Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Office of the Revisor of Statutes

CHAPTER 121A. STUDENT RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND BEHAVIOR

Table of Sections
Section Headnote
121A.001 MS 2006 [Renumbered 15.001]
121A.01 DEFINITIONS.
DISCRIMINATION; HARASSMENT; VIOLENCE
121A.03 MODEL POLICY.
121A.035 CRISIS MANAGEMENT POLICY.
121A.037 SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS.
121A.04 ATHLETIC PROGRAMS; SEX DISCRIMINATION.
121A.05 POLICY TO REFER FIREARMS POSSESSOR.
121A.06 REPORTS OF DANGEROUS WEAPON INCIDENTS IN SCHOOL ZONES.
121A.0695 SCHOOL BOARD POLICY; PROHIBITING INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING.
MOMENT OF SILENCE; UNITED STATES FLAG
121A.10 MOMENT OF SILENCE.
121A.11 UNITED STATES FLAG.
STUDENT HEALTH AND SAFETY
121A.15 HEALTH STANDARDS; IMMUNIZATIONS; SCHOOL CHILDREN.
121A.16 EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT SCREENING; PURPOSE.
121A.17 SCHOOL BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES.
121A.18 DATA USE.
121A.19 DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING AID.
121A.21 SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES.
121A.22 ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS AND MEDICINE.
121A.2205 POSSESSION AND USE OF NONSYRINGE INJECTORS OF EPINEPHRINE; MODEL POLICY.
121A.221 POSSESSION AND USE OF ASTHMA INHALERS BY ASTHMATIC STUDENTS.
121A.222 POSSESSION AND USE OF NONPRESCRIPTION PAIN RELIEVERS BY SECONDARY STUDENTS.
121A.23 PROGRAMS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE THE RISKS OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND DISEASES.
121A.25 CHEMICAL ABUSE PREASSESSMENT TEAMS; DEFINITIONS.
121A.26 SCHOOL PREASSESSMENT TEAMS.
121A.27 [Repealed, 2009 c 96 art 6 s 12]
121A.28 LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS.
121A.29 REPORTING; CHEMICAL ABUSE.
121A.30 PESTICIDE APPLICATION AT SCHOOLS.
121A.31 SAFETY REQUIREMENT GUIDELINES.
121A.32 EYE PROTECTIVE DEVICES.
121A.33 CERTAIN MERCURY USE IN SCHOOLS PROHIBITED.
121A.34 SCHOOL SAFETY PATROLS.
121A.36 MOTORCYCLE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM.
PUPIL FAIR DISMISSAL ACT
121A.40 CITATION.
121A.41 DEFINITIONS.
121A.42 POLICY.
121A.43 EXCLUSION AND EXPULSION OF PUPILS WITH A DISABILITY.
121A.44 EXPULSION FOR POSSESSION OF FIREARM.
121A.45 GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL.
121A.46 SUSPENSION PROCEDURES.
121A.47 EXCLUSION AND EXPULSION PROCEDURES.
121A.48 GOOD FAITH EXCEPTION.
121A.49 APPEAL.
121A.50 JUDICIAL REVIEW.
121A.51 REPORTS TO SERVICE AGENCY.
121A.52 NONAPPLICATION OF COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAW.
121A.53 REPORT TO COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.
121A.54 NOTICE OF RIGHT TO BE REINSTATED.
121A.55 POLICIES TO BE ESTABLISHED.
121A.56 APPLICATION.
121A.57 [Renumbered 121A.035]
121A.575 ALTERNATIVES TO PUPIL SUSPENSION.
DISCIPLINE; ALL STUDENTS
121A.58 CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.
121A.582 STUDENT DISCIPLINE; REASONABLE FORCE.
121A.585 NOTICE OF RECORDING DEVICE ON A SCHOOL BUS.
121A.59 BUS TRANSPORTATION A PRIVILEGE NOT A RIGHT.
121A.60 DEFINITIONS.
121A.61 DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL OF STUDENTS FROM CLASS.
121A.62 SCHOOL SITE MEDIATION BOARD.
121A.63 OMBUDSPERSON SERVICE.
121A.64 NOTIFICATION; TEACHERS' LEGITIMATE EDUCATIONAL INTEREST.
121A.65 REVIEW OF POLICY.
121A.66 DEFINITIONS.
121A.67 AVERSIVE AND DEPRIVATION PROCEDURES.
121A.69 HAZING POLICY.
121A.70 SECRET FRATERNITIES AND SOCIETIES.
121A.72 SCHOOL LOCKER POLICY.
JUVENILE JUSTICE DATA
121A.75 RECEIPT OF RECORDS; SHARING.
121A.001 MS 2006 [Renumbered 15.001]

121A.01 DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this chapter, the words defined in section 120A.05 have the same meaning.

DISCRIMINATION; HARASSMENT; VIOLENCE

121A.03 MODEL POLICY.

Subdivision 1.Model policy.

The commissioner shall maintain and make available to school boards a model sexual, religious, and racial harassment and violence policy. The model policy shall address the requirements of subdivision 2, and may encourage violence prevention and character development education programs, consistent with section 120B.232, subdivision 1, to prevent and reduce policy violations.

Subd. 2.Sexual, religious, and racial harassment and violence policy.

A school board must adopt a written sexual, religious, and racial harassment and sexual, religious, and racial violence policy that conforms with chapter 363A. The policy shall apply to pupils, teachers, administrators, and other school personnel, include reporting procedures, and set forth disciplinary actions that will be taken for violation of the policy. Disciplinary actions must conform with collective bargaining agreements and sections 121A.41 to 121A.56. The policy must be conspicuously posted throughout each school building, given to each district employee and independent contractor at the time of entering into the person's employment contract, and included in each school's student handbook on school policies. Each school must develop a process for discussing the school's sexual, religious, and racial harassment and violence policy with students and school employees.

Subd. 3.Submission to commissioner.

Each school board must submit to the commissioner a copy of the sexual, religious, and racial harassment and sexual, religious, and racial violence policy the board has adopted.

121A.035 CRISIS MANAGEMENT POLICY.

Subdivision 1.Model policy.

The commissioner shall maintain and make available to school boards and charter schools a model crisis management policy that includes, among other items, school lock-down and tornado drills, consistent with subdivision 2, and school fire drills under section 299F.30.

Subd. 2.School district and charter school policy.

A school board and a charter school must adopt a crisis management policy to address potential violent crisis situations in the district or charter school. The policy must be developed cooperatively with administrators, teachers, employees, students, parents, community members, law enforcement agencies, other emergency management officials, county attorney offices, social service agencies, emergency medical responders, and any other appropriate individuals or organizations. The policy must include at least five school lock-down drills, five school fire drills consistent with section 299F.30, and one tornado drill.

121A.037 SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS.

Private schools and educational institutions not subject to section 121A.035 must have at least five school lock-down drills, five school fire drills consistent with section 299F.30, and one tornado drill.

121A.04 ATHLETIC PROGRAMS; SEX DISCRIMINATION.

Subdivision 1.Purpose.

The legislature recognizes certain past inequities in access to athletic programs and in the various degrees of athletic opportunity previously afforded members of each sex. The purpose of this section is to provide an equal opportunity for members of both sexes to participate in athletic programs.

Subd. 2.Equal opportunity in athletic programs.

Each educational institution or public service shall provide equal opportunity for members of both sexes to participate in its athletic program. In determining whether equal opportunity to participate in athletic programs is available for the purposes of this section, at least the following factors shall be considered to the extent that they are applicable to a given situation: whether the opportunity for males and females to participate in the athletic program reflects the demonstrated interest in athletics of the males and females in the student body of the educational institution or the population served by the public service; whether the variety and selection of sports and levels of competition effectively accommodate the demonstrated interests of members of both sexes; the provision of equipment and supplies; scheduling of games and practice times; assignment of coaches; provision of locker rooms; practice and competitive facilities; and the provision of necessary funds for teams of one sex.

Subd. 3.Exceptions.

(a) Notwithstanding any other state law to the contrary, in athletic programs operated by educational institutions or public services and designed for participants 12 years old or older or in the 7th grade or above, it is not an unfair discriminatory practice to restrict membership on an athletic team to participants of one sex whose overall athletic opportunities have previously been limited.

(b) When an educational institution or a public service provides athletic teams for children 11 years old or younger or in the 6th grade or below, those teams shall be operated without restrictions on the basis of sex, except that when overall athletic opportunities for one sex have previously been limited and there is a demonstrated interest by members of that sex to participate on a team restricted to members of that sex, the educational institution or public service may provide a team restricted to members of that sex.

(c) When two teams in the same sport are in fact separated or substantially separated according to sex, the two teams shall be provided with substantially equal budgets per participant, exclusive of gate receipts and other revenues generated by that sport, and in all other respects shall be treated in a substantially equal manner. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to require the two teams to conduct combined practice sessions or any other combined activities related to athletics.

(d) If two teams are provided in the same sport, one of these teams may be restricted to members of a sex whose overall athletic opportunities have previously been limited, and members of either sex shall be permitted to try out for the other team.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a), (b), and (d), any wrestling team may be restricted to members of one sex whether or not the overall athletic opportunities of that sex have previously been limited, provided that programs or events are provided for each sex to the extent the educational institution or public service determines that these programs or events are necessary to accommodate the demonstrated interest of each sex to participate in wrestling.

Subd. 4.Provision of separate teams.

When an equal opportunity to participate in the elementary or secondary school level athletic program of an educational institution or public service is not provided to members of a sex whose overall athletic opportunities have previously been limited, that educational institution or public service shall, where there is demonstrated interest, provide separate teams for members of the excluded sex in sports which it determines will provide members of that excluded sex with an equal opportunity to participate in its athletic program and which will attempt to accommodate their demonstrated interests.

Subd. 5.Rules.

The commissioner of education, after consultation with the commissioner of human rights must promulgate rules in accordance with chapter 14 to implement this section to prevent discrimination in elementary and secondary school athletic programs operated by educational institutions. The rules promulgated by the commissioner pursuant to this section shall not require athletic competition or tournaments for teams whose membership may be restricted to members of a sex whose overall athletic opportunities have previously been limited to be scheduled in conjunction with the scheduling of athletic competition or tournaments for teams whose membership is not so restricted by this section. Any organization, association or league entered into by elementary or secondary schools or public services for the purpose of promoting sports or adopting rules and regulations for the conduct of athletic contests between members shall provide rules and regulations and conduct its activities so as to permit its members to comply fully with this section. The rules of that organization, association or league may provide separate seasons for athletic competition or tournaments in a sport for teams whose membership may be restricted to members of a sex whose overall athletic opportunities have previously been limited from athletic competition or tournaments established for teams in that same sport whose membership is not so restricted by this section, and its rules may prohibit a participating student from competing on more than one school team in a given sport during a single school year.

121A.05 POLICY TO REFER FIREARMS POSSESSOR.

A school board must have a policy requiring the appropriate school official to, as soon as practicable, refer to the criminal justice or juvenile delinquency system, as appropriate, a pupil who brings a firearm to school unlawfully.

121A.06 REPORTS OF DANGEROUS WEAPON INCIDENTS IN SCHOOL ZONES.

Subdivision 1.Definitions.

As used in this section:

(1) "dangerous weapon" has the meaning given it in section 609.02, subdivision 6;

(2) "school" has the meaning given it in section 120A.22, subdivision 4; and

(3) "school zone" has the meaning given it in section 152.01, subdivision 14a, clauses (1) and (3).

Subd. 2.Reports; content.

School districts must electronically report to the commissioner of education incidents involving the use or possession of a dangerous weapon in school zones. The form must include the following information:

(1) a description of each incident, including a description of the dangerous weapon involved in the incident;

(2) where, at what time, and under what circumstances the incident occurred;

(3) information about the offender, other than the offender's name, including the offender's age; whether the offender was a student and, if so, where the offender attended school; and whether the offender was under school expulsion or suspension at the time of the incident;

(4) information about the victim other than the victim's name, if any, including the victim's age; whether the victim was a student and, if so, where the victim attended school; and if the victim was not a student, whether the victim was employed at the school;

(5) the cost of the incident to the school and to the victim; and

(6) the action taken by the school administration to respond to the incident.

The commissioner shall provide an electronic reporting format that allows school districts to provide aggregate data.

Subd. 3.Reports; filing requirements.

By July 31 of each year, each public school shall report incidents involving the use or possession of a dangerous weapon in school zones to the commissioner. The reports must be submitted using the electronic reporting system developed by the commissioner under subdivision 2. The commissioner shall compile the information it receives from the schools and report it annually to the commissioner of public safety and the legislature.

121A.0695 SCHOOL BOARD POLICY; PROHIBITING INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING.

Each school board shall adopt a written policy prohibiting intimidation and bullying of any student. The policy shall address intimidation and bullying in all forms, including, but not limited to, electronic forms and forms involving Internet use.

MOMENT OF SILENCE; UNITED STATES FLAG

121A.10 MOMENT OF SILENCE.

A moment of silence may be observed.

121A.11 UNITED STATES FLAG.

Subdivision 1.Displayed by schools.

Every public school in Minnesota must display an appropriate United States flag when in session. The flag shall be displayed upon the school grounds or outside the school building, on a proper staff, on every legal holiday occurring during the school term and at such other times as the board of the district may direct. The flag must be displayed within the principal rooms of the school building at all other times while school is in session.

Subd. 2.School boards to provide flags and staffs.

The board must provide the flag for each of the school buildings in their districts, together with a suitable staff to display the flag outside of the school building and proper arrangement to display the flag in the building, and a suitable receptacle for the safekeeping of the flag when not in use.

Subd. 3.Pledge of Allegiance.

(a) All public and charter school students shall recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America one or more times each week. The recitation shall be conducted:

(1) by each individual classroom teacher or the teacher's surrogate; or

(2) over a school intercom system by a person designated by the school principal or other person having administrative control over the school.

A local school board or a charter school board of directors may annually, by majority vote, waive this requirement.

(b) Any student or teacher may decline to participate in recitation of the pledge.

(c) A school district or charter school that has a student handbook or school policy guide must include a statement that anyone who does not wish to participate in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance for any personal reasons may elect not to do so and that students must respect another person's right to make that choice.

(d) A local school board or a charter school board of directors that waives the requirement to recite the Pledge of Allegiance under paragraph (a) may adopt a district or school policy regarding the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Subd. 4.Instruction.

Unless the requirement in subdivision 3 is waived by a majority vote of the school board, a school district must instruct students in the proper etiquette toward, correct display of, and respect for the flag, and in patriotic exercises.

STUDENT HEALTH AND SAFETY

121A.15 HEALTH STANDARDS; IMMUNIZATIONS; SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Subdivision 1.School and child care facility immunization requirements.

Except as provided in subdivisions 3, 4, and 10, no person over two months old may be allowed to enroll or remain enrolled in any elementary or secondary school or child care facility in this state until the person has submitted to the administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the school or child care facility, one of the following statements:

(1) a statement from a physician or a public clinic which provides immunizations stating that the person has received immunization, consistent with medically acceptable standards, against measles after having attained the age of 12 months, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, mumps, haemophilus influenza type b, and hepatitis B; or

(2) a statement from a physician or a public clinic which provides immunizations stating that the person has received immunizations, consistent with medically acceptable standards, against measles after having attained the age of 12 months, rubella, mumps, and haemophilus influenza type b and that the person has commenced a schedule of immunizations for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and hepatitis B and which indicates the month and year of each immunization received.

Subd. 2.Schedule of immunizations.

No person who has commenced a treatment schedule of immunization pursuant to subdivision 1, clause (2), may remain enrolled in any child care facility, elementary, or secondary school in this state after 18 months of enrollment unless there is submitted to the administrator, or other person having general control and supervision of the school or child care facility, a statement from a physician or a public clinic which provides immunizations that the person has completed the primary schedule of immunizations for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and hepatitis B. The statement must include the month and year of each additional immunization received. For a child less than seven years of age, a primary schedule of immunizations shall consist of four doses of vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis and three doses of vaccine for poliomyelitis and hepatitis B. For a child seven years of age or older, a primary schedule of immunizations shall consist of three doses of vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, and hepatitis B.

Subd. 3.Exemptions from immunizations.

(a) If a person is at least seven years old and has not been immunized against pertussis, the person must not be required to be immunized against pertussis.

(b) If a person is at least 18 years old and has not completed a series of immunizations against poliomyelitis, the person must not be required to be immunized against poliomyelitis.

(c) If a statement, signed by a physician, is submitted to the administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the school or child care facility stating that an immunization is contraindicated for medical reasons or that laboratory confirmation of the presence of adequate immunity exists, the immunization specified in the statement need not be required.

(d) If a notarized statement signed by the minor child's parent or guardian or by the emancipated person is submitted to the administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the school or child care facility stating that the person has not been immunized as prescribed in subdivision 1 because of the conscientiously held beliefs of the parent or guardian of the minor child or of the emancipated person, the immunizations specified in the statement shall not be required. This statement must also be forwarded to the commissioner of the Department of Health.

(e) If the person is under 15 months, the person is not required to be immunized against measles, rubella, or mumps.

(f) If a person is at least five years old and has not been immunized against haemophilus influenza type b, the person is not required to be immunized against haemophilus influenza type b.

(g) If a person who is not a Minnesota resident enrolls in a Minnesota school online learning course or program that delivers instruction to the person only by computer and does not provide any teacher or instructor contact time or require classroom attendance, the person is not subject to the immunization, statement, and other requirements of this section.

Subd. 3a.Disclosures required.

(a) This paragraph applies to any written information about immunization requirements for enrollment in a school or child care facility that:

(1) is provided to a person to be immunized or enrolling or enrolled in a school or child care facility, or to the person's parent or guardian if the person is under 18 years of age and not emancipated; and

(2) is provided by the Department of Health; the Department of Education; the Department of Human Services; an immunization provider; or a school or child care facility.

Such written information must describe the exemptions from immunizations permitted under subdivision 3, paragraphs (c) and (d). The information on exemptions from immunizations provided according to this paragraph must be in a font size at least equal to the font size of the immunization requirements, in the same font style as the immunization requirements, and on the same page of the written document as the immunization requirements.

(b) Before immunizing a person, an immunization provider must provide the person, or the person's parent or guardian if the person is under 18 years of age and not emancipated, with the following information in writing:

(1) a list of the immunizations required for enrollment in a school or child care facility;

(2) a description of the exemptions from immunizations permitted under subdivision 3, paragraphs (c) and (d);

(3) a list of additional immunizations currently recommended by the commissioner; and

(4) in accordance with federal law, a copy of the vaccine information sheet from the federal Department of Health and Human Services that lists possible adverse reactions to the immunization to be provided.

(c) The commissioner will continue the educational campaign to providers and hospitals on vaccine safety including, but not limited to, information on the vaccine adverse events reporting system (VAERS), the federal vaccine information statements (VIS), and medical precautions and contraindications to immunizations.

(d) The commissioner will encourage providers to provide the vaccine information statements at multiple visits and in anticipation of subsequent immunizations.

(e) The commissioner will encourage providers to use existing screening for immunization precautions and contraindication materials and make proper use of the vaccine adverse events reporting system (VAERS).

(f) In consultation with groups and people identified in subdivision 12, paragraph (a), clause (1), the commissioner will continue to develop and make available patient education materials on immunizations including, but not limited to, contraindications and precautions regarding vaccines.

(g) The commissioner will encourage health care providers to use thimerosal-free vaccines when available.

Subd. 4.Substitute immunization statement.

(a) A person who is enrolling or enrolled in an elementary or secondary school or child care facility may substitute a statement from the emancipated person or a parent or guardian if the person is a minor child in lieu of the statement from a physician or public clinic which provides immunizations. If the statement is from a parent or guardian or emancipated person, the statement must indicate the month and year of each immunization given.

(b) In order for the statement to be acceptable for a person who is enrolling in an elementary school and who is six years of age or younger, it must indicate that the following was given: no less than one dose of vaccine each for measles, mumps, and rubella given separately or in combination; no less than four doses of vaccine for poliomyelitis, unless the third dose was given after the fourth birthday, then three doses are minimum; no less than five doses of vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, unless the fourth dose was given after the fourth birthday, then four doses are minimum; and no less than three doses of vaccine for hepatitis B.

(c) In order for the statement to be consistent with subdivision 10 and acceptable for a person who is enrolling in an elementary or secondary school and is age seven through age 19, the statement must indicate that the person has received no less than one dose of vaccine each for measles, mumps, and rubella given separately or in combination, and no less than three doses of vaccine for poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, and hepatitis B.

(d) In order for the statement to be acceptable for a person who is enrolling in a secondary school, and who was born after 1956 and is 20 years of age or older, the statement must indicate that the person has received no less than one dose of vaccine each for measles, mumps, and rubella given separately or in combination, and no less than one dose of vaccine for diphtheria and tetanus within the preceding ten years.

(e) In order for the statement to be acceptable for a person who is enrolling in a child care facility and who is at least 15 months old but who has not reached five years of age, it must indicate that the following were given: no less than one dose of vaccine each for measles, mumps, and rubella given separately or in combination; no less than one dose of vaccine for haemophilus influenza type b; no less than four doses of vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; and no less than three doses of vaccine for poliomyelitis.

(f) In order for the statement to be acceptable for a person who is enrolling in a child care facility and who is five or six years of age, it must indicate that the following was given: no less than one dose of vaccine each for measles, mumps, and rubella given separately or in combination; no less than four doses of vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; and no less than three doses of vaccine for poliomyelitis.

(g) In order for the statement to be acceptable for a person who is enrolling in a child care facility and who is seven years of age or older, the statement must indicate that the person has received no less than one dose of vaccine each for measles, mumps, and rubella given separately or in combination and consistent with subdivision 10, and no less than three doses of vaccine for poliomyelitis, diphtheria, and tetanus.

(h) The commissioner of health, on finding that any of the above requirements are not necessary to protect the public's health, may suspend for one year that requirement.

Subd. 5.Transfer of immunization statements.

If a person transfers from one elementary or secondary school to another, the school board of a public school district or the administrator of a nonpublic school may allow the person up to a maximum of 30 days to submit one or more of the statements as specified in subdivision 1 or 3, during which time the person may enroll in and attend the school. If a person enrolls in a child care facility in which at least 75 percent of children in the facility participate on a onetime only or occasional basis to a maximum of 45 hours per child, per month, or is placed in a facility by a crisis nursery, the person shall be exempt from all requirements of this section for up to five consecutive days, starting from the first day of attendance.

Subd. 6.

[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 9 art 1 s 62]

Subd. 7.File on immunization records.

Each school or child care facility shall maintain on file immunization records for all persons in attendance that contain the information required by subdivisions 1, 2, and 3. The school shall maintain the records for at least five years after the person attains the age of majority. The Department of Health and the board of health, as defined in section 145A.02, subdivision 2, in whose jurisdiction the school or child care facility is located, shall have access to the files maintained pursuant to this subdivision. When a person transfers to another elementary or secondary school or child care facility, the administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the school or child care facility shall assist the person's parent or guardian in the transfer of the immunization file to the person's new school or child care facility within 30 days of the transfer. Upon the request of a public or private postsecondary educational institution, as defined in section 135A.14, the administrator or other person having general control or supervision of a school shall assist in the transfer of a student's immunization file to the postsecondary institution.

Subd. 8.Report.

The administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the elementary or secondary school shall file a report with the commissioner on all persons enrolled in the school. The superintendent of each district shall file a report with the commissioner for all persons within the district receiving instruction in a home school in compliance with sections 120A.22 and 120A.24. The parent of persons receiving instruction in a home school shall submit the statements as required by subdivisions 1, 2, 3, and 4 to the superintendent of the district in which the person resides by October 1 of each school year. The school report must be prepared on forms developed jointly by the commissioner of health and the commissioner of education and be distributed to the local districts by the commissioner of health. The school report must state the number of persons attending the school, the number of persons who have not been immunized according to subdivision 1 or 2, and the number of persons who received an exemption under subdivision 3, clause (c) or (d). The school report must be filed with the commissioner of education within 60 days of the commencement of each new school term. Upon request, a district must be given a 60-day extension for filing the school report. The commissioner of education shall forward the report, or a copy thereof, to the commissioner of health who shall provide summary reports to boards of health as defined in section 145A.02, subdivision 2. The administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the child care facility shall file a report with the commissioner of human services on all persons enrolled in the child care facility. The child care facility report must be prepared on forms developed jointly by the commissioner of health and the commissioner of human services and be distributed to child care facilities by the commissioner of health. The child care facility report must state the number of persons enrolled in the facility, the number of persons with no immunizations, the number of persons who received an exemption under subdivision 3, clause (c) or (d), and the number of persons with partial or full immunization histories. The child care facility report must be filed with the commissioner of human services by November 1 of each year. The commissioner of human services shall forward the report, or a copy thereof, to the commissioner of health who shall provide summary reports to boards of health as defined in section 145A.02, subdivision 2. The report required by this subdivision is not required of a family child care or group family child care facility, for prekindergarten children enrolled in any elementary or secondary school provided services according to sections 125A.05 and 125A.06, nor for child care facilities in which at least 75 percent of children in the facility participate on a onetime only or occasional basis to a maximum of 45 hours per child, per month.

Subd. 9.Definitions.

As used in this section the following terms have the meanings given them.

(a) "Elementary or secondary school" includes any public school as defined in section 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, 13, and 17, or nonpublic school, church, or religious organization, or home school in which a child is provided instruction in compliance with sections 120A.22 and 120A.24.

(b) "Person enrolled in any elementary or secondary school" means a person born after 1956 and enrolled in grades kindergarten through 12, and a child with a disability receiving special instruction and services as required in sections 125A.03 to 125A.24 and 125A.65, excluding a child being provided services according to section 125A.05, paragraph (c), or 125A.06, paragraph (d).

(c) "Child care facility" includes those child care programs subject to licensure under chapter 245A, and Minnesota Rules, chapters 9502 and 9503.

(d) "Family child care" means child care for no more than ten children at one time of which no more than six are under school age. The licensed capacity must include all children of any caregiver when the children are present in the residence.

(e) "Group family child care" means child care for no more than 14 children at any one time. The total number of children includes all children of any caregiver when the children are present in the residence.

Subd. 10.Requirements for immunization statements.

(a) A statement required to be submitted under subdivisions 1, 2, and 4 to document evidence of immunization shall include month, day, and year for immunizations administered after January 1, 1990.

(b) A person who has received at least three doses of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, with the most recent dose given after age six and before age 11, is not required to have additional immunization against diphtheria and tetanus until ten years have elapsed from the person's most recent dose of tetanus and diphtheria toxoid.

(c) The requirement for hepatitis B vaccination shall apply to persons enrolling in kindergarten beginning with the 2000-2001 school term.

(d) The requirement for hepatitis B vaccination shall apply to persons enrolling in grade 7 beginning with the 2001-2002 school term.

Subd. 11.Commissioner of human services; continued responsibilities.

Nothing in this section relieves the commissioner of human services of the responsibility, under chapter 245A, to inspect and assure that statements required by this section are on file at child care programs subject to licensure.

Subd. 12.Modifications to schedule.

(a) The commissioner of health may adopt modifications to the immunization requirements of this section. A proposed modification made under this subdivision must be part of the current immunization recommendations of each of the following organizations: the United States Public Health Service's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. In proposing a modification to the immunization schedule, the commissioner must:

(1) consult with (i) the commissioner of education; the commissioner of human services; the chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; and the president of the University of Minnesota; and (ii) the Minnesota Natural Health Coalition, Vaccine Awareness Minnesota, Biological Education for Autism Treatment (BEAT), the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics-Minnesota Chapter, and the Minnesota Nurses Association; and

(2) consider the following criteria: the epidemiology of the disease, the morbidity and mortality rates for the disease, the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, the cost of a vaccination program, the cost of enforcing vaccination requirements, and a cost-benefit analysis of the vaccination.

(b) Before a proposed modification may be adopted, the commissioner must notify the chairs of the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over health policy issues. If the chairs of the relevant standing committees determine a public hearing regarding the proposed modifications is in order, the hearing must be scheduled within 60 days of receiving notice from the commissioner. If a hearing is scheduled, the commissioner may not adopt any proposed modifications until after the hearing is held.

(c) The commissioner shall comply with the requirements of chapter 14 regarding the adoption of any proposed modifications to the immunization schedule.

(d) In addition to the publication requirements of chapter 14, the commissioner of health must inform all immunization providers of any adopted modifications to the immunization schedule in a timely manner.

121A.16 EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT SCREENING; PURPOSE.

The legislature finds that early detection of children's health and developmental problems can reduce their later need for costly care, minimize their physical and educational disabilities, and aid in their rehabilitation. The purpose of sections 121A.16 to 121A.19 is to assist parents and communities in improving the health of Minnesota children and in planning educational and health programs.

121A.17 SCHOOL BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES.

Subdivision 1.Early childhood developmental screening.

Every school board must provide for a mandatory program of early childhood developmental screening for children at least once before school entrance, targeting children who are between three and four years old. This screening program must be established either by one board, by two or more boards acting in cooperation, by service cooperatives, by early childhood family education programs, or by other existing programs. This screening examination is a mandatory requirement for a student to continue attending kindergarten or first grade in a public school. A child need not submit to developmental screening provided by a board if the child's health records indicate to the board that the child has received comparable developmental screening from a public or private health care organization or individual health care provider. A student identification number, as defined by the commissioner of education, shall be assigned at the time of early childhood developmental screening or at the time of the provision of health records indicating a comparable screening. Each school district must provide the essential data in accordance with section 125B.07, subdivision 6, to the Department of Education. Districts are encouraged to reduce the costs of preschool developmental screening programs by utilizing volunteers and public or private health care organizations or individual health care providers in implementing the program.

Subd. 2.Screening required before kindergarten enrollment.

A child must not be enrolled in kindergarten in a public school unless the parent or guardian of the child submits to the school principal or other person having general control and supervision of the school a record indicating the months and year the child received developmental screening and the results of the screening not later than 30 days after the first day of attendance. If a child is transferred from one kindergarten to another, the parent or guardian of the child must be allowed 30 days to submit the child's record, during which time the child may attend school.

Subd. 3.Screening program.

(a) A screening program must include at least the following components: developmental assessments, hearing and vision screening or referral, immunization review and referral, the child's height and weight, identification of risk factors that may influence learning, an interview with the parent about the child, and referral for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment when potential needs are identified. The district and the person performing or supervising the screening must provide a parent or guardian with clear written notice that the parent or guardian may decline to answer questions or provide information about family circumstances that might affect development and identification of risk factors that may influence learning. The notice must clearly state that declining to answer questions or provide information does not prevent the child from being enrolled in kindergarten or first grade if all other screening components are met. If a parent or guardian is not able to read and comprehend the written notice, the district and the person performing or supervising the screening must convey the information in another manner. The notice must also inform the parent or guardian that a child need not submit to the district screening program if the child's health records indicate to the school that the child has received comparable developmental screening performed within the preceding 365 days by a public or private health care organization or individual health care provider. The notice must be given to a parent or guardian at the time the district initially provides information to the parent or guardian about screening and must be given again at the screening location.

(b) All screening components shall be consistent with the standards of the state commissioner of health for early developmental screening programs. A developmental screening program must not provide laboratory tests or a physical examination to any child. The district must request from the public or private health care organization or the individual health care provider the results of any laboratory test or physical examination within the 12 months preceding a child's scheduled screening.

(c) If a child is without health coverage, the school district must refer the child to an appropriate health care provider.

(d) A board may offer additional components such as nutritional, physical and dental assessments, review of family circumstances that might affect development, blood pressure, laboratory tests, and health history.

(e) If a statement signed by the child's parent or guardian is submitted to the administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the school that the child has not been screened because of conscientiously held beliefs of the parent or guardian, the screening is not required.

Subd. 4.Follow-up screening.

If any child's screening indicates a condition which requires diagnosis or treatment, the child's parents shall be notified of the condition and the board shall ensure that an appropriate follow-up and referral process is available.

Subd. 5.Developmental screening program information.

The board must inform each resident family with a child eligible to participate in the developmental screening program about the availability of the program and the state's requirement that a child receive a developmental screening or provide health records indicating that the child received a comparable developmental screening from a public or private health care organization or individual health care provider not later than 30 days after the first day of attending kindergarten in a public school. A school district must inform all resident families with eligible children under age seven that their children may receive a developmental screening conducted either by the school district or by a public or private health care organization or individual health care provider and that the screening is not required if a statement signed by the child's parent or guardian is submitted to the administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the school that the child has not been screened.

Subd. 6.Developmental screening services.

A board may contract with or purchase service from an approved early developmental screening program in the area. Developmental screening must be conducted by either an individual who is licensed as, or has training that is similar to a special education teacher, school psychologist, kindergarten teacher, prekindergarten teacher, school nurse, public health nurse, registered nurse, or physician. The individual may be a volunteer.

Subd. 7.Screening record.

The district must provide the parent or guardian of the child screened with a record indicating the month and year the child received developmental screening and the results of the screening. The district must keep a duplicate copy of the record of each child screened.

Subd. 8.Volunteer screening programs.

Every board must integrate and utilize volunteer screening programs in implementing sections 121A.17 to 121A.19 wherever possible.

Subd. 9.Health care provider societies.

A board may consult with local societies of health care providers.

Subd. 10.Priority to volunteers.

In selecting personnel to implement the screening program, the district must give priority first to qualified volunteers.

121A.18 DATA USE.

Data on individuals collected in screening programs established pursuant to section 121A.17 is private, as defined by section 13.02, subdivision 12. Individual and summary data must be reported to the district by the health provider who performs the screening services, for the purposes of developing appropriate educational programs to meet the individual needs of children and designing appropriate health education programs for the district. No data on an individual shall be disclosed to the district without the consent of that individual's parent or guardian.

121A.19 DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING AID.

Each school year, the state must pay a district for each child or student screened by the district according to the requirements of section 121A.17. The amount of state aid for each child or student screened shall be: (1) $75 for a child screened at age three; (2) $50 for a child screened at age four; (3) $40 for a child screened at age five or six prior to kindergarten; and (4) $30 for a student screened within 30 days after first enrolling in a public school kindergarten if the student has not previously been screened according to the requirements of section 121A.17. If this amount of aid is insufficient, the district may permanently transfer from the general fund an amount that, when added to the aid, is sufficient. Developmental screening aid shall not be paid for any student who is screened more than 30 days after the first day of attendance at a public school kindergarten, except if a student transfers to another public school kindergarten within 30 days after first enrolling in a Minnesota public school kindergarten program. In this case, if the student has not been screened, the district to which the student transfers may receive developmental screening aid for screening that student when the screening is performed within 30 days of the transfer date.

121A.21 SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES.

(a) Every school board must provide services to promote the health of its pupils.

(b) The board of a district with 1,000 pupils or more in average daily membership in early childhood family education, preschool disabled, elementary, and secondary programs must comply with the requirements of this paragraph. It may use one or a combination of the following methods:

(1) employ personnel, including at least one full-time equivalent licensed school nurse;

(2) contract with a public or private health organization or another public agency for personnel during the regular school year, determined appropriate by the board, who are currently licensed under chapter 148 and who are certified public health nurses; or

(3) enter into another arrangement approved by the commissioner.

121A.22 ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS AND MEDICINE.

Subdivision 1.Applicability.

This section applies only:

(1) when the parent of a pupil requests school personnel to administer drugs or medicine to the pupil; or

(2) when administration is allowed by the individual education plan of a child with a disability.

The request of a parent may be oral or in writing. An oral request must be reduced to writing within two school days, provided that the district may rely on an oral request until a written request is received.

Subd. 2.Exclusions.

In addition, this section does not apply to drugs or medicine that are:

(1) purchased without a prescription;

(2) used by a pupil who is 18 years old or older;

(3) used in connection with services for which a minor may give effective consent, including section 144.343, subdivision 1, and any other law;

(4) used in situations in which, in the judgment of the school personnel who are present or available, the risk to the pupil's life or health is of such a nature that drugs or medicine should be given without delay;

(5) used off the school grounds;

(6) used in connection with athletics or extra curricular activities;

(7) used in connection with activities that occur before or after the regular school day;

(8) provided or administered by a public health agency to prevent or control an illness or a disease outbreak as provided for in sections 144.05 and 144.12;

(9) prescription asthma or reactive airway disease medications self-administered by a pupil with an asthma inhaler if the district has received a written authorization from the pupil's parent permitting the pupil to self-administer the medication, the inhaler is properly labeled for that student, and the parent has not requested school personnel to administer the medication to the pupil. The parent must submit written authorization for the pupil to self-administer the medication each school year; or

(10) prescription nonsyringe injectors of epinephrine, consistent with section 121A.2205, if the parent and prescribing medical professional annually inform the pupil's school in writing that (i) the pupil may possess the epinephrine or (ii) the pupil is unable to possess the epinephrine and requires immediate access to nonsyringe injectors of epinephrine that the parent provides properly labeled to the school for the pupil as needed.

Subd. 3.Labeling.

Drugs or medicine subject to this section must be in a container with a label prepared by a pharmacist according to section 151.212 and applicable rules.

Subd. 4.Administration.

Drugs and medicine subject to this section must be administered in a manner consistent with instructions on the label. Drugs and medicine subject to this section must be administered, to the extent possible, according to school board procedures that must be developed in consultation:

(1) with a school nurse, in a district that employs a school nurse;

(2) with a licensed school nurse, in a district that employs a licensed school nurse;

(3) with a public or private health or health-related organization, in a district that contracts with a public or private health or health-related organization, according to section 121A.21; or

(4) with the appropriate party, in a district that has an arrangement approved by the commissioner of education, according to section 121A.21.

Subd. 5.Children with a disability.

For drugs or medicine used by children with a disability, administration may be as provided in the individual education plan.

Subd. 6.Health treatments.

For the purpose of this section, special health treatments and health functions, such as catheterization, tracheostomy suctioning, and gastrostomy feedings, do not constitute administration of drugs or medicine.

121A.2205 POSSESSION AND USE OF NONSYRINGE INJECTORS OF EPINEPHRINE; MODEL POLICY.

(a) At the start of each school year or at the time a student enrolls in school, whichever is first, a student's parent, school staff, including those responsible for student health care, and the prescribing medical professional must develop and implement an individualized written health plan for a student who is prescribed nonsyringe injectors of epinephrine that enables the student to:

(1) possess nonsyringe injectors of epinephrine; or

(2) if the parent and prescribing medical professional determine the student is unable to possess the epinephrine, have immediate access to nonsyringe injectors of epinephrine in close proximity to the student at all times during the instructional day.

The plan must designate the school staff responsible for implementing the student's health plan, including recognizing anaphylaxis and administering nonsyringe injectors of epinephrine when required, consistent with section 121A.22, subdivision 2, clause (10). This health plan may be included in a student's 504 plan.

(b) A school under this section is a public school under section 120A.22, subdivision 4, or a nonpublic school, excluding a home school, under section 120A.22, subdivision 4, that is subject to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Other nonpublic schools are encouraged to develop and implement an individualized written health plan for students requiring nonsyringe injectors of epinephrine, consistent with this section and section 121A.22, subdivision 2, clause (10).

(c) A school district and its agents and employees are immune from liability for any act or failure to act, made in good faith, in implementing this section.

(d) The education commissioner may develop and transmit to interested schools a model policy and individualized health plan form consistent with this section and federal 504 plan requirements. The policy and form may:

(1) assess a student's ability to safely possess nonsyringe injectors of epinephrine;

(2) identify staff training needs related to recognizing anaphylaxis and administering epinephrine when needed;

(3) accommodate a student's need to possess or have immediate access to nonsyringe injectors of epinephrine in close proximity to the student at all times during the instructional day; and

(4) ensure that the student's parent provides properly labeled nonsyringe injectors of epinephrine to the school for the student as needed.

(e) Additional nonsyringe injectors of epinephrine may be available in school first aid kits.

(f) The school board of the school district must define instructional day for the purposes of this section.

121A.221 POSSESSION AND USE OF ASTHMA INHALERS BY ASTHMATIC STUDENTS.

(a) In a school district that employs a school nurse or provides school nursing services under another arrangement, the school nurse or other appropriate party must assess the student's knowledge and skills to safely possess and use an asthma inhaler in a school setting and enter into the student's school health record a plan to implement safe possession and use of asthma inhalers.

(b) In a school that does not have a school nurse or school nursing services, the student's parent or guardian must submit written verification from the prescribing professional that documents an assessment of the student's knowledge and skills to safely possess and use an asthma inhaler in a school setting has been completed.

History:

2001 c 84 s 2

121A.222 POSSESSION AND USE OF NONPRESCRIPTION PAIN RELIEVERS BY SECONDARY STUDENTS.

A secondary student may possess and use nonprescription pain relief in a manner consistent with the labeling, if the district has received a written authorization from the student's parent or guardian permitting the student to self-administer the medication. The parent or guardian must submit written authorization for the student to self-administer the medication each school year. The district may revoke a student's privilege to possess and use nonprescription pain relievers if the district determines that the student is abusing the privilege. This section does not apply to the possession or use of any drug or product containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as its sole active ingredient or as one of its active ingredients.

History:

2005 c 126 s 1

121A.23 PROGRAMS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE THE RISKS OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND DISEASES.

Subdivision 1.Sexually transmitted infections and diseases program.

The commissioner of education, in consultation with the commissioner of health, shall assist districts in developing and implementing a program to prevent and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections and diseases, including but not exclusive to human immune deficiency virus and human papilloma virus. Each district must have a program that includes at least:

(1) planning materials, guidelines, and other technically accurate and updated information;

(2) a comprehensive, technically accurate, and updated curriculum that includes helping students to abstain from sexual activity until marriage;

(3) cooperation and coordination among districts and SCs;

(4) a targeting of adolescents, especially those who may be at high risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections and diseases, for prevention efforts;

(5) involvement of parents and other community members;

(6) in-service training for appropriate district staff and school board members;

(7) collaboration with state agencies and organizations having a sexually transmitted infection and disease prevention or sexually transmitted infection and disease risk reduction program;

(8) collaboration with local community health services, agencies and organizations having a sexually transmitted infection and disease prevention or sexually transmitted infection and disease risk reduction program; and

(9) participation by state and local student organizations.

The department may provide assistance at a neutral site to a nonpublic school participating in a district's program. District programs must not conflict with the health and wellness curriculum developed under Laws 1987, chapter 398, article 5, section 2, subdivision 7.

If a district fails to develop and implement a program to prevent and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infection and disease, the department must assist the service cooperative in the region serving that district to develop or implement the program.

Subd. 2.Funding sources.

Districts may accept funds for sexually transmitted infection and disease prevention programs developed and implemented under this section from public and private sources including public health funds and foundations, department professional development funds, federal block grants or other federal or state grants.

121A.25 CHEMICAL ABUSE PREASSESSMENT TEAMS; DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Applicability.

The definitions in this section apply to sections 121A.26 to 121A.29 and 121A.61, subdivision 3.

Subd. 2.Controlled substances.

"Controlled substances" means the term as defined in section 152.01, subdivision 4, and "marijuana" as defined in section 152.01, subdivision 9.

Subd. 3.Chemical abuse.

"Chemical abuse" means use of any psychoactive or mood-altering chemical substance, without compelling medical reason, in a manner that induces mental, emotional, or physical impairment and causes socially dysfunctional or socially disordering behavior, to the extent that the minor's normal functioning in academic, school, or social activities is chronically impaired.

Subd. 4.Teachers.

"Teachers" has the meaning given it in section 122A.15, subdivision 1.

121A.26 SCHOOL PREASSESSMENT TEAMS.

Every public school, and every nonpublic school that participates in a school district chemical abuse program shall establish a chemical abuse preassessment team. The preassessment team must be composed of classroom teachers, administrators, and to the extent they exist in each school, school nurse, school counselor or psychologist, social worker, chemical abuse specialist, and other appropriate professional staff. The superintendents or their designees shall designate the team members in the public schools. The preassessment team is responsible for addressing reports of chemical abuse problems and making recommendations for appropriate responses to the individual reported cases.

Within 45 days after receiving an individual reported case, the preassessment team shall make a determination whether to provide the student and, in the case of a minor, the student's parents with information about school and community services in connection with chemical abuse. Data may be disclosed without consent in health and safety emergencies pursuant to section 13.32 and applicable federal law and regulations.

Notwithstanding section 138.163, destruction of records identifying individual students shall be governed by this section. If the preassessment team decides not to provide a student and, in the case of a minor, the student's parents with information about school or community services in connection with chemical abuse, records created or maintained by the preassessment team about the student shall be destroyed not later than six months after the determination is made. If the preassessment team decides to provide a student and, in the case of a minor, the student's parents with information about school or community services in connection with chemical abuse, records created or maintained by the preassessment team about the student shall be destroyed not later than six months after the student is no longer enrolled in the district.

121A.27 [Repealed, 2009 c 96 art 6 s 12]

121A.28 LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS.

A law enforcement agency shall provide notice of any drug incident occurring within the agency's jurisdiction, in which the agency has probable cause to believe a student violated section 152.021, 152.022, 152.023, 152.024, 152.025, 152.0262, 152.027, 152.092, 152.097, or 340A.503, subdivision 1, 2, or 3. The notice shall be in writing and shall be provided, within two weeks after an incident occurs, to the chemical abuse preassessment team in the school where the student is enrolled.

121A.29 REPORTING; CHEMICAL ABUSE.

Subdivision 1.Teacher's duty.

A teacher in a nonpublic school participating in a school district chemical use program, or a public school teacher, who knows or has reason to believe that a student is using, possessing, or transferring alcohol or a controlled substance while on the school premises or involved in school-related activities, shall immediately notify the school's chemical abuse preassessment team of this information. A teacher who complies with this section shall be defended and indemnified under section 466.07, subdivision 1, in any action for damages arising out of the compliance.

Subd. 2.Other reports.

Nothing in this section prevents a teacher or any other school employee from reporting to a law enforcement agency any violation of law occurring on school premises or at school sponsored events.

121A.30 PESTICIDE APPLICATION AT SCHOOLS.

Subdivision 1.Parents' Right-to-Know Act.

Subdivisions 2 to 14 may be cited as the Janet B. Johnson Parents' Right-to-Know Act of 2000.

Subd. 2.Pesticide application notification.

A school that plans to apply a pesticide which is a toxicity category I, II, or III pesticide product, as classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or a restricted use pesticide, as designated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, on school property, must provide a notice to parents and employees that it applies such pesticides. The notice required under subdivision 3 must:

(1) provide that an estimated schedule of the pesticide applications is available for review or copying at the school offices where such pesticides are applied;

(2) state that long-term health effects on children from the application of such pesticides or the class of chemicals to which they belong may not be fully understood;

(3) inform parents that a parent may request to be notified by the school in the manner specified in subdivision 6 before any application of a pesticide listed in this subdivision.

Subd. 3.Notice; timing; distribution.

The notice must be provided no later than September 15 of each school year during which pesticides listed in subdivision 2 are planned to be applied. The notice may be included with other notices provided by the school, but must be separately identified and clearly visible to the reader.

Subd. 4.School handbook or statement of policies.

In addition to the notice provided according to subdivision 3, a school that is required to provide notice under this section shall include in an official school handbook or official school policy guide of a general nature a section informing parents that an estimated schedule of applications of pesticides listed in subdivision 2 is available for review or copying at the school offices, and that a parent may receive prior notice of each application if specifically requested.

Subd. 5.Notice availability.

A school that uses a pesticide listed in subdivision 2 must keep a copy of all notifications required under subdivisions 2 and 3 for at least six years in a manner available to the public.

Subd. 6.Notification for individual parents.

A parent of a student at a school may request that the school principal or other person having general control and supervision of the school notify the parent prior to the application of any pesticides listed in subdivision 2 at the school on a day different from the days specified in the notice under subdivision 3. The school principal or other person having general control and supervision of the school must provide reasonable notice to a parent who has requested such notification prior to applying such pesticides. The notice may be waived for emergency applications required only by appropriate state or local health officials. The notice must include the pesticide to be applied, the time of the planned application, and the location at the school of the planned application. A school may request reimbursement for the school's reasonable costs of providing notice under this subdivision, including any costs of mailing, from individuals requesting notification under this subdivision.

Subd. 7.Model notice.

The Department of Health, in consultation with the Department of Education, the Pollution Control Agency, and University of Minnesota Extension Service, shall develop and make available to schools by August 1, 2000, a model notice in a form that can be used by a school if it chooses to do so. The model notice must include the information required by this section. The Department of Health must provide an opportunity for environmental groups, interested parents, public health organizations, and other parties to work with the department in developing the model notice.

Subd. 8.Plan.

A school is not required to adopt an integrated pest management plan. A school board may only notify students, parents, or employees that it has adopted an integrated pest management plan if the plan is a managed pest control program designed to minimize the risk to human health and the environment and to reduce the use of chemical pesticides, and which ranks the district's response to pests in the following manner:

(1) identifying pests which need to be controlled;

(2) establishing tolerable limits of each identified pest;

(3) designing future buildings and landscapes to prevent identified pests;

(4) excluding identified pests from sites and buildings using maintenance practices;

(5) adapting cleaning activities and best management practices to minimize the number of pests;

(6) using mechanical methods of controlling identified pests; and

(7) controlling identified pests using the least toxic pesticides with the least exposure to persons as is practicable.

Subd. 9.Pesticide defined; cleaning products excluded.

For purposes of this section, the term "pesticide" has the meaning given it in section 18B.01, subdivision 18, except that it does not include any disinfectants, sanitizers, deodorizers, or antimicrobial agents used for general cleaning purposes.

Subd. 10.Pest defined.

For purposes of this section, the term "pest" has the meaning given it in section 18B.01, subdivision 17.

Subd. 11.School defined.

For the purposes of this section, "school" means a school as defined in section 120A.22, subdivision 4, excluding home schools.

Subd. 12.Immunity from liability.

No cause of action may be brought against a school district, a school, or the districts or school's employees or agents for any failure to comply with the requirements under this section.

Subd. 13.Evidence of failure to comply excluded.

A failure to comply with the requirements of this section may not be presented as evidence in any lawsuit based upon physical injury resulting from exposure to pesticides applied at a school.

Subd. 14.No special rights.

Nothing in this section affects the duty of a parent or a student to comply with the compulsory attendance law or the duty of a school employee to comply with the provisions of an applicable employment contract or policy.

121A.31 SAFETY REQUIREMENT GUIDELINES.

The department, in cooperation with the Minnesota Fire Marshal's Division, must develop guidelines for school lab safety. The guidelines shall include a list of safety requirements and an explanation of the minimum state and national laws, codes, and standards affecting school lab safety the Minnesota fire marshal considers necessary for schools to implement. The district superintendent shall ensure that every school lab within the district complies with the school lab safety requirements. Lack of funding is not an excuse for noncompliance.

121A.32 EYE PROTECTIVE DEVICES.

Subdivision 1.Requirement to wear eye protective devices.

Every person shall wear industrial quality eye protective devices when participating in, observing or performing any function in connection with, any courses or activities taking place in eye protection areas, as defined in subdivision 3, of any school, college, university or other educational institution in the state.

Subd. 2.Penalty for failure to wear eye protective devices.

Any student failing to comply with such requirements may be temporarily suspended from participation in said course and the registration of a student for such course may be canceled for willful, flagrant, or repeated failure to observe the above requirements.

Subd. 3.Eye protection areas.

Eye protection areas shall include, but not to be limited to, vocational or industrial art shops, science or other school laboratories, or school or institutional facilities in which activities are taking place and materials are being used involving:

(1) hot molten metals;

(2) milling, sawing, turning, shaping, cutting, grinding or stamping of any solid materials;

(3) heat treatment, tempering or kiln firing of any metal or other materials;

(4) gas or electric arc welding;

(5) repair or servicing of any vehicle or mechanical equipment;

(6) any other activity or operation involving work in any area that is potentially hazardous to the eye.

Subd. 4.Protective-corrective lenses.

Any person desiring protective-corrective lenses instead of the protective devices supplied by the educational institution shall pay for, procure, keep, and use industrial quality eye protective devices.

Subd. 5.Industrial quality eye protective devices defined.

"Industrial quality eye protective devices," as used in this section, shall mean devices meeting the standards of the American National Standard Institute, currently identified as Z87.1-1968.

121A.33 CERTAIN MERCURY USE IN SCHOOLS PROHIBITED.

(a) For the purposes of this section, "school" has the meaning given under section 120A.22, subdivision 4, excluding home schools.

(b) After December 31, 2007, a school shall not:

(1) purchase or use elemental mercury for any purpose; and

(2) purchase or use an instrument of measurement that contains mercury, including, but not limited to, a thermometer, barometer, or sphygmomanometer, or a manometer containing mercury.

(c) After December 31, 2009, a school shall not:

(1) store elemental mercury for any purpose; and

(2) store an instrument of measurement that contains mercury, including, but not limited to, a thermometer, barometer, sphygmomanometer, or a manometer containing mercury.

(d) This section does not apply to thermostats for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in the school.

History:

2007 c 109 s 16

121A.34 SCHOOL SAFETY PATROLS.

Subdivision 1.Establishment.

In the exercise of authorized control and supervision over pupils attending schools and other educational institutions, both public and private, the governing board or other directing authority of any such school or institution is empowered to authorize the organization and supervision of school safety patrols for the purpose of influencing and encouraging other pupils to refrain from crossing public highways at points other than regular crossings and for the purpose of directing pupils when and where to cross highways.

Subd. 2.Appointment of members.

Unless the parents or guardian of a pupil object in writing to the school authorities to the appointment of the pupil on a school safety patrol, it is lawful for any pupil over nine years of age to be appointed and designated as a member of the patrol in any school in which there are no pupils who have attained such age, any pupil in the highest grade therein may be so appointed and designated. School authorities may also appoint and designate nonpupil adults as members of a school safety patrol on a voluntary or for-hire basis.

Subd. 3.Liability not to attach.

No liability shall attach either to the school, educational institution, governing board, directing authority, or any individual director, board member, superintendent, principal, teacher, or other school authority by virtue of the organization, maintenance, or operation of such a school safety patrol because of injuries sustained by any pupil, whether a member of the patrol or otherwise by reason of the operation and maintenance of the patrol.

Subd. 4.Identify, operation.

Identification and operation of school safety patrols shall be uniform throughout the state and the method of identification and signals to be used shall be as prescribed by the commissioner of public safety. School safety patrol members may wear fluorescent reflective vests.

Subd. 5.Belts and other accessories.

Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 7415.0300, vests, sashes, ponchos, and Sam Browne belts worn by school safety patrol members may be fluorescent yellow, fluorescent yellow-green, or blaze orange.

Subd. 6.School safety patrol flags.

Notwithstanding any rule of the commissioner of public safety, school safety patrol flags may be (1) blaze orange with a yellow octagon bearing the word "Stop" in black letters, or (2) fluorescent yellow or fluorescent yellow-green with an octagon of sharply contrasting color bearing the word "Stop" in black letters.

121A.36 MOTORCYCLE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.Established; administration; rules.

A motorcycle safety education program is established. The program shall be administered by the commissioners of public safety and education. The program shall include but is not limited to training and coordination of motorcycle safety instructors, motorcycle safety promotion and public information, and reimbursement for the cost of approved courses offered by schools and organizations.

Subd. 2.Reimbursements.

The commissioner of education, to the extent that funds are available, may reimburse schools and other approved organizations offering approved motorcycle safety education courses for up to 50 percent of the actual cost of the courses. If sufficient funds are not available, reimbursements shall be prorated. The commissioner may conduct audits and otherwise examine the records and accounts of schools and approved organizations offering the courses to insure the accuracy of the costs.

Subd. 3.Appropriation.

(a) All funds in the motorcycle safety fund created by section 171.06, subdivision 2a, are hereby annually appropriated to the commissioner of public safety to carry out the purposes of subdivisions 1 and 2. The commissioner of public safety may make grants from the fund to the commissioner of education at such times and in such amounts as the commissioner deems necessary to carry out the purposes of subdivisions 1 and 2.

(b) Of the money appropriated under paragraph (a):

(1) not more than five percent shall be expended to defray the administrative costs of carrying out the purposes of subdivisions 1 and 2; and

(2) not more than 65 percent shall be expended for the combined purpose of training and coordinating the activities of motorcycle safety instructors and making reimbursements to schools and other approved organizations.

PUPIL FAIR DISMISSAL ACT

121A.40 CITATION.

Sections 121A.40 to 121A.56 may be cited as the "Pupil Fair Dismissal Act."

121A.41 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Applicability.

As used in sections 121A.40 to 121A.56, the terms defined in this section shall have the meanings assigned them.

Subd. 2.Dismissal.

"Dismissal" means the denial of the current educational program to any pupil, including exclusion, expulsion, and suspension. It does not include removal from class.

Subd. 3.District.

"District" means any school district.

Subd. 4.Exclusion.

"Exclusion" means an action taken by the school board to prevent enrollment or reenrollment of a pupil for a period that shall not extend beyond the school year.

Subd. 5.Expulsion.

"Expulsion" means a school board action to prohibit an enrolled pupil from further attendance for up to 12 months from the date the pupil is expelled.

Subd. 6.Parent.

"Parent" means (a) one of the pupil's parents, (b) in the case of divorce or legal separation, the parent or parents with physical custody of the pupil, including a noncustodial parent with legal custody who has provided the district with a current address and telephone number, or (c) a legally appointed guardian. In the case of a pupil with a disability under the age of 18, parent may include a district-appointed surrogate parent.

Subd. 7.Pupil.

(a) "Pupil" means any student:

(1) without a disability under 21 years of age; or

(2) with a disability under 21 years old who has not received a regular high school diploma or for a child with a disability who becomes 21 years old during the school year but has not received a regular high school diploma, until the end of that school year; and

(3) who remains eligible to attend a public elementary or secondary school.

(b) A "student with a disability" or a "pupil with a disability" has the same meaning as a "child with a disability" under section 125A.02.

Subd. 8.School.

"School" means any school defined in section 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, 13, and 17.

Subd. 9.School board.

"School board" means the governing body of any school district.

Subd. 10.Suspension.

"Suspension" means an action by the school administration, under rules promulgated by the school board, prohibiting a pupil from attending school for a period of no more than ten school days. If a suspension is longer than five days, the suspending administrator must provide the superintendent with a reason for the longer suspension. This definition does not apply to dismissal from school for one school day or less, except as provided in federal law for a student with a disability. Each suspension action may include a readmission plan. The readmission plan shall include, where appropriate, a provision for implementing alternative educational services upon readmission and may not be used to extend the current suspension. Consistent with section 125A.091, subdivision 5, the readmission plan must not obligate a parent to provide a sympathomimetic medication for the parent's child as a condition of readmission. The school administration may not impose consecutive suspensions against the same pupil for the same course of conduct, or incident of misconduct, except where the pupil will create an immediate and substantial danger to self or to surrounding persons or property, or where the district is in the process of initiating an expulsion, in which case the school administration may extend the suspension to a total of 15 school days.

Subd. 11.Alternative educational services.

"Alternative educational services" may include, but are not limited to, special tutoring, modified curriculum, modified instruction, other modifications or adaptations, instruction through electronic media, special education services as indicated by appropriate assessment, homebound instruction, supervised homework, or enrollment in another district or in an alternative learning center under section 123A.05 selected to allow the pupil to progress toward meeting graduation standards under section 120B.02, although in a different setting.

121A.42 POLICY.

No public school shall deny due process or equal protection of the law to any public school pupil involved in a dismissal proceeding which may result in suspension, exclusion, or expulsion.

121A.43 EXCLUSION AND EXPULSION OF PUPILS WITH A DISABILITY.

(a) Consistent with federal law governing days of removal and section 121A.46, school personnel may suspend a child with a disability. When a child with a disability has been suspended for more than five consecutive school days or ten cumulative school days in the same school year, and that suspension does not involve a recommendation for expulsion or exclusion or other change of placement under federal law, relevant members of the child's individualized education program team, including at least one of the child's teachers, shall meet and determine the extent to which the child needs services in order to continue to participate in the general education curriculum, although in another setting, and to progress toward meeting the goals in the child's individualized education program. That meeting must occur as soon as possible, but no more than ten days after the sixth consecutive day of suspension or the tenth cumulative day of suspension has elapsed.

(b) A dismissal for one school day or less is a day or a partial day of suspension if the child with a disability does not receive regular or special education instruction during that dismissal period. The notice requirements under section 121A.46 do not apply to a dismissal of one day or less.

(c) A child with a disability shall be provided alternative educational services to the extent a suspension exceeds five consecutive school days.

(d) Before initiating an expulsion or exclusion under sections 121A.40 to 121A.56, the district, relevant members of the child's individualized education program team, and the child's parent shall, consistent with federal law, determine whether the child's behavior was caused by or had a direct and substantial relationship to the child's disability and whether the child's conduct was a direct result of a failure to implement the child's individualized education program. When a child with a disability who has an individualized education program is excluded or expelled under sections 121A.40 to 121A.56 for misbehavior that is not a manifestation of the child's disability, the district shall continue to provide special education and related services during the exclusion or expulsion.

121A.44 EXPULSION FOR POSSESSION OF FIREARM.

(a) Notwithstanding the time limitation in section 121A.41, subdivision 5, a school board must expel for a period of at least one year a pupil who is determined to have brought a firearm to school except the board may modify this expulsion requirement for a pupil on a case-by-case basis. For the purposes of this section, firearm is as defined in United States Code, title 18, section 921.

(b) Notwithstanding chapter 13, a student's expulsion or withdrawal or transfer from a school after an expulsion action is initiated against the student for a weapons violation under paragraph (a) may be disclosed by the school district initiating the expulsion proceeding. Unless the information is otherwise public, the disclosure may be made only to another school district in connection with the possible admission of the student to the other district.

121A.45 GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL.

Subdivision 1.Provision of alternative programs.

No school shall dismiss any pupil without attempting to provide alternative educational services before dismissal proceedings, except where it appears that the pupil will create an immediate and substantial danger to self or to surrounding persons or property.

Subd. 2.Grounds for dismissal.

A pupil may be dismissed on any of the following grounds:

(a) willful violation of any reasonable school board regulation. Such regulation must be clear and definite to provide notice to pupils that they must conform their conduct to its requirements;

(b) willful conduct that significantly disrupts the rights of others to an education, or the ability of school personnel to perform their duties, or school sponsored extracurricular activities; or

(c) willful conduct that endangers the pupil or other pupils, or surrounding persons, including school district employees, or property of the school.

Subd. 3.Parent notification and meeting.

If a pupil's total days of removal from school exceeds ten cumulative days in a school year, the school district shall make reasonable attempts to convene a meeting with the pupil and the pupil's parent or guardian before subsequently removing the pupil from school and, with the permission of the parent or guardian, arrange for a mental health screening for the pupil. The district is not required to pay for the mental health screening. The purpose of this meeting is to attempt to determine the pupil's need for assessment or other services or whether the parent or guardian should have the pupil assessed or diagnosed to determine whether the pupil needs treatment for a mental health disorder.

121A.46 SUSPENSION PROCEDURES.

Subdivision 1.Informal administrative conference before suspension.

The school administration shall not suspend a pupil from school without an informal administrative conference with the pupil. The informal administrative conference shall take place before the suspension, except where it appears that the pupil will create an immediate and substantial danger to self or to surrounding persons or property, in which case the conference shall take place as soon as practicable following the suspension.

Subd. 2.Administrator notifies pupil of grounds for suspension.

At the informal administrative conference, a school administrator shall notify the pupil of the grounds for the suspension, provide an explanation of the evidence the authorities have, and the pupil may present the pupil's version of the facts.

Subd. 3.Written notice of grounds for suspension.

A written notice containing the grounds for suspension, a brief statement of the facts, a description of the testimony, a readmission plan, and a copy of sections 121A.40 to 121A.56, shall be personally served upon the pupil at or before the time the suspension is to take effect, and upon the pupil's parent or guardian by mail within 48 hours of the conference. The district shall make reasonable efforts to notify the parents of the suspension by telephone as soon as possible following suspension. In the event a pupil is suspended without an informal administrative conference on the grounds that the pupil will create an immediate and substantial danger to surrounding persons or property, the written notice shall be served upon the pupil and the pupil's parent or guardian within 48 hours of the suspension. Service by mail is complete upon mailing.

Subd. 4.Suspension pending expulsion or exclusion hearing.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions 1 and 3, the pupil may be suspended pending the school board's decision in the expulsion or exclusion hearing; provided that alternative educational services are implemented to the extent that suspension exceeds five days.

121A.47 EXCLUSION AND EXPULSION PROCEDURES.

Subdivision 1.Requiring a hearing; pupil may waive hearing.

No exclusion or expulsion shall be imposed without a hearing, unless the right to a hearing is waived in writing by the pupil and parent or guardian. The action shall be initiated by the school board or its agent.

Subd. 2.Written notice.

Written notice of intent to take action shall:

(a) be served upon the pupil and the pupil's parent or guardian personally or by mail;

(b) contain a complete statement of the facts, a list of the witnesses and a description of their testimony;

(c) state the date, time, and place of the hearing;

(d) be accompanied by a copy of sections 121A.40 to 121A.56;

(e) describe alternative educational services accorded the pupil in an attempt to avoid the expulsion proceedings; and

(f) inform the pupil and parent or guardian of the right to:

(1) have a representative of the pupil's own choosing, including legal counsel, at the hearing. The district shall advise the pupil's parent or guardian that free or low-cost legal assistance may be available and that a legal assistance resource list is available from the Department of Education;

(2) examine the pupil's records before the hearing;

(3) present evidence; and

(4) confront and cross-examine witnesses.

Subd. 3.Hearing schedule.

The hearing shall be scheduled within ten days of the service of the written notice unless an extension, not to exceed five days, is requested for good cause by the school board, pupil, parent or guardian.

Subd. 4.Convenient time and place of hearing.

The hearing shall be at a time and place reasonably convenient to pupil, parent or guardian.

Subd. 5.Closed or open hearing.

The hearing shall be closed unless the pupil, parent or guardian requests an open hearing.

Subd. 6.Impartial hearer.

The hearing shall take place before:

(1) an independent hearing officer;

(2) a member of the school board;

(3) a committee of the school board; or

(4) the full school board;

as determined by the school board. The hearing shall be conducted in a fair and impartial manner.

Subd. 7.Creating hearing record.

The school board shall record the hearing proceedings at district expense, and a party may obtain a transcript at its own expense. Testimony shall be given under oath. The hearing officer or a member of the school board shall have the power to issue subpoenas and administer oaths.

Subd. 8.Access to pupil's records.

At a reasonable time prior to the hearing, the pupil, parent or guardian, or representative, shall be given access to all public school system records pertaining to the pupil, including any tests or reports upon which the proposed action may be based.

Subd. 9.Pupil's right to compel testimony.

The pupil, parent or guardian, or representative, shall have the right to compel the attendance of any official employee or agent of the public school system or any public employee or any other person who may have evidence upon which the proposed action may be based, and to confront and to cross-examine any witness testifying for the public school system.

Subd. 10.Pupil's right to present evidence and testimony.

The pupil, parent or guardian, or representative, shall have the right to present evidence and testimony, including expert psychological or educational testimony.

Subd. 11.Pupil not compelled to testify.

The pupil cannot be compelled to testify in the dismissal proceedings.

Subd. 12.Hearer's recommendation limited to evidence at hearing; service within two days.

The recommendation of the hearing officer or school board member or committee shall be based solely upon substantial evidence presented at the hearing and must be made to the school board and served upon the parties within two days of the end of the hearing.

Subd. 13.Basis of school board decision; opportunity for comment.

The school board shall base its decision upon the recommendation of the hearing officer or school board member or committee and shall render its decision at a meeting held within five days after receiving the recommendation. The school board may provide the parties with the opportunity to present exceptions and comments to the hearing officer's recommendations provided that neither party presents any evidence not admitted at the hearing. The decision by the school board must be based on the record, must be in writing, and must state the controlling facts on which the decision is made in sufficient detail to apprise the parties and the commissioner of education of the basis and reason for the decision.

Subd. 14.Admission or readmission plan.

(a) A school administrator shall prepare and enforce an admission or readmission plan for any pupil who is excluded or expelled from school. The plan may include measures to improve the pupil's behavior, including completing a character education program, consistent with section 120B.232, subdivision 1, and require parental involvement in the admission or readmission process, and may indicate the consequences to the pupil of not improving the pupil's behavior.

(b) The definition of suspension under section 121A.41, subdivision 10, does not apply to a student's dismissal from school for one school day or less, except as provided under federal law for a student with a disability. Each suspension action may include a readmission plan. A readmission plan must provide, where appropriate, alternative education services, which must not be used to extend the student's current suspension period. Consistent with section 125A.091, subdivision 5, a readmission plan must not obligate a parent or guardian to provide psychotropic drugs to their student as a condition of readmission. School officials must not use the refusal of a parent or guardian to consent to the administration of psychotropic drugs to their student or to consent to a psychiatric evaluation, screening or examination of the student as a ground, by itself, to prohibit the student from attending class or participating in a school-related activity, or as a basis of a charge of child abuse, child neglect or medical or educational neglect.

121A.48 GOOD FAITH EXCEPTION.

A violation of the technical provisions of the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, made in good faith, is not a defense to a disciplinary procedure under the act unless the pupil can demonstrate actual prejudice as a result of the violation.

121A.49 APPEAL.

A party to an exclusion or expulsion decision made under sections 121A.40 to 121A.56 may appeal the decision to the commissioner of education within 21 calendar days of school board action. Upon being served with a notice of appeal, the district shall provide the commissioner and the parent or guardian with a complete copy of the hearing record within five days of its receipt of the notice of appeal. All written submissions by the appellant must be submitted and served on the respondent within ten days of its actual receipt of the transcript. All written submissions by the respondent must be submitted and served on the appellant within ten days of its actual receipt of the written submissions of the appellant. The decision of the school board must be implemented during the appeal to the commissioner.

In an appeal under this section, the commissioner may affirm the decision of the agency, may remand the decision for additional findings, or may reverse or modify the decision if the substantial rights of the petitioners have been prejudiced because the administrative findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions are:

(1) in violation of constitutional provisions;

(2) in excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the school district;

(3) made upon unlawful procedure, except as provided in section 121A.48;

(4) affected by other error of law;

(5) unsupported by substantial evidence in view of the entire record submitted; or

(6) arbitrary or capricious.

The commissioner or the commissioner's representative shall make a final decision based upon the record. The commissioner shall issue a decision within 30 calendar days of receiving the entire record and the parties' written submission on appeal. The commissioner's decision shall be final and binding upon the parties after the time for appeal expires under section 121A.50.

121A.50 JUDICIAL REVIEW.

The decision of the commissioner of education made under sections 121A.40 to 121A.56 is subject to judicial review under sections 14.63 to 14.69. The decision of the commissioner is stayed pending an appeal under this section.

121A.51 REPORTS TO SERVICE AGENCY.

The school board shall report any action taken pursuant to sections 121A.40 to 121A.56 to the appropriate public service agency, when the pupil is under the supervision of such agency.

History:

1974 c 572 s 9; 1998 c 397 art 9 s 26; art 11 s 3

121A.52 NONAPPLICATION OF COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAW.

The provisions of section 120A.22, subdivision 5, shall not apply to any pupil during a dismissal pursuant to sections 121A.40 to 121A.56.

121A.53 REPORT TO COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.

Subdivision 1.Exclusions and expulsions.

The school board must report through the department electronic reporting system each exclusion or expulsion within 30 days of the effective date of the action to the commissioner of education. This report must include a statement of alternative educational services given the pupil and the reason for, the effective date, and the duration of the exclusion or expulsion. The report must also include the student's age, grade, gender, race, and special education status.

Subd. 2.Report.

The school board must include state student identification numbers of affected pupils on all dismissal reports required by the department. The department must report annually to the commissioner summary data on the number of dismissals by age, grade, gender, race, and special education status of the affected pupils. All dismissal reports must be submitted through the department electronic reporting system.

121A.54 NOTICE OF RIGHT TO BE REINSTATED.

Whenever a pupil fails to return to school within ten school days of the termination of dismissal, a school administrator shall inform the pupil and the pupil's parents by mail of the pupil's right to attend and to be reinstated in the public school.

121A.55 POLICIES TO BE ESTABLISHED.

(a) The commissioner of education shall promulgate guidelines to assist each school board. Each school board shall establish uniform criteria for dismissal and adopt written policies and rules to effectuate the purposes of sections 121A.40 to 121A.56. The policies shall emphasize preventing dismissals through early detection of problems and shall be designed to address students' inappropriate behavior from recurring. The policies shall recognize the continuing responsibility of the school for the education of the pupil during the dismissal period. The alternative educational services, if the pupil wishes to take advantage of them, must be adequate to allow the pupil to make progress towards meeting the graduation standards adopted under section 120B.02 and help prepare the pupil for readmission.

(b) An area learning center under section 123A.05 may not prohibit an expelled or excluded pupil from enrolling solely because a district expelled or excluded the pupil. The board of the area learning center may use the provisions of the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act to exclude a pupil or to require an admission plan.

(c) Each school district shall develop a policy and report it to the commissioner on the appropriate use of peace officers and crisis teams to remove students who have an individualized education plan from school grounds.

121A.56 APPLICATION.

Subdivision 1.Prohibition against discrimination remains in effect.

Sections 121A.40 to 121A.56 shall not be deemed to amend or otherwise affect or change section 363A.13, subdivision 2.

Subd. 2.Portions of school program for credit.

Sections 121A.40 to 121A.56 shall apply only to those portions of the school program for which credit is granted.

History:

1974 c 572 s 14,15; 1998 c 397 art 9 s 26; art 11 s 3

121A.57 [Renumbered 121A.035]

121A.575 ALTERNATIVES TO PUPIL SUSPENSION.

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary and in accordance with sections 121A.40 to 121A.56, after a school administration notifies a pupil of the grounds for suspension, the school administration may, instead of imposing the suspension, do one or more of the following:

(1) strongly encourage a parent or guardian of the pupil to attend school with the pupil for one day;

(2) assign the pupil to attend school on Saturday as supervised by the principal or the principal's designee; and

(3) petition the juvenile court that the student is in need of services under chapter 260C.

DISCIPLINE; ALL STUDENTS

121A.58 CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

Subdivision 1.Definition.

For the purpose of this section, "corporal punishment" means conduct involving:

(1) hitting or spanking a person with or without an object; or

(2) unreasonable physical force that causes bodily harm or substantial emotional harm.

Subd. 2.Corporal punishment not allowed.

An employee or agent of a district shall not inflict corporal punishment or cause corporal punishment to be inflicted upon a pupil to reform unacceptable conduct or as a penalty for unacceptable conduct.

Subd. 3.Violation.

Conduct that violates subdivision 2 is not a crime under section 645.241, but may be a crime under chapter 609 if the conduct violates a provision of chapter 609.

121A.582 STUDENT DISCIPLINE; REASONABLE FORCE.

Subdivision 1.Reasonable force standard.

(a) A teacher or school principal, in exercising the person's lawful authority, may use reasonable force when it is necessary under the circumstances to correct or restrain a student or prevent bodily harm or death to another.

(b) A school employee, school bus driver, or other agent of a district, in exercising the person's lawful authority, may use reasonable force when it is necessary under the circumstances to restrain a student or prevent bodily harm or death to another.

(c) Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not authorize conduct prohibited under sections 121A.58 and 121A.67.

Subd. 2.Civil liability.

(a) A teacher or school principal who, in the exercise of the person's lawful authority, uses reasonable force under the standard in subdivision 1, paragraph (a), has a defense against a civil action for damages under section 123B.25.

(b) A school employee, bus driver, or other agent of a district who, in the exercise of the person's lawful authority, uses reasonable force under the standard in subdivision 1, paragraph (b), has a defense against a civil action for damages under section 123B.25.

Subd. 3.Criminal prosecution.

(a) A teacher or school principal who, in the exercise of the person's lawful authority, uses reasonable force under the standard in subdivision 1, paragraph (a), has a defense against a criminal prosecution under section 609.06, subdivision 1.

(b) A school employee, bus driver, or other agent of a district who, in the exercise of the person's lawful authority, uses reasonable force under the standard in subdivision 1, paragraph (b), has a defense against a criminal prosecution under section 609.06, subdivision 1.

Subd. 4.Supplementary rights and defenses.

Any right or defense in this section is supplementary to those specified in section 121A.58, 121A.67, 123B.25, or 609.06, subdivision 1.

121A.585 NOTICE OF RECORDING DEVICE ON A SCHOOL BUS.

If a video or audio recording device is placed on a school bus, the bus also must contain a sign or signs, conspicuously placed, notifying riders that their conversations or actions may be recorded on tape.

121A.59 BUS TRANSPORTATION A PRIVILEGE NOT A RIGHT.

Transportation by school bus is a privilege not a right for an eligible student. A student's eligibility to ride a school bus may be revoked for a violation of school bus safety or conduct policies, or for violation of any other law governing student conduct on a school bus, pursuant to a written school district discipline policy. Revocation of a student's bus riding privilege is not an exclusion, expulsion, or suspension under the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act. Revocation procedures for a student who is an individual with a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, United States Code, title 20, section 1400 et seq., section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, United States Code, title 29, section 794, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Public Law 101-336, are governed by these provisions.

121A.60 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Removal from class.

"Removal from class" and "removal" mean any actions taken by a teacher, principal, or other school district employee to prohibit a pupil from attending a class or activity period for a period of time not to exceed five days, pursuant to procedures established in the school district discipline policy adopted by the school board pursuant to section 121A.61.

Subd. 2.Class period.

"Class period" or "activity period" means a period of time as defined in the district's written discipline policy.

Subd. 3.School site mediation board.

"School site mediation board" means a board representative of parents of students in the building, staff, and students that shall have the responsibilities as defined in section 121A.62. The principal or other person having general control and supervision of the school, shall serve as an ex officio member of the board.

Subd. 4.School-based ombudsperson.

"School-based ombudsperson" means an administrator, a teacher, a parent, or a student representative who shall have the responsibilities under section 121A.63.

121A.61 DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL OF STUDENTS FROM CLASS.

Subdivision 1.Required policy.

Each school board must adopt a written districtwide school discipline policy which includes written rules of conduct for students, minimum consequences for violations of the rules, and grounds and procedures for removal of a student from class. The policy must be developed in consultation with administrators, teachers, employees, pupils, parents, community members, law enforcement agencies, county attorney offices, social service agencies, and such other individuals or organizations as the board determines appropriate. A school site council may adopt additional provisions to the policy subject to the approval of the school board.

Subd. 2.Grounds for removal from class.

The policy must establish the various grounds for which a student may be removed from a class in the district for a period of time under the procedures specified in the policy. The policy must include a procedure for notifying and meeting with a student's parent or guardian to discuss the problem that is causing the student to be removed from class after the student has been removed from class more than ten times in one school year. The grounds in the policy must include at least the following provisions as well as other grounds determined appropriate by the board:

(a) willful conduct that significantly disrupts the rights of others to an education, including conduct that interferes with a teacher's ability to teach or communicate effectively with students in a class or with the ability of other students to learn;

(b) willful conduct that endangers surrounding persons, including school district employees, the student or other students, or the property of the school; and

(c) willful violation of any rule of conduct specified in the discipline policy adopted by the board.

Subd. 3.Policy components.

The policy must include at least the following components:

(a) rules governing student conduct and procedures for informing students of the rules;

(b) the grounds for removal of a student from a class;

(c) the authority of the classroom teacher to remove students from the classroom pursuant to procedures and rules established in the district's policy;

(d) the procedures for removal of a student from a class by a teacher, school administrator, or other school district employee;

(e) the period of time for which a student may be removed from a class, which may not exceed five class periods for a violation of a rule of conduct;

(f) provisions relating to the responsibility for and custody of a student removed from a class;

(g) the procedures for return of a student to the specified class from which the student has been removed;

(h) the procedures for notifying a student and the student's parents or guardian of violations of the rules of conduct and of resulting disciplinary actions;

(i) any procedures determined appropriate for encouraging early involvement of parents or guardians in attempts to improve a student's behavior;

(j) any procedures determined appropriate for encouraging early detection of behavioral problems;

(k) any procedures determined appropriate for referring a student in need of special education services to those services;

(1) the procedures for consideration of whether there is a need for a further assessment or of whether there is a need for a review of the adequacy of a current individual education plan of a student with a disability who is removed from class;

(m) procedures for detecting and addressing chemical abuse problems of a student while on the school premises;

(n) the minimum consequences for violations of the code of conduct;

(o) procedures for immediate and appropriate interventions tied to violations of the code;

(p) a provision that states that a teacher, school employee, school bus driver, or other agent of a district may use reasonable force in compliance with section 121A.582 and other laws; and

(q) an agreement regarding procedures to coordinate crisis services to the extent funds are available with the county board responsible for implementing sections 245.487 to 245.4889 for students with a serious emotional disturbance or other students who have an individualized education plan whose behavior may be addressed by crisis intervention.

121A.62 SCHOOL SITE MEDIATION BOARD.

Subdivision 1.Board allowed.

A school district or school site council may establish a school site mediation board. The board must consist of equal numbers of staff and parents and, in the case of secondary schools, student representatives. Members shall be representative of the school community and must be selected by a method as determined in the district's discipline policy.

Subd. 2.Purposes and duties.

The board must mediate issues in dispute at the school site related to the implementation of district and school site codes of conduct under sections 121A.60 to 121A.64, and the application of the codes to a student.

121A.63 OMBUDSPERSON SERVICE.

A school district or school site council may establish an ombudsperson service for students, parents, and staff. The service must consist of an administrator, a student, a parent, and a teacher. The school site must notify students, parents, and staff of the availability of the service. The service must provide advocacy for enforcement of the codes of conduct and the procedures to remediate disputes related to implementation of the code of conduct and the goals of the school in maintaining an orderly learning environment for all students.

121A.64 NOTIFICATION; TEACHERS' LEGITIMATE EDUCATIONAL INTEREST.

(a) A classroom teacher has a legitimate educational interest in knowing which students placed in the teacher's classroom have a history of violent behavior and must be notified before such students are placed in the teacher's classroom.

(b) Representatives of the school board and the exclusive representative of the teachers shall discuss issues related to the model policy on student records adopted under Laws 1999, chapter 241, article 9, section 50, and any modifications adopted under Laws 2003, First Special Session chapter 9, for notifying classroom teachers and other school district employees having a legitimate educational interest in knowing about students with a history of violent behavior placed in classrooms. The representatives of the school board and the exclusive representative of the teachers also may discuss the need for intervention services or conflict resolution or training for staff related to placing students with a history of violent behavior in teachers' classrooms.

121A.65 REVIEW OF POLICY.

The principal or other person having general control and supervision of the school, and representatives of parents, students, and staff in a school building shall confer at least annually to review the discipline policy and to assess whether the policy has been enforced. A school board must conduct an annual review of the districtwide discipline policy.

121A.66 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Application.

For the purposes of providing instruction to children with a disability under sections 125A.03 to 125A.24, 125A.26 to 125A.48, 125A.65, this section, and section 121A.67, the following terms have the meanings given them.

Subd. 2.Aversive procedure.

"Aversive procedure" means the planned application of an aversive stimulus.

Subd. 3.Aversive stimulus.

"Aversive stimulus" means an object that is used, or an event or situation that occurs immediately after a specified behavior in order to suppress that behavior.

Subd. 4.Deprivation procedure.

"Deprivation procedure" means the planned delay or withdrawal of goods, services, or activities that the person would otherwise receive.

Subd. 5.Emergency.

"Emergency" means a situation in which immediate intervention is necessary to protect a pupil or other individual from physical injury or to prevent serious property damage.

Subd. 6.Positive behavioral interventions and supports.

"Positive behavioral interventions and supports" means those strategies used to improve the school environment and teach pupils skills likely to increase pupil ability to exhibit appropriate behaviors.

Subd. 7.Time-out.

"Time-out" means:

(1) a contingent observation, which is not a regulated intervention, and involves instructing the pupil to leave the school activity during the school day and not participate for a period of time, but to observe the activity and listen to the discussion from a time-out area within the same setting;

(2) an exclusionary time-out, which is not a regulated intervention, and involves instructing the pupil to leave the school activity during the school day and not participate in or observe the classroom activity, but to go to another area from which the pupil may leave; or

(3) a locked time-out, which is a regulated intervention, and involves involuntarily removing the pupil from the school activity during the school day and placing the pupil in a specially designed and continuously supervised isolation room that the pupil is prevented from leaving.

121A.67 AVERSIVE AND DEPRIVATION PROCEDURES.

Subdivision 1.Rules.

The commissioner, after consultation with interested parent organizations and advocacy groups, the Minnesota Administrators for Special Education, the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, Education Minnesota, the Minnesota School Boards Association, the Minnesota Police Officers Association, a representative of a bargaining unit that represents paraprofessionals, the Elementary School Principals Association, and the Secondary School Principals Association, must amend rules governing the use of aversive and deprivation procedures by school district employees or persons under contract with a school district. The rules must:

(1) promote the use of positive behavioral interventions and supports and must not encourage or require the use of aversive or deprivation procedures;

(2) require that planned application of aversive and deprivation procedures only be instituted after completing a functional behavior assessment and developing a behavior intervention plan that is included in or maintained with the individual education plan;

(3) require educational personnel to notify a parent or guardian of a pupil with an individual education plan on the same day aversive or deprivation procedures are used in an emergency or in writing within two school days if district personnel are unable to provide same-day notice;

(4) establish health and safety standards for the use of locked time-out procedures that require a safe environment, continuous monitoring of the child, ventilation, adequate space, a locking mechanism that disengages automatically when not continuously engaged by school personnel, and full compliance with state and local fire and building codes, including state rules on time-out rooms;

(5) contain a list of prohibited procedures;

(6) consolidate and clarify provisions related to behavior intervention plans;

(7) require school districts to register with the commissioner any room used for locked time-out, which the commissioner must monitor by making announced and unannounced on-site visits;

(8) place a student in locked time-out only if the intervention is:

(i) part of the comprehensive behavior intervention plan that is included in or maintained with the student's individual education plan, and the plan uses positive behavioral interventions and supports, and data support its continued use; or

(ii) used in an emergency for the duration of the emergency only; and

(9) require a providing school district or cooperative to establish an oversight committee composed of at least one member with training in behavioral analysis and other appropriate education personnel to annually review aggregate data regarding the use of aversive and deprivation procedures.

Subd. 2.Removal by peace officer.

If a pupil who has an individual education plan is restrained or removed from a classroom, school building, or school grounds by a peace officer at the request of a school administrator or a school staff person during the school day twice in a 30-day period, the pupil's individual education program team must meet to determine if the pupil's individual education plan is adequate or if additional evaluation is needed.

121A.69 HAZING POLICY.

Subdivision 1.Definitions.

(a) "Hazing" means committing an act against a student, or coercing a student into committing an act, that creates a substantial risk of harm to a person in order for the student to be initiated into or affiliated with a student organization.

(b) "Student organization" means a group, club, or organization having students as its primary members or participants.

Subd. 2.Model policy.

The commissioner of education shall maintain and make available to school boards a model policy on student or staff hazing that addresses the requirements of subdivision 3.

Subd. 3.School board policy.

Each school board shall adopt a written policy governing student or staff hazing. The policy must apply to student behavior that occurs on or off school property and during and after school hours. The policy must include reporting procedures and disciplinary consequences for violating the policy. Disciplinary consequences must be sufficiently severe to deter violations and appropriately discipline prohibited behavior. Disciplinary consequences must conform with sections 121A.41 to 121A.56. Each school must include the policy in the student handbook on school policies.

121A.70 SECRET FRATERNITIES AND SOCIETIES.

Subdivision 1.Membership regulated.

It is unlawful for any pupil, registered and attending any public school to join, become a member of, or to solicit any other pupil of any public school to join, or become a member of, any secret fraternity or society wholly or partially formed from the membership of pupils attending any public schools or to take part in the organization or formation of any fraternity or society, except societies or associations sanctioned by the district school board.

Subd. 2.Penalties.

A school board may suspend or dismiss any pupil from school, or prevent the pupil from graduating or participating in school honors when, after investigation, in the judgment of the board or a majority of its membership, the pupil is guilty of violating any of the provisions of this section or is guilty of violating any rule or regulation adopted by the board for the purpose of governing its schools, or enforcing this section.

Subd. 3."Rushing" or soliciting forbidden.

It is a misdemeanor for any person, not a pupil of the schools, to be upon school grounds, or to enter any school building, for the purpose of "rushing" or soliciting any pupil of the schools to join any fraternity, society, or association organized outside of the schools. The district court has jurisdiction of offenses committed under this subdivision. All persons found guilty shall be fined not less than $2, nor more than $10, to be paid to the county treasurer or, upon failure to pay the fine, to be imprisoned for not more than ten days.

121A.72 SCHOOL LOCKER POLICY.

Subdivision 1.Policy.

It is the policy of the state of Minnesota that:

"School lockers are the property of the school district. At no time does the school district relinquish its exclusive control of lockers provided for the convenience of students. Inspection of the interior of lockers may be conducted by school authorities for any reason at any time, without notice, without student consent, and without a search warrant. The personal possessions of students within a school locker may be searched only when school authorities have a reasonable suspicion that the search will uncover evidence of a violation of law or school rules. As soon as practicable after the search of a student's personal possessions, the school authorities must provide notice of the search to students whose lockers were searched unless disclosure would impede an ongoing investigation by police or school officials."

Subd. 2.Dissemination.

The locker policy must be disseminated to parents and students in the way that other policies of general application to students are disseminated. A copy of the policy must be provided to a student the first time that the student is given the use of a locker.

JUVENILE JUSTICE DATA

121A.75 RECEIPT OF RECORDS; SHARING.

Subdivision 1.Definitions.

(a) For purposes of this section "principal" means a principal or other person having general administrative control and supervision of a school.

(b) For purposes of this section, "school" means a public school under section 120A.22, subdivision 4; a nonpublic school under section 120A.22, subdivision 4, that elects to comply with this section; and a charter school under section 124D.10, but does not mean a home school.

Subd. 2.Disposition orders.

(a) On receipt of a disposition order under section 260B.171, subdivision 3, the superintendent of the student's school district or chief administrative officer of the student's school must immediately transmit the order to the principal of the school where the student is in attendance. The principal must place the disposition order in the student's permanent education record. The principal must also immediately notify any counselor directly supervising or reporting on the behavior or progress of the student. In addition, the principal must immediately notify any teacher or administrator who directly supervises or reports on the behavior or progress of the student whom the principal believes needs the data to work with the student in an appropriate manner, to avoid being needlessly vulnerable, or to protect other persons from needless vulnerability. The principal may also notify other district employees, substitutes, and volunteers who are in direct contact with the student, if they determine these individuals need the data to work with the student in an appropriate manner, to avoid being needlessly vulnerable, or to protect other persons from needless vulnerability. When provided in the disposition order, the notice given under this paragraph by the principal must identify the student, outline the offense, and describe any conditions of probation about which the school must provide information.

(b) Information received under this subdivision is private data on individuals as defined in section 13.32 and is received for the limited purpose of serving the educational needs of the student and protecting students or staff. The data may not be further disseminated by the teacher, counselor, staff member, administrator, substitute, or volunteer, except as necessary to serve the student, to protect students or staff, or as otherwise required by law, and only to the following persons:

(1) the student; or

(2) the student's parent or guardian.

(c) If a student is removed from school as part of the disposition order, the superintendent of the student's school district or chief administrative officer of the student's school must maintain the copy of the order in a secure file and shall notify the principal when the student is returned to school. If the student is returned to a different school district or school, the student's probation officer must send a copy of the disposition order to the superintendent of the new school district or the chief administrative officer of the new school.

(d) The disposition order must be included if the student's permanent education record is released to another school district or educational entity to which the student is transferring under section 120A.22, subdivision 7.

(e) Notwithstanding section 138.17, a disposition order received under section 260B.171, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), must be destroyed when the student graduates from school or at the end of the school year in which the student reaches age 23, whichever is earlier. A disposition order received under section 260B.171, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), must be destroyed when the student is discharged from probation.

Subd. 3.Peace officer records of children.

(a) A law enforcement agency must transmit the notice required by section 260B.171, subdivision 5, to the superintendent of the student's school district who must immediately transmit the notice to the principal of the school the student attends, or to the principal of the school the student attends if there is no superintendent. The principal must place the notice in the student's educational record. The principal must immediately notify any teacher, counselor, or administrator directly supervising the student who the principal believes needs the data to work with the student in an appropriate manner, to avoid being needlessly vulnerable, or to protect other persons from needless vulnerability. The principal may also notify other district employees, substitutes, or volunteers who are in direct contact with the student if the principal determines these individuals need the data to work with the juvenile in an appropriate manner, to avoid being needlessly vulnerable, or to protect other persons from needless vulnerability. When provided in the peace officer notice, the notice from the principal must identify the student and describe the alleged offense.

(b) Data received under this subdivision are private data on individuals under section 13.32 and are received for the limited purpose of serving the student's educational needs and protecting students or staff. The teacher, counselor, staff member, administrator, substitute, or volunteer must not further disseminate the data, except to communicate with the student or the student's parent or guardian as needed to serve the student, protect students or staff, or as otherwise required by law.

(c) The principal must include the notice in the student's educational record as required by section 120A.22, subdivision 7.

(d) If the county attorney determines not to proceed with a petition alleging any offense in section 260B.171, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (3), or directs the student into a diversion or mediation program, the county attorney must notify the superintendent of the student's school district who must immediately transmit the notice to the principal of the school the student attends, or to the principal of the school that the student attends if there is no superintendent. The notice must contain the name of the student and a summary of the resolution of the case. Notwithstanding section 138.17, the principal must delete the peace officer's report and notice from the student's educational record and destroy the data and make reasonable efforts to notify any teacher, counselor, staff member, administrator, substitute, or volunteer who received data from the peace officer notice.

(e) If the juvenile court makes a decision on a petition that alleges any offense in section 260B.171, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (3), and the decision affects a student and is not a disposition order, the court must notify the superintendent of the student's school district who must immediately transmit the notice to the principal of the school the student attends, or to the principal of the school that the student attends if there is no superintendent, of the decision. Notwithstanding section 138.17, the principal must delete the peace officer's report and notice from the student's educational record and destroy the data and make reasonable efforts to notify any teacher, counselor, staff member, administrator, substitute, or volunteer who received data from the peace officer notice.

(f) In addition to the data destruction requirements of this subdivision, a principal must comply with the requirements of section 120A.22, subdivision 7.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes