2003 Minnesota Statutes

     120B.023 Benchmarks. 

    (a) The commissioner must supplement required state 
 academic standards with grade-level benchmarks.  High school 
 benchmarks may cover more than one grade.  The benchmarks must 
 implement statewide academic standards by specifying the 
 academic knowledge and skills that schools must offer and 
 students must achieve to satisfactorily complete a state 
 standard.  Benchmarks are published to inform and guide parents, 
 teachers, school districts, and other interested persons and for 
 use in developing tests consistent with the benchmarks. 

    (b) The commissioner shall publish benchmarks in the State 
 Register and transmit the benchmarks in any other manner that 
 makes them accessible to the general public.  The commissioner 
 may charge a reasonable fee for publications. 

    (c) Once established, the commissioner may change the 
 benchmarks only with specific legislative authorization and 
 after completing a review under paragraph (d). 

    (d) The commissioner must develop and implement a system 
 for reviewing on a four-year cycle each of the required academic 
 standards and related benchmarks and elective standards 
 beginning in the 2006-2007 school year.  

    (e) The benchmarks are not subject to chapter 14 and 
 section 14.386 does not apply.  

    HIST: 2003 c 129 art 1 s 5