1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; providing for a trial placement at the Minnesota Academy 
1.3 	for the Deaf and the Minnesota Academy for the Blind;amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2008, section 125A.69, subdivision 1.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 125A.69, subdivision 1, is amended to 
1.7 	read:
1.8 		Subdivision 1.~~Two kinds~~ Admissions. ~~There are two kinds of~~ Admission to the 
1.9 	Minnesota State Academies is described in this section.
1.10 	(a) A pupil who is deaf, hard of hearing, or blind-deaf, may be admitted to the 
1.11 	Academy for the Deaf. A pupil who is blind or visually impaired, blind-deaf, or multiply 
1.12 	disabled may be admitted to the Academy for the Blind. For a pupil to be admitted, two 
1.13 	decisions must be made under sections 125A.03 to 125A.24 and 125A.65. 
1.14 	(1) It must be decided by the individual education planning team that education in 
1.15 	regular or special education classes in the pupil's district of residence cannot be achieved 
1.16 	satisfactorily because of the nature and severity of the deafness or blindness or visual 
1.17 	impairment respectively.
1.18 	(2) It must be decided by the individual education planning team that the academy 
1.19 	provides the most appropriate placement within the least restrictive alternative for the 
1.20 	pupil.
1.21 	(b) A parent may submit an application for a child who resides in Minnesota and 
1.22 	meets the disability criteria for being deaf or hard of hearing or blind or visually impaired. 
1.23 	After completing the application process, the child who is deaf or hard of hearing may 
1.24 	attend the Academy for the Deaf and the child who is blind or visually impaired may 
2.1 	attend the Academy for the Blind for a 60-day trial placement. After the trial placement 
2.2 	concludes, academy staff must meet with the child's parent to determine if the academy is 
2.3 	the appropriate placement for the child.
2.4 	~~(b)~~(c) A deaf or hard of hearing child or a visually impaired pupil may be admitted 
2.5 	to get socialization skills or on a short-term basis for skills development.

2.6 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2010-2011 school year and 
2.7 	later.