1997 Minnesota Statutes

     121.1601 Office of desegregation/integration. 

    Subdivision 1.    Establishment.  (a) An office of 
 desegregation/integration is established in the department of 
 children, families, and learning to coordinate and support 
 activities related to student enrollment, student and staff 
 recruitment and retention, transportation, and interdistrict 
 cooperation among metropolitan school districts.  

    (b) At the request of a metropolitan school district 
 involved in cooperative desegregation/integration efforts, the 
 office shall perform any of the following activities: 

    (1) assist districts with interdistrict student transfers, 
 including student recruitment, counseling, placement, and 
 transportation; 

    (2) coordinate and disseminate information about schools 
 and programs; 

    (3) assist districts with new magnet schools and programs; 

    (4) assist districts in providing staff development and 
 in-service training; and 

    (5) coordinate and administer staff exchanges. 

    (c) The office shall collect data on the efficacy of 
 districts' desegregation/integration efforts and make 
 recommendations based on the data.  The office shall 
 periodically consult with the metropolitan council to coordinate 
 school desegregation/integration efforts with the housing, 
 social, economic, and infrastructure needs of the metropolitan 
 area.  The office shall develop a process for resolving 
 students' disputes and grievances about student transfers under 
 a desegregation/integration plan.  

    Subd. 2.    Coordination.  The commissioner shall 
 coordinate the office activities under subdivision 1 with new or 
 existing department and state board of education efforts to 
 accomplish school desegregation/integration.  The commissioner 
 may request information or assistance from, or contract with, 
 any state or local agency or officer, local unit of government, 
 or recognized expert to assist the commissioner in performing 
 the activities described in subdivision 1.  

    Subd. 3.    Advisory board.  The commissioner shall 
 establish an advisory board composed of: 

    (1) eight superintendents, each of whom shall be selected 
 by the superintendents of the school districts located in whole 
 or in part within each of the eight metropolitan districts 
 established under section 473.123, subdivision 3c; and 

    (2) one person each selected by the Indian affairs council, 
 the council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, the council on Black 
 Minnesotans, and the council on affairs of Chicano/Latino people.

    The advisory board shall advise the office on complying 
 with the requirements under subdivision 1.  The advisory board 
 may solicit comments from teachers, parents, students, and 
 interested community organizations and others. 

    HIST: 1994 c 647 art 8 s 2; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1997 c 7 
 art 3 s 3