesota test of basic 
  5.16  skills.  Districts may support higher standards through 
  5.17  implementation of the profiles of learning, completion of more 
  5.18  challenging courses, or other means determined by the district.  
  5.19  Each year, all districts must give a test selected by the 
  5.20  commissioner to all pupils in grade 11.  The test must be a norm 
  5.21  referenced test.  The test must measure academic achievement in 
  5.22  reading, mathematics, science, language arts, and social 
  5.23  studies.  The department must adopt guidelines for school 
  5.24  districts to report the performance of all students on the 
  5.25  required education assessments.  The department must equate all 
  5.26  pupils' scores on the Minnesota comprehensive assessments and 
  5.27  the Minnesota test of basic skills to a norm referenced test for 
  5.28  grades 3, 5, and 8 selected by the commissioner. 
  5.29     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 123.97, is 
  5.30  amended to read: 
  5.31     123.97 [~~FINDINGS;~~ IMPROVING INSTRUCTION AND CURRICULUM.] 
  5.32     Subdivision 1.  [FINDINGS.] The legislature finds that a 
  5.33  process is needed to enable school boards and communities to 
  5.34  decide matters related to planning, providing, and improving 
  5.35  education instruction and curriculum in the context of the 
  5.36  state's high school graduation standards.  The process should 
  6.1   help districts evaluate the impact of instruction and curriculum 
  6.2   on students' abilities to meet graduation standards, use 
  6.3   evaluation results to improve instruction and curriculum, and 
  6.4   determine services that districts and other public education 
  6.5   entities can provide collaboratively with institutions including 
  6.6   families and private or public organizations and agencies.  The 
  6.7   legislature anticipates that a highly focused public education 
  6.8   strategy will be an integral part of each district's review and 
  6.9   improvement of instruction and curriculum. 
  6.10     Subd. 2.  [PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.] The state board of 
  6.11  education shall adopt a core set of performance indicators for 
  6.12  school districts.  The performance indicators must be published 
  6.13  in each district's annual report under section 123.972, 
  6.14  subdivision 5. 
  6.15     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 123.972, 
  6.16  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  6.17     Subd. 5.  [REPORT.] (a) By October 1 of each year, the 
  6.18  school board shall use standard statewide reporting procedures 
  6.19  the commissioner develops and adopt a report that includes the 
  6.20  following: 
  6.21     (1) student performance goals for meeting state graduation 
  6.22  standards adopted for that year; 
  6.23     (2) results of local assessment data, and any additional 
  6.24  test data; 
  6.25     (3) the annual school district improvement plans; ~~and~~ 
  6.26     (4) information about district and learning site progress 
  6.27  in realizing previously adopted improvement plans; and 
  6.28     (5) the accomplishments and activities affecting the 
  6.29  district's performance goals, including district retention 
  6.30  rates, student performance information by the school site to the 
  6.31  extent permitted under chapter 13, and all items required under 
  6.32  state rule. 
  6.33     (b) The school board shall publish the report in the local 
  6.34  newspaper with the largest circulation in the district or by 
  6.35  mail.  The board shall make a copy of the report available to 
  6.36  the public for inspection.  The board shall send a copy of the 
  7.1   report to the commissioner of children, families, and learning 
  7.2   by October 15 of each year. 
  7.3      (c) The title of the report shall contain the name and 
  7.4   number of the school district and read "Annual Report on 
  7.5   Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Performance."  The report 
  7.6   must include at least the following information about advisory 
  7.7   committee membership: 
  7.8      (1) the name of each committee member and the date when 
  7.9   that member's term expires; 
  7.10     (2) the method and criteria the school board uses to select 
  7.11  committee members; and 
  7.12     (3) the date by which a community resident must apply to 
  7.13  next serve on the committee. 
  7.14     Sec. 8.  [ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTING TECHNOLOGY PILOT 
  7.15  PROGRAM.] 
  7.16     An accountability reporting technology pilot program is 
  7.17  established.  The pilot program will allow participating 
  7.18  districts to develop integrated local reporting systems and 
  7.19  advanced forms of technology for the transfer of data leading to 
  7.20  the improvement of the technology infrastructure in implementing 
  7.21  statewide accountability systems.  The commissioner of children, 
  7.22  families, and learning shall select at least ten school 
  7.23  districts for pilot program sites.  The commissioner shall 
  7.24  select at least one district from within the geographical 
  7.25  boundaries of each of the ten service cooperatives.  Each pilot 
  7.26  program site is required to provide a local match in an amount 
  7.27  determined by the commissioner. 
  7.28     Sec. 9.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
  7.29     Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
  7.30  LEARNING.] The following sums are appropriated from the general 
  7.31  fund to the commissioner of children, families, and learning, 
  7.32  unless otherwise indicated, for the fiscal years designated. 
  7.33     Subd. 2.  [EDUCATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER.] To establish 
  7.34  the educational accountability center, the following sums are 
  7.35  appropriated to the office of strategic and long-range planning: 
  7.36       $650,000     .....     1998 
  8.1        $669,500     .....     1999 
  8.2      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
  8.3   available for the second year. 
  8.4      Subd. 3.  [ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT EQUATING STUDIES.] To 
  8.5   perform studies to equate state tests to a nationally normed 
  8.6   test at grades 3, 5, and 8 in Minnesota Statutes, section 
  8.7   121.1115, subdivision 2: 
  8.8        $300,000     .....     1998 
  8.9        $309,000     .....     1999 
  8.10     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
  8.11  available for the second year. 
  8.12     Subd. 4.  [CORE PERFORMANCE AREAS.] To perform studies to 
  8.13  select a core set of performance indicators in Minnesota 
  8.14  Statutes, section 123.97: 
  8.15       $500,000     .....     1998 
  8.16       $500,000     .....     1999 
  8.17     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
  8.18  available in the second year. 
  8.19     Subd. 5.  [ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTING TECHNOLOGY PILOT 
  8.20  PROGRAM.] For the pilot program established in section 8, 
  8.21  including some costs of new equipment and software: 
  8.22       $1,500,000     .....     1998 
  8.23       $1,545,000     .....     1999 
  8.24     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
  8.25  available in the second year. 
  8.26     Subd. 6.  [DATA DEVELOPMENT.] For resources required to 
  8.27  modify, change, and upgrade existent data files for a statewide 
  8.28  system of accountability: 
  8.29       $150,000     .....     1998 
  8.30       $154,500     .....     1999 
  8.31     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
  8.32  available in the second year.