1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; requiring school districts to
1.3 	comply with the schools interoperability framework
1.4 	specifications; establishing a working group.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. SCHOOLS INTEROPERABILITY FRAMEWORK.
 1.7 	By July 1, 2007, schools, school districts, and the
1.8 	Department of Education must comply with the schools
1.9 	interoperability framework specifications to provide for
1.10 	efficient student data sharing.

1.11 	Sec. 2. SCHOOL DATA SHARING WORKING GROUP.
 1.12 		Subdivision 1.Membership. The commissioner of
1.13 	administration shall convene a working group consisting of
1.14 	representatives of the following:
1.15 	(1) several school districts that are diverse in size and
1.16 	location;
1.17 	(2) charter schools;
1.18 	(3) alternative learning centers;
1.19 	(4) the Department of Education; and 
1.20 	(5) up to three citizens with expertise in information
1.21 	technology.
1.22 	The working group must develop a uniform data model that is
1.23 	usable for schools, school districts, and the Department of
1.24 	Education and enables effective data sharing between schools,
1.25 	school districts, and the Department of Education.
2.1 		Subd. 2.Report to legislature. The working group must
2.2 	report to the legislature by January 15, 2006.  The report must
2.3 	include a recommendation of any legislative changes needed to
2.4 	streamline reports for schools and school districts.  In
2.5 	addition, the report must include a recommendation on the
2.6 	feasibility of expanding the purchasing of data processing
2.7 	products and services by the state on behalf of school districts.