2013 Minnesota Statutes

CHAPTER 120B. CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT

120B.01 DEFINITIONS.

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

History:

1998 c 397 art 3 s 1; art 11 s 3

120B.018 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Scope.

The definitions in this section apply to this chapter.

Subd. 2.Academic standard.

"Academic standard" means a summary description of student learning in a required content area under section 120B.021 or elective content area under section 120B.022.

Subd. 3.Benchmark.

"Benchmark" means specific knowledge or skill that a student must master to complete part of an academic standard by the end of the grade level or grade band.

Subd. 4.Credit.

"Credit" means the determination by the local school district that a student has successfully completed an academic year of study or mastered the applicable subject matter.

Subd. 5.Elective standard.

"Elective standard" means a locally adopted expectation for student learning in career and technical education and world languages.

Subd. 6.Required standard.

"Required standard" means (1) a statewide adopted expectation for student learning in the content areas of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, and the arts, or (2) a locally adopted expectation for student learning in health or the arts.

History:

2013 c 116 art 2 s 1

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

120B.019 [Repealed, 2012 c 239 art 2 s 21]

120B.02 EDUCATIONAL EXPECTATIONS AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR MINNESOTA'S STUDENTS.

Subdivision 1.Educational expectations.

(a) The legislature is committed to establishing rigorous academic standards for Minnesota's public school students. To that end, the commissioner shall adopt in rule statewide academic standards. The commissioner shall not prescribe in rule or otherwise the delivery system, classroom assessments, or form of instruction that school sites must use.

(b) All commissioner actions regarding the rule must be premised on the following:

(1) the rule is intended to raise academic expectations for students, teachers, and schools;

(2) any state action regarding the rule must evidence consideration of school district autonomy; and

(3) the Department of Education, with the assistance of school districts, must make available information about all state initiatives related to the rule to students and parents, teachers, and the general public in a timely format that is appropriate, comprehensive, and readily understandable.

(c) The commissioner shall periodically review and report on the state's assessment process.

(d) School districts are not required to adopt specific provisions of the federal School-to-Work programs.

Subd. 2.Graduation requirements.

To graduate from high school, students must demonstrate to their enrolling school district or school their satisfactory completion of the credit requirements under section 120B.024 and their understanding of academic standards on a nationally normed college entrance exam. A school district must adopt graduation requirements that meet or exceed state graduation requirements established in law or rule.

History:

Ex1959 c 71 art 2 s 11; 1965 c 718 s 1; 1969 c 9 s 23,24; 1969 c 288 s 1; 1973 c 492 s 14; 1975 c 162 s 6,7; 1976 c 271 s 21; 1977 c 347 s 19; 1977 c 447 art 7 s 4; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1982 c 548 art 4 s 4,23; 1983 c 258 s 22; 1984 c 640 s 32; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1987 c 178 s 5; 1987 c 398 art 7 s 5; 1989 c 329 art 7 s 2; art 8 s 1; art 9 s 4; 1990 c 375 s 3; 1991 c 265 art 9 s 13; 1993 c 224 art 12 s 2-6; art 14 s 4; 1994 c 647 art 7 s 1; art 8 s 1; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 7 s 1; art 16 s 13; 1996 c 412 art 7 s 1; 1997 c 1 s 1; 1997 c 162 art 2 s 11; 1998 c 397 art 4 s 1,51; art 11 s 3; 1998 c 398 art 5 s 6,7,55; 2000 c 500 s 2; 2003 c 129 art 1 s 2; 2003 c 130 s 12; 1Sp2005 c 5 art 2 s 4; 2009 c 96 art 2 s 3; 2013 c 116 art 2 s 2

120B.021 REQUIRED ACADEMIC STANDARDS.

Subdivision 1.Required academic standards.

(a) The following subject areas are required for statewide accountability:

(1) language arts;

(2) mathematics;

(3) science;

(4) social studies, including history, geography, economics, and government and citizenship;

(5) physical education;

(6) health, for which locally developed academic standards apply; and

(7) the arts, for which statewide or locally developed academic standards apply, as determined by the school district. Public elementary and middle schools must offer at least three and require at least two of the following four arts areas: dance; music; theater; and visual arts. Public high schools must offer at least three and require at least one of the following five arts areas: media arts; dance; music; theater; and visual arts.

(b) For purposes of applicable federal law, the academic standards for language arts, mathematics, and science apply to all public school students, except the very few students with extreme cognitive or physical impairments for whom an individualized education program team has determined that the required academic standards are inappropriate. An individualized education program team that makes this determination must establish alternative standards.

(c) District efforts to develop, implement, or improve instruction or curriculum as a result of the provisions of this section must be consistent with sections 120B.10, 120B.11, and 120B.20.

Subd. 1a.Rigorous course of study; waiver.

(a) Upon receiving a student's application signed by the student's parent or guardian, a school district, area learning center, or charter school must declare that a student meets or exceeds a specific academic standard required for graduation under this section if the local school board, the school board of the school district in which the area learning center is located, or the charter school board of directors determines that the student:

(1) is participating in a course of study, including an advanced placement or international baccalaureate course or program; a learning opportunity outside the curriculum of the district, area learning center, or charter school; or an approved preparatory program for employment or postsecondary education that is equally or more rigorous than the corresponding state or local academic standard required by the district, area learning center, or charter school;

(2) would be precluded from participating in the rigorous course of study, learning opportunity, or preparatory employment or postsecondary education program if the student were required to achieve the academic standard to be waived; and

(3) satisfactorily completes the requirements for the rigorous course of study, learning opportunity, or preparatory employment or postsecondary education program.

Consistent with the requirements of this section, the local school board, the school board of the school district in which the area learning center is located, or the charter school board of directors also may formally determine other circumstances in which to declare that a student meets or exceeds a specific academic standard that the site requires for graduation under this section.

(b) A student who satisfactorily completes a postsecondary enrollment options course or program under section 124D.09, or an advanced placement or international baccalaureate course or program under section 120B.13, is not required to complete other requirements of the academic standards corresponding to that specific rigorous course of study.

Subd. 2.Standards development.

(a) The commissioner must consider advice from at least the following stakeholders in developing statewide rigorous core academic standards in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, including history, geography, economics, government and citizenship, and the arts:

(1) parents of school-age children and members of the public throughout the state;

(2) teachers throughout the state currently licensed and providing instruction in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, or the arts and licensed elementary and secondary school principals throughout the state currently administering a school site;

(3) currently serving members of local school boards and charter school boards throughout the state;

(4) faculty teaching core subjects at postsecondary institutions in Minnesota; and

(5) representatives of the Minnesota business community.

(b) Academic standards must:

(1) be clear, concise, objective, measurable, and grade-level appropriate;

(2) not require a specific teaching methodology or curriculum; and

(3) be consistent with the Constitutions of the United States and the state of Minnesota.

Subd. 3.Rulemaking.

The commissioner, consistent with the requirements of this section and section 120B.022, must adopt statewide rules under section 14.389 for implementing statewide rigorous core academic standards in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts. After the rules authorized under this subdivision are initially adopted, the commissioner may not amend or repeal these rules nor adopt new rules on the same topic without specific legislative authorization. The academic standards for language arts, mathematics, and the arts must be implemented for all students beginning in the 2003-2004 school year. The academic standards for science and social studies must be implemented for all students beginning in the 2005-2006 school year.

Subd. 4.Revisions and reviews required.

(a) The commissioner of education must revise and appropriately embed technology and information literacy standards consistent with recommendations from school media specialists into the state's academic standards and graduation requirements and implement a ten-year cycle to review and revise state academic standards and related benchmarks, consistent with this subdivision. During each ten-year review and revision cycle, the commissioner also must examine the alignment of each required academic standard and related benchmark with the knowledge and skills students need for career and college readiness and advanced work in the particular subject area. The commissioner must include the contributions of Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities as related to the academic standards during the review and revision of the required academic standards.

(b) The commissioner must ensure that the statewide mathematics assessments administered to students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 are aligned with the state academic standards in mathematics, consistent with section 120B.30, subdivision 1, paragraph (b). The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and related benchmarks in mathematics beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.

(c) The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and related benchmarks in arts beginning in the 2016-2017 school year.

(d) The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and related benchmarks in science beginning in the 2017-2018 school year.

(e) The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and related benchmarks in language arts beginning in the 2018-2019 school year.

(f) The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and related benchmarks in social studies beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.

(g) School districts and charter schools must revise and align local academic standards and high school graduation requirements in health, world languages, and career and technical education to require students to complete the revised standards beginning in a school year determined by the school district or charter school. School districts and charter schools must formally establish a periodic review cycle for the academic standards and related benchmarks in health, world languages, and career and technical education.

History:

2003 c 129 art 1 s 3; 2004 c 294 art 2 s 2; art 5 s 1; art 6 s 1; 1Sp2005 c 5 art 2 s 5; 2006 c 263 art 2 s 2; 2007 c 146 art 2 s 3; 2010 c 396 s 1; 1Sp2011 c 11 art 3 s 12; 2013 c 116 art 2 s 3,21

120B.022 ELECTIVE STANDARDS.

Subdivision 1.Elective standards.

(a) A district must establish its own standards in the following subject areas:

(1) career and technical education; and

(2) world languages.

A school district must offer courses in all elective subject areas.

(b) World languages teachers and other school staff should develop and implement world languages programs that acknowledge and reinforce the language proficiency and cultural awareness that non-English language speakers already possess, and encourage students' proficiency in multiple world languages. Programs under this paragraph must encompass indigenous American Indian languages and cultures, among other world languages and cultures. The department shall consult with postsecondary institutions in developing related professional development opportunities.

(c) Any Minnesota public, charter, or nonpublic school may award Minnesota World Language Proficiency Certificates or Minnesota World Language Proficiency High Achievement Certificates, consistent with this subdivision.

The Minnesota World Language Proficiency Certificate recognizes students who demonstrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing language skills at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' Intermediate-Low level on a valid and reliable assessment tool. For languages listed as Category 3 by the United States Foreign Service Institute or Category 4 by the United States Defense Language Institute, the standard is Intermediate-Low for listening and speaking and Novice-High for reading and writing.

The Minnesota World Language Proficiency High Achievement Certificate recognizes students who demonstrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing language skills at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' Pre-Advanced level for K-12 learners on a valid and reliable assessment tool. For languages listed as Category 3 by the United States Foreign Service Institute or Category 4 by the United States Defense Language Institute, the standard is Pre-Advanced for listening and speaking and Intermediate-Mid for reading and writing.

Subd. 2.Local assessments.

A district must use a locally selected assessment to determine if a student has achieved an elective standard.

History:

2003 c 129 art 1 s 4; 2004 c 294 art 2 s 3; 2007 c 146 art 2 s 4; 2009 c 96 art 2 s 4; 2011 c 76 art 1 s 11

120B.023 BENCHMARKS.

Subdivision 1.Benchmarks implement, supplement statewide academic standards.

(a) The commissioner must supplement required state academic standards with grade-level benchmarks. High school career and college-ready benchmarks may cover more than one grade. Schools must offer and students must achieve all benchmarks for an academic standard to satisfactorily complete that state standard.

(b) The commissioner shall publish benchmarks in the State Register and transmit the benchmarks in any other manner that informs and guides parents, teachers, school districts, and other interested persons and makes them accessible to the general public. The commissioner must use benchmarks in developing career and college readiness assessments under section 120B.30. The commissioner may charge a reasonable fee for publications.

(c) Once established, the commissioner may change the benchmarks only with specific legislative authorization and after completing a review under section 120B.021, subdivision 4.

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

Subd. 2.

MS 2012 [Renumbered 120B.021, subd 4]

History:

2003 c 129 art 1 s 5; 2006 c 263 art 2 s 3; 2009 c 96 art 2 s 5; 2010 c 396 s 2; 1Sp2011 c 11 art 2 s 2; 2012 c 239 art 1 s 5; 2013 c 116 art 2 s 4,21

120B.024 CREDITS.

Subdivision 1.Graduation requirements.

Students beginning 9th grade in the 2011-2012 school year and later must successfully complete the following high school level credits for graduation:

(1) four credits of language arts sufficient to satisfy all of the academic standards in English language arts;

(2) three credits of mathematics, including an algebra II credit or its equivalent, sufficient to satisfy all of the academic standards in mathematics;

(3) an algebra I credit by the end of 8th grade sufficient to satisfy all of the 8th grade standards in mathematics;

(4) three credits of science, including at least one credit of biology, one credit of chemistry or physics, and one elective credit of science. The combination of credits under this clause must be sufficient to satisfy (i) all of the academic standards in either chemistry or physics and (ii) all other academic standards in science;

(5) three and one-half credits of social studies, encompassing at least United States history, geography, government and citizenship, world history, and economics sufficient to satisfy all of the academic standards in social studies;

(6) one credit of the arts sufficient to satisfy all of the state or local academic standards in the arts; and

(7) a minimum of seven elective credits.

Subd. 2.Credit equivalencies.

(a) A one-half credit of economics taught in a school's agriculture education or business department may fulfill a one-half credit in social studies under subdivision 1, clause (5), if the credit is sufficient to satisfy all of the academic standards in economics.

(b) An agriculture science or career and technical education credit may fulfill the credit in chemistry or physics or the elective science credit required under subdivision 1, clause (4), if the credit meets the state chemistry or physics, or district biology academic standards or a combination of these academic standards as approved by the district. A student must satisfy either all of the chemistry academic standards or all of the physics academic standards prior to graduation. An agriculture science or career and technical education credit may not fulfill the required biology credit under subdivision 1, clause (4).

(c) A career and technical education credit may fulfill a mathematics or arts credit requirement under subdivision 1, clause (2) or (6).

(d) An agriculture education teacher is not required to meet the requirements of Minnesota Rules, part 3505.1150, subpart 1, item B, to meet the credit equivalency requirements of paragraph (b) above.

History:

2003 c 129 art 1 s 6; 2004 c 294 art 2 s 4; 2006 c 263 art 2 s 4; 2007 c 146 art 2 s 5; 2012 c 239 art 1 s 6; 2013 c 116 art 2 s 5; 2013 c 144 s 23

120B.03 [Repealed, 2000 c 500 s 21]

120B.031 [Repealed, 2003 c 129 art 1 s 12]

120B.04 [Repealed, 2000 c 500 s 21]

120B.05 [Repealed, 1999 c 241 art 1 s 69]

120B.07 EARLY GRADUATION.

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any secondary school student who has completed all required courses or standards may, with the approval of the student, the student's parent or guardian, and local school officials, graduate before the completion of the school year.

History:

1974 c 521 s 7; 1975 c 432 s 12; 1979 c 334 art 1 s 1; 1983 c 216 art 1 s 24; 1983 c 314 art 1 s 22; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 486 s 7; 1998 c 397 art 2 s 73,164; 1Sp2001 c 6 art 1 s 4; 1Sp2011 c 11 art 1 s 4; 2012 c 239 art 1 s 7

120B.08 [Repealed, 2013 c 116 art 1 s 59]

120B.09 [Repealed, 2013 c 116 art 1 s 59]

CURRICULUM

120B.10 FINDINGS; IMPROVING INSTRUCTION AND CURRICULUM.

The legislature finds that a process is needed to enable school boards and communities to decide matters related to planning, providing, and improving education instruction and curriculum in the context of the state's high school graduation standards. The process should help districts evaluate the impact of instruction and curriculum on students' abilities to meet graduation standards, use evaluation results to improve instruction and curriculum, and determine services that districts and other public education entities can provide collaboratively with institutions including families and private or public organizations and agencies. The legislature anticipates that a highly focused public education strategy will be an integral part of each district's review and improvement of instruction and curriculum.

History:

1996 c 412 art 7 s 3; 1998 c 397 art 6 s 124

120B.11 SCHOOL DISTRICT PROCESS FOR REVIEWING CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION, AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT; STRIVING FOR THE WORLD'S BEST WORKFORCE.

Subdivision 1.Definitions.

For the purposes of this section and section 120B.10, the following terms have the meanings given them.

(a) "Instruction" means methods of providing learning experiences that enable a student to meet state and district academic standards and graduation requirements.

(b) "Curriculum" means district or school adopted programs and written plans for providing students with learning experiences that lead to expected knowledge and skills and career and college readiness.

(c) "World's best workforce" means striving to: meet school readiness goals; have all third grade students achieve grade-level literacy; close the academic achievement gap among all racial and ethnic groups of students and between students living in poverty and students not living in poverty; have all students attain career and college readiness before graduating from high school; and have all students graduate from high school.

Subd. 1a.Performance measures.

Measures to determine school district and school site progress in striving to create the world's best workforce must include at least:

(1) student performance on the National Association of Education Progress;

(2) the size of the academic achievement gap by student subgroup;

(3) student performance on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments;

(4) high school graduation rates; and

(5) career and college readiness under section 120B.30, subdivision 1.

Subd. 2.Adopting plans and budgets.

A school board, at a public meeting, shall adopt a comprehensive, long-term strategic plan to support and improve teaching and learning that is aligned with creating the world's best workforce and includes:

(1) clearly defined district and school site goals and benchmarks for instruction and student achievement for all student subgroups identified in section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), clause (2);

(2) a process for assessing and evaluating each student's progress toward meeting state and local academic standards and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of instruction in pursuit of student and school success and curriculum affecting students' progress and growth toward career and college readiness and leading to the world's best workforce;

(3) a system to periodically review and evaluate the effectiveness of all instruction and curriculum, taking into account strategies and best practices, student outcomes, school principal evaluations under section 123B.147, subdivision 3, and teacher evaluations under section 122A.40, subdivision 8, or 122A.41, subdivision 5;

(4) strategies for improving instruction, curriculum, and student achievement;

(5) education effectiveness practices that integrate high-quality instruction, rigorous curriculum, technology, and a collaborative professional culture that develops and supports teacher quality, performance, and effectiveness; and

(6) an annual budget for continuing to implement the district plan.

Subd. 3.District advisory committee.

Each school board shall establish an advisory committee to ensure active community participation in all phases of planning and improving the instruction and curriculum affecting state and district academic standards, consistent with subdivision 2. A district advisory committee, to the extent possible, shall reflect the diversity of the district and its school sites, and shall include teachers, parents, support staff, students, and other community residents. The district may establish site teams as subcommittees of the district advisory committee under subdivision 4. The district advisory committee shall recommend to the school board rigorous academic standards, student achievement goals and measures consistent with subdivision 1a and sections 120B.022, subdivision 1, paragraphs (b) and (c), and 120B.35, district assessments, and program evaluations. School sites may expand upon district evaluations of instruction, curriculum, assessments, or programs. Whenever possible, parents and other community residents shall comprise at least two-thirds of advisory committee members.

Subd. 4.Site team.

A school may establish a site team to develop and implement strategies and education effectiveness practices to improve instruction, curriculum, and student achievement at the school site, consistent with subdivision 2. The team advises the board and the advisory committee about developing the annual budget and revising an instruction and curriculum improvement plan that aligns curriculum, assessment of student progress, and growth in meeting state and district academic standards and instruction.

Subd. 5.Report.

Consistent with requirements for school performance reports under section 120B.36, subdivision 1, the school board shall publish a report in the local newspaper with the largest circulation in the district, by mail, or by electronic means on the district Web site. The school board shall hold an annual public meeting to review, and revise where appropriate, student achievement goals, local assessment outcomes, plans, strategies, and practices for improving curriculum and instruction, and to review district success in realizing the previously adopted student achievement goals and related benchmarks and the improvement plans leading to the world's best workforce. The school board must transmit an electronic summary of its report to the commissioner in the form and manner the commissioner determines.

Subd. 6.

[Repealed by amendment, 2013 c 116 art 2 s 6]

Subd. 7.Periodic report.

Each school district shall periodically survey affected constituencies about their connection to and level of satisfaction with school. The district shall include the results of this evaluation in the summary report required under subdivision 5.

Subd. 8.

[Repealed by amendment, 2013 c 116 art 2 s 6]

Subd. 9.Annual evaluation.

(a) The commissioner must identify effective strategies, practices, and use of resources by districts and school sites in striving for the world's best workforce. The commissioner must assist districts and sites throughout the state in implementing these effective strategies, practices, and use of resources.

(b) The commissioner must identify those districts in any consecutive three-year period not making sufficient progress toward improving teaching and learning and striving for the world's best workforce. The commissioner, in collaboration with the identified district, may require the district to use up to two percent of its basic general education revenue per fiscal year during the proximate three school years to implement commissioner-specified strategies and practices, consistent with paragraph (a), to improve and accelerate its progress in realizing its goals under this section. In implementing this section, the commissioner must consider districts' budget constraints and legal obligations.

History:

1996 c 412 art 7 s 4; 1Sp1997 c 4 art 5 s 12; 1998 c 397 art 6 s 124; art 11 s 3; 2000 c 254 s 2; 2003 c 130 s 12; 1Sp2005 c 5 art 2 s 6-11; 2006 c 263 art 7 s 1; 2009 c 96 art 2 s 6; 2013 c 116 art 2 s 6

120B.115 REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

(a) Regional centers of excellence are established to assist and support school boards, school districts, school sites, and charter schools in implementing research-based interventions and practices to increase the students' achievement within a region. The centers must develop partnerships with local and regional service cooperatives, postsecondary institutions, integrated school districts, the department, children's mental health providers, or other local or regional entities interested in providing a cohesive and consistent regional delivery system that serves all schools equitably. Centers must assist school districts, school sites, and charter schools in developing similar partnerships. Center support may include assisting school districts, school sites, and charter schools with common principles of effective practice, including:

(1) defining measurable education goals under section 120B.11, subdivision 2;

(2) implementing evidence-based practices;

(3) engaging in data-driven decision-making;

(4) providing multilayered levels of support;

(5) supporting culturally responsive teaching and learning aligning state and local academic standards and career and college readiness benchmarks; and

(6) engaging parents, families, youth, and local community members in programs and activities at the school district, school site, or charter school.

Centers must work with school site leadership teams to build capacity to implement programs that close the achievement gap, increase students' progress and growth toward career and college readiness, and increase student graduation rates.

(b) The department must assist the regional centers of excellence to meet staff, facilities, and technical needs, provide the centers with programmatic support, and work with the centers to establish a coherent statewide system of regional support, including consulting, training, and technical support, to help school boards, school districts, school sites, and charter schools effectively and efficiently implement the world's best workforce goals under section 120B.11 and other state and federal education initiatives.

History:

2013 c 116 art 2 s 7

120B.12 READING PROFICIENTLY NO LATER THAN THE END OF GRADE 3.

Subdivision 1.Literacy goal.

The legislature seeks to have every child reading at or above grade level no later than the end of grade 3 and that teachers provide comprehensive, scientifically based reading instruction consistent with section 122A.06, subdivision 4.

Subd. 2.Identification; report.

For the 2011-2012 school year and later, each school district shall identify before the end of kindergarten, grade 1, and grade 2 students who are not reading at grade level before the end of the current school year. Reading assessments must identify and evaluate students' areas of academic need related to literacy. The district must use a locally adopted assessment and annually report summary assessment results to the commissioner by July 1.

Subd. 2a.Parent notification and involvement.

Schools, at least annually, must give the parent of each student who is not reading at or above grade level timely information about:

(1) student's reading proficiency as measured by a locally adopted assessment;

(2) reading-related services currently being provided to the student; and

(3) strategies for parents to use in helping their student succeed in becoming grade-level proficient in reading.

Subd. 3.Intervention.

For each student identified under subdivision 2, the district shall provide reading intervention to accelerate student growth in order to reach the goal of reading at or above grade level by the end of the current grade and school year. District intervention methods shall encourage parental involvement and, where possible, collaboration with appropriate school and community programs. Intervention methods may include, but are not limited to, requiring attendance in summer school, intensified reading instruction that may require that the student be removed from the regular classroom for part of the school day or extended-day programs.

Subd. 4.Staff development.

Each district shall use the data under subdivision 2 to identify the staff development needs so that:

(1) elementary teachers are able to implement comprehensive, scientifically based reading instruction in the five reading areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension as defined in section 122A.06, subdivision 4, until the student achieves grade-level reading proficiency;

(2) elementary teachers have sufficient training to provide comprehensive, scientifically based reading instruction using the intervention methods or programs selected by the district for the identified students;

(3) licensed teachers employed by the district have regular opportunities to improve reading instruction; and

(4) licensed teachers recognize students' diverse needs in cross-cultural settings and are able to serve the oral language and linguistic needs of students who are English learners.

Subd. 4a.Local literacy plan.

Consistent with this section, a school district must adopt a local literacy plan to have every child reading at or above grade level no later than the end of grade 3. The plan must include a process to assess students' level of reading proficiency, notify and involve parents, intervene with students who are not reading at or above grade level, and identify and meet staff development needs. The district must post its literacy plan on the official school district Web site.

Subd. 5.Commissioner.

The commissioner shall recommend to districts multiple assessment tools to assist districts and teachers with identifying students under subdivision 2. The commissioner shall also make available examples of nationally recognized and research-based instructional methods or programs to districts to provide comprehensive, scientifically based reading instruction and intervention under this section.

History:

1Sp2001 c 13 s 12; 2007 c 146 art 2 s 6; 1Sp2011 c 11 art 2 s 3; 2012 c 239 art 1 s 33; art 2 s 2

120B.125 PLANNING FOR STUDENTS' SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT; INVOLUNTARY CAREER TRACKING PROHIBITED.

(a) Consistent with sections 120B.128, 120B.13, 120B.131, 120B.132, 120B.14, 120B.15, 120B.30, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), 125A.08, and other related sections, school districts, beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, must assist all students by no later than grade 9 to explore their college and career interests and aspirations and develop a plan for a smooth and successful transition to postsecondary education or employment. All students' plans must be designed to:

(1) provide a comprehensive academic plan for completing a college and career-ready curriculum premised on meeting state and local academic standards and developing 21st century skills such as team work, collaboration, and good work habits;

(2) emphasize academic rigor and high expectations;

(3) help students identify personal learning styles that may affect their postsecondary education and employment choices;

(4) help students gain access to postsecondary education and career options;

(5) integrate strong academic content into career-focused courses and integrate relevant career-focused courses into strong academic content;

(6) help students and families identify and gain access to appropriate counseling and other supports and assistance that enable students to complete required coursework, prepare for postsecondary education and careers, and obtain information about postsecondary education costs and eligibility for financial aid and scholarship;

(7) help students and families identify collaborative partnerships of kindergarten through grade 12 schools, postsecondary institutions, economic development agencies, and employers that support students' transition to postsecondary education and employment and provide students with experiential learning opportunities; and

(8) be reviewed and revised at least annually by the student, the student's parent or guardian, and the school or district to ensure that the student's course-taking schedule keeps the student making adequate progress to meet state and local high school graduation requirements and with a reasonable chance to succeed with employment or postsecondary education without the need to first complete remedial course work.

(b) A school district may develop grade-level curricula or provide instruction that introduces students to various careers, but must not require any curriculum, instruction, or employment-related activity that obligates an elementary or secondary student to involuntarily select a career, career interest, employment goals, or related job training.

History:

1Sp2001 c 6 art 2 s 3; 2012 c 207 s 1; 2013 c 116 art 2 s 8

NOTE: The amendment to this section by Laws 2012, chapter 207, section 1, applies to students graduating in the 2013-2014 school year and later. Laws 2012, chapter 207, section 1, the effective date.

120B.128 EDUCATIONAL PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (EPAS) PROGRAM.

(a) School districts and charter schools may elect to participate in the Educational Planning and Assessment System (EPAS) program offered by ACT, Inc. to provide a longitudinal, systematic approach to student educational and career planning, assessment, instructional support, and evaluation. The EPAS achievement tests include English, reading, mathematics, science, and components on planning for high school and postsecondary education, interest inventory, needs assessments, and student education plans. These tests are linked to the ACT assessment for college admission and allow students, parents, teachers, and schools to determine the student's college readiness before grades 11 and 12.

(b) The commissioner of education shall provide ACT Explore tests for students in grade 8 and the ACT Plan test for students in grade 10 to assess individual student academic strengths and weaknesses, academic achievement and progress, higher order thinking skills, and college readiness.

(c) Students enrolled in grade 8 through the 2011-2012 school year who have not yet demonstrated proficiency on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, the graduation-required assessments for diploma, or the basic skills testing requirements prior to high school graduation may satisfy state high school graduation requirements for assessments in reading, mathematics, and writing by taking the graduation-required assessment for diploma in reading, mathematics, or writing under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.30, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clauses (1) and (2), the WorkKeys job skills assessment, the Compass college placement test, a nationally recognized armed services vocation aptitude test, or the ACT assessment for college admission.

(d) The state shall pay the test costs for public school students to participate in the assessments under this section. The commissioner shall establish an application procedure and a process for state payment of costs.

History:

1Sp2005 c 5 art 2 s 12; 2013 c 116 art 2 s 9

120B.13 ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS.

Subdivision 1.Program structure; training programs for teachers.

Critical to schools' educational success is ongoing advanced placement and international baccalaureate-approved teacher training. A secondary teacher assigned by a district to teach an advanced placement or international baccalaureate course or other interested educator may participate in a training program offered by The College Board or International Baccalaureate North America, Inc. The state may pay a portion of the tuition, room, board, and out-of-state travel costs a teacher or other interested educator incurs in participating in a training program. The commissioner shall determine application procedures and deadlines, select teachers and other interested educators to participate in the training program, and determine the payment process and amount of the subsidy. The procedures determined by the commissioner shall, to the extent possible, ensure that advanced placement and international baccalaureate courses become available in all parts of the state and that a variety of course offerings are available in school districts. This subdivision does not prevent teacher or other interested educator participation in training programs offered by The College Board or International Baccalaureate North America, Inc., when tuition is paid by a source other than the state.

Subd. 2.Support programs.

The commissioner shall provide support programs during the school year for teachers who attended the training programs and teachers experienced in teaching advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses. The support programs shall provide teachers with opportunities to share instructional ideas with other teachers. The state may pay the costs of participating in the support programs, including substitute teachers, if necessary, and program affiliation costs.

Subd. 3.Subsidy for examination fees.

The state may pay all or part of the fee for advanced placement or international baccalaureate examinations. The commissioner shall pay all examination fees for all public and nonpublic students of low-income families, as defined by the commissioner, and to the limit of the available appropriation, shall also pay a portion or all of the examination fees for other public and nonpublic students sitting for an advanced placement examination, international baccalaureate examination, or both. The commissioner shall determine procedures for state payments of fees.

Subd. 3a.College credit.

The colleges and universities of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system must award, and the University of Minnesota and private postsecondary institutions are encouraged to award, college credit to high school students who receive a score of three or higher on an advanced placement or four or higher on the international baccalaureate program examination.

Subd. 4.Rigorous course taking information; AP, IB, and PSEO.

The commissioner shall submit the following information on rigorous course taking to the education committees of the legislature each year by February 1:

(1) the number of pupils enrolled in postsecondary enrollment options under section 124D.09, including concurrent enrollment, advanced placement, and international baccalaureate courses in each school district;

(2) the number of teachers in each district attending training programs offered by the college board, International Baccalaureate North America, Inc., or Minnesota concurrent enrollment programs;

(3) the number of teachers in each district participating in support programs;

(4) recent trends in the field of postsecondary enrollment options under section 124D.09, including concurrent enrollment, advanced placement, and international baccalaureate programs;

(5) expenditures for each category in this section and under sections 124D.09 and 124D.091; and

(6) other recommendations for the state program or the postsecondary enrollment options under section 124D.09, including concurrent enrollment.

History:

1992 c 499 art 7 s 10; 1993 c 224 art 13 s 46; 1994 c 647 art 7 s 9; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1998 c 397 art 2 s 129,164; 2000 c 489 art 6 s 1; 1Sp2001 c 6 art 2 s 2; 2002 c 220 art 3 s 1; 1Sp2005 c 5 art 2 s 13-15; 2012 c 239 art 1 s 10; art 2 s 3

120B.131 COLLEGE-LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP).

Subdivision 1.Program structure.

The college-level examination program (CLEP) offered by the College Board provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement and receive college credit or advanced standing through a program of examinations in undergraduate college courses. Schools must provide information about CLEP and the opportunity to receive college credit from a Minnesota postsecondary institution to students successfully completing a college-level course.

Subd. 2.Reimbursement for examination fees.

The state may reimburse college-level examination program (CLEP) fees for a Minnesota public or nonpublic high school student who has successfully completed one or more college-level courses in high school in the subject matter of each examination in the following subjects: composition and literature, mathematics and science, social sciences and history, foreign languages, and business and humanities. The state may reimburse each student for up to six examination fees. The commissioner shall establish application procedures and a process and schedule for fee reimbursements. The commissioner must give priority to reimburse the CLEP examination fees of students of low-income families.

Subd. 3.College credit.

The colleges and universities of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system must award, and the University of Minnesota and private postsecondary institutions are encouraged to award, college credit to high school students who receive a satisfactory score on a CLEP examination under this section. The commissioner, in consultation with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, shall set a passing score for college credits.

History:

1Sp2005 c 5 art 2 s 16; 2006 c 263 art 2 s 5

120B.132 RAISED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT; ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS.

Subdivision 1.Establishment; eligibility.

A program is established to raise kindergarten through grade 12 academic achievement through increased student participation in preadvanced placement, advanced placement, and international baccalaureate programs, consistent with section 120B.13. Schools and charter schools eligible to participate under this section:

(1) must have a three-year plan approved by the local school board to establish a new international baccalaureate program leading to international baccalaureate authorization, expand an existing program that leads to international baccalaureate authorization, or expand an existing authorized international baccalaureate program; or

(2) must have a three-year plan approved by the local school board to create a new or expand an existing program to implement the college board advanced placement courses and exams or preadvanced placement initiative; and

(3) must propose to further raise students' academic achievement by:

(i) increasing the availability of and all students' access to advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses or programs;

(ii) expanding the breadth of advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses or programs that are available to students;

(iii) increasing the number and the diversity of the students who participate in advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses or programs and succeed;

(iv) providing low-income and other disadvantaged students with increased access to advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses and programs; or

(v) increasing the number of high school students, including low-income and other disadvantaged students, who receive college credit by successfully completing advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses or programs and achieving satisfactory scores on related exams.

Subd. 2.Application and review process; funding priority.

(a) Charter schools and school districts in which eligible schools under subdivision 1 are located may apply to the commissioner, in the form and manner the commissioner determines, for competitive funding to further raise students' academic achievement. The application must detail the specific efforts the applicant intends to undertake in further raising students' academic achievement, consistent with subdivision 1, and a proposed budget detailing the district or charter school's current and proposed expenditures for advanced placement, preadvanced placement, and international baccalaureate courses and programs. The proposed budget must demonstrate that the applicant's efforts will support implementation of advanced placement, preadvanced placement, and international baccalaureate courses and programs. Expenditures for administration must not exceed five percent of the proposed budget. The commissioner may require an applicant to provide additional information.

(b) When reviewing applications, the commissioner must determine whether the applicant satisfied all the requirements in this subdivision and subdivision 1. The commissioner may give funding priority to an otherwise qualified applicant that demonstrates:

(1) a focus on developing or expanding preadvanced placement, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate courses or programs or increasing students' participation in, access to, or success with the courses or programs, including the participation, access, or success of low-income and other disadvantaged students;

(2) a compelling need for access to preadvanced placement, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate courses or programs;

(3) an effective ability to actively involve local business and community organizations in student activities that are integral to preadvanced placement, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate courses or programs;

(4) access to additional public or nonpublic funds or in-kind contributions that are available for preadvanced placement, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate courses or programs; or

(5) an intent to implement activities that target low-income and other disadvantaged students.

Subd. 3.Funding; permissible funding uses.

(a) The commissioner shall award grants to applicant school districts and charter schools that meet the requirements of subdivisions 1 and 2. The commissioner must award grants on an equitable geographical basis to the extent feasible and consistent with this section. Grant awards must not exceed the lesser of:

(1) $85 times the number of pupils enrolled at the participating sites on October 1 of the previous fiscal year; or

(2) the approved supplemental expenditures based on the budget submitted under subdivision 2. For charter schools in their first year of operation, the maximum funding award must be calculated using the number of pupils enrolled on October 1 of the current fiscal year. The commissioner may adjust the maximum funding award computed using prior year data for changes in enrollment attributable to school closings, school openings, grade level reconfigurations, or school district reorganizations between the prior fiscal year and the current fiscal year.

(b) School districts and charter schools that submit an application and receive funding under this section must use the funding, consistent with the application, to:

(1) provide teacher training and instruction to more effectively serve students, including low-income and other disadvantaged students, who participate in preadvanced placement, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate courses or programs;

(2) further develop preadvanced placement, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate courses or programs;

(3) improve the transition between grade levels to better prepare students, including low-income and other disadvantaged students, for succeeding in preadvanced placement, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate courses or programs;

(4) purchase books and supplies;

(5) pay course or program fees;

(6) increase students' participation in and success with preadvanced placement, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate courses or programs;

(7) expand students' access to preadvanced placement, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate courses or programs through online learning;

(8) hire appropriately licensed personnel to teach additional advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses or programs; or

(9) engage in other activity directly related to expanding students' access to, participation in, and success with preadvanced placement, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate courses or programs, including low-income and other disadvantaged students.

Subd. 4.Annual reports.

(a) Each school district and charter school that receives a grant under this section annually must collect demographic and other student data to demonstrate and measure the extent to which the district or charter school raised students' academic achievement under this program and must report the data to the commissioner in the form and manner the commissioner determines. The commissioner annually by February 15 must make summary data about this program available to the education policy and finance committees of the legislature.

(b) Each school district and charter school that receives a grant under this section annually must report to the commissioner, consistent with the Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards, its actual expenditures for advanced placement, preadvanced placement, and international baccalaureate courses and programs. The report must demonstrate that the school district or charter school has maintained its effort from other sources for advanced placement, preadvanced placement, and international baccalaureate courses and programs compared with the previous fiscal year, and the district or charter school has expended all grant funds, consistent with its approved budget.

History:

2006 c 282 art 4 s 1; 2007 c 146 art 2 s 7

120B.14 ADVANCED ACADEMIC CREDIT.

A district must grant academic credit to a pupil attending an accelerated or advanced academic course offered by a higher education institution or a nonprofit public agency other than the district, if the pupil successfully completes the course attended and passes an examination approved by the district. If no comparable course is offered by the district, the commissioner shall determine the number of credits which shall be granted to a pupil who successfully completes and passes the course. If a comparable course is offered by the district, the board must grant a comparable number of credits to the pupil. If there is a dispute between the district and the pupil regarding the number of credits granted for a particular course, the pupil may appeal the school board's decision to the commissioner. The commissioner's decision regarding the number of credits shall be final.

The credits granted to a pupil shall be counted toward the graduation requirements and subject area requirements of the district. Evidence of successful completion of each class and credits granted shall be included in the pupil's secondary school record.

History:

1984 c 463 art 7 s 8; 1993 c 224 art 13 s 21; 1998 c 397 art 2 s 74,164

120B.15 GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS PROGRAMS.

(a) School districts may identify students, locally develop programs addressing instructional and affective needs, provide staff development, and evaluate programs to provide gifted and talented students with challenging and appropriate educational programs.

(b) School districts must adopt guidelines for assessing and identifying students for participation in gifted and talented programs. The guidelines should include the use of:

(1) multiple and objective criteria; and

(2) assessments and procedures that are valid and reliable, fair, and based on current theory and research. Assessments and procedures should be sensitive to underrepresented groups, including, but not limited to, low-income, minority, twice-exceptional, and English learners.

(c) School districts must adopt procedures for the academic acceleration of gifted and talented students. These procedures must include how the district will:

(1) assess a student's readiness and motivation for acceleration; and

(2) match the level, complexity, and pace of the curriculum to a student to achieve the best type of academic acceleration for that student.

(d) School districts must adopt procedures consistent with section 124D.02, subdivision 1, for early admission to kindergarten or first grade of gifted and talented learners. The procedures must be sensitive to underrepresented groups.

History:

1Sp2005 c 5 art 2 s 17; 2007 c 146 art 2 s 8; 2013 c 116 art 2 s 10

120B.16 SECONDARY CREDIT FOR STUDENTS.

A student who satisfactorily completes a high school course shall receive secondary course credit and the credit shall count toward the student's graduation requirements.

History:

1993 c 224 art 9 s 35; 1996 c 412 art 7 s 12; 1998 c 397 art 9 s 26

120B.18 AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.

Satisfactory completion of courses in American sign language in a public elementary or secondary school shall be accorded equal standing with satisfactory completion of courses in any world language.

History:

1Sp1997 c 4 art 2 s 37; 1998 c 397 art 9 s 26

120B.19 CHINESE LANGUAGE PROGRAMS; CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

Subdivision 1.Project parameters.

(a) Notwithstanding other law to the contrary, the commissioner of education may contract with the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota or other Minnesota public entity the commissioner determines is qualified to undertake the development of an articulated K-12 Chinese curriculum for Minnesota schools that involves:

(1) creating a network of Chinese teachers and educators able to develop new and modify or expand existing world languages K-12 curricula, materials, assessments, and best practices needed to provide Chinese language instruction to students; and

(2) coordinating statewide efforts to develop and expand Chinese language instruction so that it is uniformly available to students throughout the state, and making innovative use of media and technology, including television, distance learning, and online courses to broaden students' access to the instruction.

(b) The entity with which the commissioner contracts under paragraph (a) must have sufficient knowledge and expertise to ensure the professional development of appropriate, high-quality curricula, supplementary materials, aligned assessments, and best practices that accommodate different levels of student ability and types of programs.

(c) Project participants must:

(1) work throughout the project to develop curriculum, supplementary materials, aligned assessments, and best practices; and

(2) make curriculum, supplementary materials, aligned assessments, and best practices equitably available to Minnesota schools and students.

Subd. 2.Project participants.

The entity with which the commissioner contracts must work with the network of Chinese teachers and educators to:

(1) conduct an inventory of Chinese language curricula, supplementary materials, and professional development initiatives currently used in Minnesota or other states;

(2) develop Chinese language curricula and benchmarks aligned to local world language standards and classroom-based assessments; and

(3) review and recommend to the commissioner how best to build an educational infrastructure to provide more students with Chinese language instruction, including how to develop and provide: (i) an adequate supply of Chinese language teachers; (ii) an adequate number of high-quality school programs; (iii) appropriate curriculum, instructional materials, and aligned assessments that include technology-based delivery systems; (iv) teacher preparation programs to train Chinese language teachers; (v) expedited licensing of Chinese language teachers; (vi) best practices in existing educational programs that can be used to establish K-12 Chinese language programs; and (vii) technical assistance resources.

History:

2006 c 282 art 4 s 4

120B.20 PARENTAL CURRICULUM REVIEW.

Each school district shall have a procedure for a parent, guardian, or an adult student, 18 years of age or older, to review the content of the instructional materials to be provided to a minor child or to an adult student and, if the parent, guardian, or adult student objects to the content, to make reasonable arrangements with school personnel for alternative instruction. Alternative instruction may be provided by the parent, guardian, or adult student if the alternative instruction, if any, offered by the school board does not meet the concerns of the parent, guardian, or adult student. The school board is not required to pay for the costs of alternative instruction provided by a parent, guardian, or adult student. School personnel may not impose an academic or other penalty upon a student merely for arranging alternative instruction under this section. School personnel may evaluate and assess the quality of the student's work.

History:

1993 c 224 art 12 s 29; 1998 c 397 art 6 s 124

120B.21 MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION.

School districts and charter schools are encouraged to provide mental health instruction for students in grades 6 through 12 aligned with local health standards and integrated into existing programs, curriculum, or the general school environment of a district or charter school. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of human services and mental health organizations, is encouraged to provide districts and charter schools with:

(1) age-appropriate model learning activities for grades 6 through 12 that encompass the mental health components of the National Health Education Standards and the benchmarks developed by the department's quality teaching network in health and best practices in mental health education; and

(2) a directory of resources for planning and implementing age-appropriate mental health curriculum and instruction in grades 6 through 12.

History:

2013 c 116 art 2 s 11

120B.22 VIOLENCE PREVENTION EDUCATION.

Subdivision 1.Violence prevention curriculum.

(a) The commissioner of education, in consultation with the commissioners of health and human services, state minority councils, battered women's and domestic abuse programs, battered women's shelters, sexual assault centers, representatives of religious communities, and the assistant commissioner of the Office of Drug Policy and Violence Prevention, shall assist districts on request in developing or implementing a violence prevention program for students in kindergarten to grade 12 that can be integrated into existing curriculum. The purpose of the program is to help students learn how to resolve conflicts within their families and communities in nonviolent, effective ways.

(b) Each district is encouraged to integrate into its existing curriculum a program for violence prevention that includes at least:

(1) a comprehensive, accurate, and age appropriate curriculum on violence prevention, nonviolent conflict resolution, sexual, racial, and cultural harassment, self-protection, and student hazing that promotes equality, respect, understanding, effective communication, individual responsibility, thoughtful decision making, positive conflict resolution, useful coping skills, critical thinking, listening and watching skills, and personal safety;

(2) planning materials, guidelines, and other accurate information on preventing physical and emotional violence, identifying and reducing the incidence of sexual, racial, and cultural harassment, and reducing child abuse and neglect;

(3) a special parent education component of early childhood family education programs to prevent child abuse and neglect and to promote positive parenting skills, giving priority to services and outreach programs for at-risk families;

(4) involvement of parents and other community members, including the clergy, business representatives, civic leaders, local elected officials, law enforcement officials, and the county attorney;

(5) collaboration with local community services, agencies, and organizations that assist in violence intervention or prevention, including family-based services, crisis services, life management skills services, case coordination services, mental health services, and early intervention services;

(6) collaboration among districts and service cooperatives;

(7) targeting early adolescents for prevention efforts, especially early adolescents whose personal circumstances may lead to violent or harassing behavior;

(8) opportunities for teachers to receive in-service training or attend other programs on strategies or curriculum designed to assist students in intervening in or preventing violence in school and at home; and

(9) administrative policies that reflect, and a staff that models, nonviolent behaviors that do not display or condone sexual, racial, or cultural harassment or student hazing.

(c) The department may provide assistance at a neutral site to a nonpublic school participating in a district's program.

Subd. 2.In-service training.

Each district is encouraged to provide training for district staff and school board members to help students identify violence in the family and the community so that students may learn to resolve conflicts in effective, nonviolent ways. The in-service training must be ongoing and involve experts familiar with domestic violence and personal safety issues.

Subd. 3.Funding sources.

Districts may accept funds from public and private sources for violence prevention programs developed and implemented under this section.

History:

1992 c 571 art 10 s 6; 1994 c 647 art 4 s 34; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1996 c 305 art 1 s 138; 1Sp1997 c 4 art 7 s 9; 1998 c 397 art 3 s 92,103; 2000 c 445 art 2 s 6; 2003 c 130 s 12; 1Sp2005 c 5 art 2 s 18

120B.23 VIOLENCE PREVENTION EDUCATION GRANTS.

Subdivision 1.Grant program established.

The commissioner of education, after consulting with the assistant commissioner of the Office of Drug Policy and Violence Prevention, shall establish a violence prevention education grant program to enable a school district, an education district, or a group of districts that cooperate for a particular purpose to develop and implement or to continue a violence prevention program for students in kindergarten through grade 12 that can be integrated into existing curriculum. A district or group of districts that elects to develop and implement or to continue a violence prevention program under section 120B.22 is eligible to apply for a grant under this section.

Subd. 2.Grant application.

To be eligible to receive a grant, a school district, an education district, a service cooperative, or a group of districts that cooperate for a particular purpose must submit an application to the commissioner in the form and manner and according to the timeline established by the commissioner. The application must describe how the applicant will: (1) continue or integrate into its existing K-12 curriculum a program for violence prevention that contains the program components listed in section 120B.22; (2) collaborate with local organizations involved in violence prevention and intervention; and (3) structure the program to reflect the characteristics of the children, their families and the community involved in the program. The commissioner may require additional information from the applicant. When reviewing the applications, the commissioner shall determine whether the applicant has met the requirements of this subdivision.

Subd. 3.Grant awards.

The commissioner may award grants for a violence prevention education program to eligible applicants as defined in subdivision 2. Grant amounts may not exceed $3 per resident pupil unit in the district or group of districts in the prior school year. Grant recipients should be geographically distributed throughout the state.

Subd. 4.Grant proceeds.

A successful applicant must use the grant money to develop and implement or to continue a violence prevention program according to the terms of the grant application.

History:

1992 c 571 art 10 s 30; 1994 c 576 s 2; 1994 c 647 art 4 s 35; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 9 s 29; art 16 s 13; 1998 c 397 art 3 s 93,103; art 11 s 3; 2003 c 130 s 12

120B.232 CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION.

Subdivision 1.Character development education.

The legislature encourages districts to integrate or offer instruction on character education including, but not limited to, character qualities such as attentiveness, truthfulness, respect for authority, diligence, gratefulness, self-discipline, patience, forgiveness, respect for others, peacemaking, and resourcefulness. Instruction should be integrated into a district's existing programs, curriculum, or the general school environment. The commissioner shall provide assistance at the request of a district to develop character education curriculum and programs.

Subd. 2.Funding sources.

The commissioner must first use federal funds for character development education programs to the extent available under United States Code, title 20, section 7247. Districts may accept funds from private and other public sources for character development education programs developed and implemented under this section.

History:

1Sp2005 c 5 art 2 s 19

120B.233 [Repealed, 2007 c 146 art 2 s 48]

120B.235 AMERICAN HERITAGE EDUCATION.

(a) School districts shall permit grade-level instruction for students to read and study America's founding documents, including documents that contributed to the foundation or maintenance of America's representative form of limited government, the Bill of Rights, our free-market economic system, and patriotism.

(b) Districts may not censor or restrain instruction in American or Minnesota state history or heritage based on religious references in original source documents, writings, speeches, proclamations, or records.

History:

1Sp2005 c 5 art 2 s 20

120B.236 CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION AND AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR INSTRUCTION.

(a) School districts must provide onetime cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automatic external defibrillator instruction as part of their grade 7 to 12 curriculum for all students in that grade beginning in the 2014-2015 school year and later. Training and instruction provided under this section need not result in cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automatic external defibrillator instruction must include cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automatic external defibrillator training that has been developed:

(1) by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross and incorporate psychomotor skills to support the instruction; or

(2) using nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and incorporates psychomotor skills to support the instruction.

"Psychomotor skills" under this paragraph means hands-on practice to support cognitive learning; it does not mean cognitive-only instruction and training.

(b) School districts may use community members such as emergency medical technicians, paramedics, police officers, firefighters, and representatives of the Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium, the American Heart Association, or the American Red Cross, among others, to provide instruction and training under this section. Community members are encouraged to provide needed training and instructional resources such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation kits and other materials at no cost to the school districts. A school administrator may waive this curriculum requirement for a high school transfer student regardless of whether or not the student previously received instruction under this section, an enrolled student absent on the day the instruction occurred under this section, or an eligible student who has a disability. If a school district requests resources, the Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium must provide them to the district for instruction and training provided to students under this section.

History:

2009 c 107 s 1; 2012 c 206 s 1

NOTE: The amendment to this section by Laws 2012, chapter 206, section 1, applies to students entering grades 7 to 12 in the 2014-2015 school year and later. Laws 2012, chapter 206, section 1, the effective date.

120B.24 ENDOWED CHAIR.

Subdivision 1.Purpose.

The purpose of the endowed chair program is to increase curriculum offerings and learning experiences available to students.

Subd. 2.Eligibility.

A school site, represented by the school site council or, if no site council exists, the principal or lead teacher, and the party interested in endowing a chair may enter into an agreement for an endowed chair for no longer than one year in length. The party endowing the chair and the school site may, at their discretion, renew annually.

Subd. 3.Program.

An endowed chair program may be for a semester, a summer session, or a full school year. Curriculum developed or provided under the endowed chair program must supplement the existing curriculum offerings available at the school in the particular subject chosen.

Subd. 4.Agreement.

The agreement must make available funds sufficient for the salary and benefit costs of the instructor, and necessary supplies for the course. The participating site must provide the classroom space and administer the program. The parties, in consultation with the school district and the exclusive representative of the teachers, jointly select the instructor for the endowed chair.

History:

1996 c 412 art 8 s 9; 1998 c 397 art 6 s 124

120B.299 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Definitions.

The definitions in this section apply to this chapter.

Subd. 2.Growth.

"Growth" compares the difference in a student's achievement score at two or more distinct points in time.

Subd. 3.Value added.

"Value added" is the amount of achievement a student demonstrates above an established baseline. The difference between the student's score and the baseline defines value added.

Subd. 4.Value-added growth.

"Value-added growth" is based on a student's growth score. In a value-added growth system, the student's first test is the baseline, and the difference between the student's first and next test scores within a defined period is the measure of value added. Value-added growth models use student-level data to measure what portion of a student's growth can be explained by inputs related to the educational environment.

Subd. 5.Adequate yearly progress.

A school or district makes "adequate yearly progress" if, for every student subgroup under the federal 2001 No Child Left Behind Act in the school or district, its proficiency index or other approved adjustments for performance, based on statewide assessment scores, meets or exceeds federal expectations. To make adequate yearly progress, the school or district also must satisfy applicable federal requirements related to student attendance, graduation, and test participation rates.

Subd. 6.State growth target.

(a) "State growth target" is the average year-two assessment scores for students with similar year-one assessment scores.

(b) The state growth targets for each grade and subject are benchmarked as follows until the assessment scale changes:

(1) beginning in the 2008-2009 school year, the state growth target for grades 3 through 8 is benchmarked to 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school year data;

(2) beginning in the 2008-2009 school year the state growth target for grade 10 is benchmarked to 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school year data;

(3) for the 2008-2009 school year, the state growth target for grade 11 is benchmarked to 2005-2006 school year data; and

(4) beginning in the 2009-2010 school year, the state growth target for grade 11 is benchmarked to 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school year data.

(c) Each time before the assessment scale changes, a stakeholder group that includes assessment and evaluation directors and staff and researchers must recommend a new state growth target that the commissioner must consider when revising standards under section 120B.021, subdivision 4.

Subd. 7.Low growth.

"Low growth" is an assessment score one-half standard deviation below the state growth target.

Subd. 8.Medium growth.

"Medium growth" is an assessment score within one-half standard deviation above or below the state growth target.

Subd. 9.High growth.

"High growth" is an assessment score one-half standard deviation or more above the state growth target.

Subd. 10.Proficiency.

"Proficiency" for purposes of reporting growth on school performance report cards under section 120B.36, subdivision 1, means those students who, in the previous school year, scored at or above "meets standards" on the statewide assessments under section 120B.30. Each year, school performance report cards must separately display: (1) the numbers and percentages of students who achieved low growth, medium growth, and high growth and achieved proficiency in the previous school year; and (2) the numbers and percentages of students who achieved low growth, medium growth, and high growth and did not achieve proficiency in the previous school year.

Subd. 11.Growth and progress toward proficiency.

The categories of low growth, medium growth, and high growth shall be used to indicate both (1) growth and (2) progress toward grade-level proficiency that is consistent with subdivision 10.

History:

2009 c 96 art 2 s 7; 2013 c 116 art 2 s 21

ASSESSMENT; ACCOUNTABILITY

120B.30 STATEWIDE TESTING AND REPORTING SYSTEM.

Subdivision 1.Statewide testing.

(a) The commissioner, with advice from experts with appropriate technical qualifications and experience and stakeholders, consistent with subdivision 1a, shall include in the comprehensive assessment system, for each grade level to be tested, state-constructed tests developed as computer-adaptive reading and mathematics assessments for students that are aligned with the state's required academic standards under section 120B.021, include multiple choice questions, and are administered annually to all students in grades 3 through 7. Reading and mathematics assessments for all students in grade 8 must be aligned with the state's required reading and mathematics standards, be administered annually, and include multiple choice questions. State-developed high school tests aligned with the state's required academic standards under section 120B.021 and administered to all high school students in a subject other than writing must include multiple choice questions. The commissioner shall establish one or more months during which schools shall administer the tests to students each school year.

(1) Students enrolled in grade 8 through the 2009-2010 school year are eligible to be assessed under (i) the graduation-required assessment for diploma in reading, mathematics, or writing under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.30, subdivision 1, paragraphs (c), clauses (1) and (2), and (d), (ii) the WorkKeys job skills assessment, (iii) the Compass college placement test, (iv) the ACT assessment for college admission, or (v) a nationally recognized armed services vocational aptitude test.

(2) Students enrolled in grade 8 in the 2010-2011 or 2011-2012 school year are eligible to be assessed under (i) the graduation-required assessment for diploma in reading, mathematics, or writing under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.30, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clauses (1) and (2), (ii) the WorkKeys job skills assessment, (iii) the Compass college placement test, (iv) the ACT assessment for college admission, or (v) a nationally recognized armed services vocational aptitude test.

(3) For students under clause (1) or (2), a school district may substitute a score from an alternative, equivalent assessment to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph.

(b) The state assessment system must be aligned to the most recent revision of academic standards as described in section 120B.023 in the following manner:

(1) mathematics;

(i) grades 3 through 8 beginning in the 2010-2011 school year; and

(ii) high school level beginning in the 2013-2014 school year;

(2) science; grades 5 and 8 and at the high school level beginning in the 2011-2012 school year; and

(3) language arts and reading; grades 3 through 8 and high school level beginning in the 2012-2013 school year.

(c) For students enrolled in grade 8 in the 2012-2013 school year and later, students' state graduation requirements, based on a longitudinal, systematic approach to student education and career planning, assessment, instructional support, and evaluation, include the following:

(1) demonstrate understanding of required academic standards on a nationally normed college entrance exam;

(2) achievement and career and college readiness tests in mathematics, reading, and writing, consistent with paragraph (e) and to the extent available, to monitor students' continuous development of and growth in requisite knowledge and skills; analyze students' progress and performance levels, identifying students' academic strengths and diagnosing areas where students require curriculum or instructional adjustments, targeted interventions, or remediation; and, based on analysis of students' progress and performance data, determine students' learning and instructional needs and the instructional tools and best practices that support academic rigor for the student; and

(3) consistent with this paragraph and section 120B.125, age-appropriate exploration and planning activities and career assessments to encourage students to identify personally relevant career interests and aptitudes and help students and their families develop a regularly reexamined transition plan for postsecondary education or employment without need for postsecondary remediation.

Based on appropriate state guidelines, students with an individualized education program may satisfy state graduation requirements by achieving an individual score on the state-identified alternative assessments.

Expectations of schools, districts, and the state for career or college readiness under this subdivision must be comparable in rigor, clarity of purpose, and rates of student completion. A student under clause (2) must receive targeted, relevant, academically rigorous, and resourced instruction, which may include a targeted instruction and intervention plan focused on improving the student's knowledge and skills in core subjects so that the student has a reasonable chance to succeed in a career or college without need for postsecondary remediation. Consistent with sections 120B.13, 124D.09, 124D.091, 124D.49, and related sections, an enrolling school or district must actively encourage a student in grade 11 or 12 who is identified as academically ready for a career or college to participate in courses and programs awarding college credit to high school students. Students are not required to achieve a specified score or level of proficiency on an assessment under this subdivision to graduate from high school.

(d) To improve the secondary and postsecondary outcomes of all students, the alignment between secondary and postsecondary education programs and Minnesota's workforce needs, and the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of secondary and postsecondary programs, the commissioner, after consulting with the chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and using a request for proposal process, shall contract for a series of assessments that are consistent with this subdivision, aligned with state academic standards, and include career and college readiness benchmarks. Mathematics, reading, and writing assessments for students in grades 8 and 10 must be predictive of a nationally normed assessment for career and college readiness. This nationally recognized assessment must be a college entrance exam and given to students in grade 11. This series of assessments must include a college placement diagnostic exam and contain career exploration elements. The commissioner and the chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities must collaborate in aligning instruction and assessments for adult basic education students to provide the students with diagnostic information about any targeted interventions they need so that they may seek postsecondary education or employment without need for postsecondary remediation.

(1) Districts and schools, on an annual basis, must use the career exploration elements in these assessments to help students, beginning no later than grade 9, and their families explore and plan for postsecondary education or careers based on the students' interests, aptitudes, and aspirations. Districts and schools must use timely regional labor market information and partnerships, among other resources, to help students and their families successfully develop, pursue, review, and revise an individualized plan for postsecondary education or a career. This process must help increase students' engagement in and connection to school, improve students' knowledge and skills, and deepen students' understanding of career pathways as a sequence of academic and career courses that lead to an industry-recognized credential, an associate's degree, or a bachelor's degree and are available to all students, whatever their interests and career goals.

(2) Students in grade 10 or 11 not yet academically ready for a career or college based on their growth in academic achievement between grades 8 and 10 must take the college placement diagnostic exam before taking the college entrance exam under clause (3). Students, their families, the school, and the district can then use the results of the college placement diagnostic exam for targeted instruction, intervention, or remediation and improve students' knowledge and skills in core subjects sufficient for a student to graduate and have a reasonable chance to succeed in a career or college without remediation.

(3) All students except those eligible for alternative assessments must be given the college entrance part of these assessments in grade 11. A student under this clause who demonstrates attainment of required state academic standards, which include career and college readiness benchmarks, on these assessments is academically ready for a career or college and is encouraged to participate in courses awarding college credit to high school students. Such courses and programs may include sequential courses of study within broad career areas and technical skill assessments that extend beyond course grades.

(4) As appropriate, students through grade 12 must continue to participate in targeted instruction, intervention, or remediation and be encouraged to participate in courses awarding college credit to high school students.

(5) A study to determine the alignment between these assessments and state academic standards under this chapter must be conducted. Where alignment exists, the commissioner must seek federal approval to, and immediately upon receiving approval, replace the federally required assessments referenced under subdivision 1a and section 120B.35, subdivision 2, with assessments under this paragraph.

(e) In developing, supporting, and improving students' academic readiness for a career or college, schools, districts, and the state must have a continuum of empirically derived, clearly defined benchmarks focused on students' attainment of knowledge and skills so that students, their parents, and teachers know how well students must perform to have a reasonable chance to succeed in a career or college without need for postsecondary remediation. The commissioner, in consultation with local school officials and educators, and Minnesota's public postsecondary institutions must ensure that the foundational knowledge and skills for students' successful performance in postsecondary employment or education and an articulated series of possible targeted interventions are clearly identified and satisfy Minnesota's postsecondary admissions requirements.

(f) For students in grade 8 in the 2012-2013 school year and later, a school, district, or charter school must record on the high school transcript a student's progress toward career and college readiness, and for other students as soon as practicable.

(g) The school board granting students their diplomas may formally decide to include a notation of high achievement on the high school diplomas of those graduating seniors who, according to established school board criteria, demonstrate exemplary academic achievement during high school.

(h) The 3rd through 7th grade computer-adaptive assessment results and grade 8 and high school test results shall be available to districts for diagnostic purposes affecting student learning and district instruction and curriculum, and for establishing educational accountability. The commissioner must establish empirically derived benchmarks on adaptive assessments in grades 3 through 7 that reveal a trajectory toward career and college readiness. The commissioner must disseminate to the public the computer-adaptive assessments, grade 8, and high school test results upon receiving those results.

(i) The grades 3 through 7 computer-adaptive assessments and grade 8 and high school tests must be aligned with state academic standards. The commissioner shall determine the testing process and the order of administration. The statewide results shall be aggregated at the site and district level, consistent with subdivision 1a.

(j) The commissioner shall include the following components in the statewide public reporting system:

(1) uniform statewide computer-adaptive assessments of all students in grades 3 through 7 and testing at the grade 8 and high school levels that provides appropriate, technically sound accommodations or alternate assessments;

(2) educational indicators that can be aggregated and compared across school districts and across time on a statewide basis, including average daily attendance, high school graduation rates, and high school drop-out rates by age and grade level;

(3) state results on the American College Test; and

(4) state results from participation in the National Assessment of Educational Progress so that the state can benchmark its performance against the nation and other states, and, where possible, against other countries, and contribute to the national effort to monitor achievement.

[See Note.]

Subd. 1a.Statewide and local assessments; results.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions have the meanings given them.

(1) "Computer-adaptive assessments" means fully adaptive assessments.

(2) "Fully adaptive assessments" include test items that are on-grade level and items that may be above or below a student's grade level.

(3) "On-grade level" test items contain subject area content that is aligned to state academic standards for the grade level of the student taking the assessment.

(4) "Above-grade level" test items contain subject area content that is above the grade level of the student taking the assessment and is considered aligned with state academic standards to the extent it is aligned with content represented in state academic standards above the grade level of the student taking the assessment. Notwithstanding the student's grade level, administering above-grade level test items to a student does not violate the requirement that state assessments must be aligned with state standards.

(5) "Below-grade level" test items contain subject area content that is below the grade level of the student taking the test and is considered aligned with state academic standards to the extent it is aligned with content represented in state academic standards below the student's current grade level. Notwithstanding the student's grade level, administering below-grade level test items to a student does not violate the requirement that state assessments must be aligned with state standards.

(b) The commissioner must use fully adaptive mathematics and reading assessments for grades 3 through 7 beginning in the 2015-2016 school year and later.

(c) For purposes of conforming with existing federal educational accountability requirements, the commissioner must develop and implement computer-adaptive reading and mathematics assessments for grades 3 through 7, state-developed grade 8 and high school reading and mathematics tests aligned with state academic standards, and science assessments under clause (2) that districts and sites must use to monitor student growth toward achieving those standards. The commissioner must not develop statewide assessments for academic standards in social studies, health and physical education, and the arts. The commissioner must require:

(1) annual computer-adaptive reading and mathematics assessments in grades 3 through 7, and grade 8 and high school reading and mathematics tests; and

(2) annual science assessments in one grade in the grades 3 through 5 span, the grades 6 through 8 span, and a life sciences assessment in the grades 9 through 12 span, and the commissioner must not require students to achieve a passing score on high school science assessments as a condition of receiving a high school diploma.

(d) The commissioner must ensure that for annual computer-adaptive assessments:

(1) individual student performance data and achievement reports are available within three school days of when students take an assessment except in a year when an assessment reflects new performance standards;

(2) growth information is available for each student from the student's first assessment to each proximate assessment using a constant measurement scale;

(3) parents, teachers, and school administrators are able to use elementary and middle school student performance data to project students' secondary and postsecondary achievement; and

(4) useful diagnostic information about areas of students' academic strengths and weaknesses is available to teachers and school administrators for improving student instruction and indicating the specific skills and concepts that should be introduced and developed for students at given performance levels, organized by strands within subject areas, and aligned to state academic standards.

(e) The commissioner must ensure that all state tests administered to elementary and secondary students measure students' academic knowledge and skills and not students' values, attitudes, and beliefs.

(f) Reporting of state assessment results must:

(1) provide timely, useful, and understandable information on the performance of individual students, schools, school districts, and the state;

(2) include a growth indicator of student achievement; and

(3) determine whether students have met the state's academic standards.

(g) Consistent with applicable federal law, the commissioner must include appropriate, technically sound accommodations or alternative assessments for the very few students with disabilities for whom statewide assessments are inappropriate and for English learners.

(h) A school, school district, and charter school must administer statewide assessments under this section, as the assessments become available, to evaluate student progress toward career and college readiness in the context of the state's academic standards. A school, school district, or charter school may use a student's performance on a statewide assessment as one of multiple criteria to determine grade promotion or retention. A school, school district, or charter school may use a high school student's performance on a statewide assessment as a percentage of the student's final grade in a course, or place a student's assessment score on the student's transcript.

[See Note.]

Subd. 2.Department of Education assistance.

The Department of Education shall contract for professional and technical services according to competitive solicitation procedures under chapter 16C for purposes of this section.

Subd. 3.Reporting.

The commissioner shall report test results publicly and to stakeholders, including the performance achievement levels developed from students' unweighted test scores in each tested subject and a listing of demographic factors that strongly correlate with student performance. The test results must not include personally identifiable information as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 99.3. The commissioner shall also report data that compares performance results among school sites, school districts, Minnesota and other states, and Minnesota and other nations. The commissioner shall disseminate to schools and school districts a more comprehensive report containing testing information that meets local needs for evaluating instruction and curriculum. The commissioner shall disseminate to charter school authorizers a more comprehensive report containing testing information that contains anonymized data where cell count data are sufficient to protect student identity and that meets the authorizer's needs in fulfilling its obligations under section 124D.10.

Subd. 4.Access to tests.

Consistent with section 13.34, the commissioner must adopt and publish a policy to provide public and parental access for review of basic skills tests, Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, or any other such statewide test and assessment which would not compromise the objectivity or fairness of the testing or examination process. Upon receiving a written request, the commissioner must make available to parents or guardians a copy of their student's actual responses to the test questions for their review.

History:

1997 c 138 s 1; 1998 c 386 art 2 s 38; 1998 c 397 art 4 s 2,51; art 11 s 3; 1998 c 398 art 5 s 8; 1999 c 241 art 9 s 3; 2000 c 489 art 6 s 2; 2000 c 500 s 15; 1Sp2001 c 6 art 2 s 4; 2003 c 129 art 1 s 7,8; 2003 c 130 s 12; 2004 c 294 art 6 s 2; 1Sp2005 c 5 art 2 s 21-23; 2007 c 146 art 2 s 9; 2009 c 96 art 2 s 8; 2010 c 382 s 21,22; 1Sp2011 c 11 art 2 s 4-6; art 3 s 12; 2012 c 239 art 1 s 33; art 2 s 4; 2013 c 116 art 2 s 12,13

NOTE: Subdivision 1, paragraph (b), clause (1), item (ii), as added by Laws 2009, chapter 96, article 2, section 8, is not effective until the legislature specifically authorizes the number, subject area, grade level, and consequence of a high school mathematics assessment program. Laws 2009, chapter 96, article 2, section 8, the effective date.

NOTE: Subdivision 1, paragraph (d), as added by Laws 2009, chapter 96, article 2, section 8, applies to the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 school years only. Laws 2009, chapter 96, article 2, section 8, the effective date.

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 1, paragraph (a), by Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 2, section 12, with regard to the requirements for using computer-adaptive mathematics and reading assessments for grades 3 through 7, applies in the 2015-2016 school year and later. The series of assessments contracted under subdivision 1, paragraph (d), apply to the 2014-2015 school year and later. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 2, section 12, the effective date.

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 1a by Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 2, section 13, with regard to the requirements for using computer-adaptive mathematics and reading assessments for grades 3 through 7, apply in the 2015-2016 school year and later. Results related to career and college readiness benchmarks apply in the 2014-2015 school year and later. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 2, section 13, the effective date.

120B.31 SYSTEM ACCOUNTABILITY AND STATISTICAL ADJUSTMENTS.

Subdivision 1.Educational accountability and public reporting.

Consistent with the direction to adopt statewide academic standards under section 120B.02, the department, in consultation with education and other system stakeholders, must establish a coordinated and comprehensive system of educational accountability and public reporting that promotes greater academic achievement, preparation for higher academic education, preparation for the world of work, citizenship, and the arts.

Subd. 2.Statewide testing.

Each school year, all school districts shall give a uniform statewide test to students at specified grades to provide information on the status, needs and performance of Minnesota students.

Subd. 3.

[Repealed, 2012 c 239 art 2 s 21]

Subd. 4. Student performance data.

In developing policies and assessment processes to hold schools and districts accountable for high levels of academic standards under section 120B.021, the commissioner shall aggregate student data over time to report student performance and growth levels measured at the school, school district, and statewide level. When collecting and reporting the performance data, the commissioner shall organize and report the data so that state and local policy makers can understand the educational implications of changes in districts' demographic profiles over time. Any report the commissioner disseminates containing summary data on student performance must integrate student performance and the demographic factors that strongly correlate with that performance.

History:

1996 c 412 art 7 s 2; 1997 c 1 s 2; 1998 c 397 art 4 s 3,4,51; art 11 s 3; 1998 c 398 art 5 s 10,55; 2003 c 130 s 12; 1Sp2005 c 5 art 11 s 1; 2007 c 146 art 2 s 10; 2009 c 96 art 2 s 9-11; 1Sp2011 c 11 art 2 s 7; 2013 c 116 art 2 s 14

120B.35 STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND GROWTH.

Subdivision 1.School and student indicators of growth and achievement.

The commissioner must develop and implement a system for measuring and reporting academic achievement and individual student growth, consistent with the statewide educational accountability and reporting system. The system components must measure and separately report the adequate yearly progress of schools and the growth of individual students: students' current achievement in schools under subdivision 2; and individual students' educational growth over time under subdivision 3. The system also must include statewide measures of student academic growth that identify schools with high levels of growth, and also schools with low levels of growth that need improvement. When determining a school's effect, the data must include both statewide measures of student achievement and, to the extent annual tests are administered, indicators of achievement growth that take into account a student's prior achievement. Indicators of achievement and prior achievement must be based on highly reliable statewide or districtwide assessments. Indicators that take into account a student's prior achievement must not be used to disregard a school's low achievement or to exclude a school from a program to improve low achievement levels.

Subd. 2.Federal expectations for student academic achievement.

(a) Each school year, a school district must determine if the student achievement levels at each school site meet federal expectations. If student achievement levels at a school site do not meet federal expectations and the site has not made adequate yearly progress for two consecutive school years, beginning with the 2001-2002 school year, the district must work with the school site to adopt a plan to raise student achievement levels to meet federal expectations. The commissioner of education shall establish student academic achievement levels to comply with this paragraph.

(b) School sites identified as not meeting federal expectations must develop continuous improvement plans in order to meet federal expectations for student academic achievement. The department, at a district's request, must assist the district and the school site in developing a plan to improve student achievement. The plan must include parental involvement components.

(c) The commissioner must:

(1) assist school sites and districts identified as not meeting federal expectations; and

(2) provide technical assistance to schools that integrate student achievement measures into the school continuous improvement plan.

(d) The commissioner shall establish and maintain a continuous improvement Web site designed to make data on every school and district available to parents, teachers, administrators, community members, and the general public.

Subd. 3.State growth target; other state measures.

(a) The state's educational assessment system measuring individual students' educational growth is based on indicators of achievement growth that show an individual student's prior achievement. Indicators of achievement and prior achievement must be based on highly reliable statewide or districtwide assessments.

(b) The commissioner, in consultation with a stakeholder group that includes assessment and evaluation directors and staff and researchers must implement a model that uses a value-added growth indicator and includes criteria for identifying schools and school districts that demonstrate medium and high growth under section 120B.299, subdivisions 8 and 9, and may recommend other value-added measures under section 120B.299, subdivision 3. The model may be used to advance educators' professional development and replicate programs that succeed in meeting students' diverse learning needs. Data on individual teachers generated under the model are personnel data under section 13.43. The model must allow users to:

(1) report student growth consistent with this paragraph; and

(2) for all student categories, report and compare aggregated and disaggregated state growth data using the nine student categories identified under the federal 2001 No Child Left Behind Act and two student gender categories of male and female, respectively, following appropriate reporting practices to protect nonpublic student data.

The commissioner must report measures of student growth, consistent with this paragraph.

(c) When reporting student performance under section 120B.36, subdivision 1, the commissioner annually, beginning July 1, 2011, must report two core measures indicating the extent to which current high school graduates are being prepared for postsecondary academic and career opportunities:

(1) a preparation measure indicating the number and percentage of high school graduates in the most recent school year who completed course work important to preparing them for postsecondary academic and career opportunities, consistent with the core academic subjects required for admission to Minnesota's public colleges and universities as determined by the Office of Higher Education under chapter 136A; and

(2) a rigorous coursework measure indicating the number and percentage of high school graduates in the most recent school year who successfully completed one or more college-level advanced placement, international baccalaureate, postsecondary enrollment options including concurrent enrollment, other rigorous courses of study under section 120B.021, subdivision 1a, or industry certification courses or programs.

When reporting the core measures under clauses (1) and (2), the commissioner must also analyze and report separate categories of information using the nine student categories identified under the federal 2001 No Child Left Behind Act and two student gender categories of male and female, respectively, following appropriate reporting practices to protect nonpublic student data.

(d) When reporting student performance under section 120B.36, subdivision 1, the commissioner annually, beginning July 1, 2014, must report summary data on school safety and students' engagement and connection at school. The summary data under this paragraph are separate from and must not be used for any purpose related to measuring or evaluating the performance of classroom teachers. The commissioner, in consultation with qualified experts on student engagement and connection and classroom teachers, must identify highly reliable variables that generate summary data under this paragraph. The summary data may be used at school, district, and state levels only. Any data on individuals received, collected, or created that are used to generate the summary data under this paragraph are nonpublic data under section 13.02, subdivision 9.

(e) For purposes of statewide educational accountability, the commissioner must identify and report measures that demonstrate the success of learning year program providers under sections 123A.05 and 124D.68, among other such providers, in improving students' graduation outcomes. The commissioner, beginning July 1, 2015, must annually report summary data on:

(1) the four- and six-year graduation rates of students under this paragraph;

(2) the percent of students under this paragraph whose progress and performance levels are meeting career and college readiness benchmarks under section 120B.30, subdivision 1; and

(3) the success that learning year program providers experience in:

(i) identifying at-risk and off-track student populations by grade;

(ii) providing successful prevention and intervention strategies for at-risk students;

(iii) providing successful recuperative and recovery or reenrollment strategies for off-track students; and

(iv) improving the graduation outcomes of at-risk and off-track students.

The commissioner may include in the annual report summary data on other education providers serving a majority of students eligible to participate in a learning year program.

[See Note.]

Subd. 4.Improving schools.

Consistent with the requirements of this section, beginning June 20, 2012, the commissioner of education must annually report to the public and the legislature the organizational and curricular practices implemented in those schools that demonstrate medium and high growth compared to the state growth target.

Subd. 5.Improving graduation rates for students with emotional or behavioral disorders.

(a) A district must develop strategies in conjunction with parents of students with emotional or behavioral disorders and the county board responsible for implementing sections 245.487 to 245.4889 to keep students with emotional or behavioral disorders in school, when the district has a drop-out rate for students with an emotional or behavioral disorder in grades 9 through 12 exceeding 25 percent.

(b) A district must develop a plan in conjunction with parents of students with emotional or behavioral disorders and the local mental health authority to increase the graduation rates of students with emotional or behavioral disorders. A district with a drop-out rate for children with an emotional or behavioral disturbance in grades 9 through 12 that is in the top 25 percent of all districts shall submit a plan for review and oversight to the commissioner.

History:

1998 c 398 art 9 s 1; 1999 c 241 art 9 s 4; 2000 c 500 s 16; 1Sp2001 c 6 art 2 s 5; 2003 c 130 s 12; 2004 c 294 art 5 s 2; 2007 c 147 art 8 s 38; 2009 c 96 art 2 s 12; 2013 c 116 art 2 s 15

NOTE: Subdivision 3, paragraph (d), as added by Laws 2009, chapter 96, article 2, section 12, applies to data that are collected in the 2012-2013 school year and later and reported annually beginning July 1, 2014, consistent with advice the commissioner receives from recognized and qualified experts on student engagement and connection and classroom teachers. Laws 2009, chapter 96, article 2, section 12, the effective date.

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 3, paragraph (e), by Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 2, section 15, applies to data that are collected in the 2014-2015 school year and later and reported annually beginning July 1, 2015. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 2, section 15, the effective date.

120B.36 SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY; APPEALS PROCESS.

Subdivision 1.School performance reports.

(a) The commissioner shall report student academic performance under section 120B.35, subdivision 2; the percentages of students showing low, medium, and high growth under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (b); school safety and student engagement and connection under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (d); rigorous coursework under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (c); the percentage of students under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), clause (2), whose progress and performance levels are meeting career and college readiness benchmarks under sections 120B.30, subdivision 1, and 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (e); longitudinal data on the progress of eligible districts in reducing disparities in students' academic achievement and realizing racial and economic integration under section 124D.861; two separate student-to-teacher ratios that clearly indicate the definition of teacher consistent with sections 122A.06 and 122A.15 for purposes of determining these ratios; staff characteristics excluding salaries; student enrollment demographics; district mobility; and extracurricular activities. The report also must indicate a school's adequate yearly progress status under applicable federal law, and must not set any designations applicable to high- and low-performing schools due solely to adequate yearly progress status.

(b) The commissioner shall develop, annually update, and post on the department Web site school performance reports.

(c) The commissioner must make available performance reports by the beginning of each school year.

(d) A school or district may appeal its adequate yearly progress status in writing to the commissioner within 30 days of receiving the notice of its status. The commissioner's decision to uphold or deny an appeal is final.

(e) School performance data are nonpublic data under section 13.02, subdivision 9, until the commissioner publicly releases the data. The commissioner shall annually post school performance reports to the department's public Web site no later than September 1, except that in years when the reports reflect new performance standards, the commissioner shall post the school performance reports no later than October 1.

[See Note.]

Subd. 2.Adequate yearly progress and other data.

All data the department receives, collects, or creates to determine adequate yearly progress status under Public Law 107-110, section 1116, set state growth targets, and determine student growth are nonpublic data under section 13.02, subdivision 9, until the commissioner publicly releases the data. Districts must provide parents sufficiently detailed summary data to permit parents to appeal under Public Law 107-110, section 1116(b)(2). The commissioner shall annually post federal adequate yearly progress data and state student growth data to the department's public Web site no later than September 1, except that in years when adequate yearly progress reflects new performance standards, the commissioner shall post federal adequate yearly progress data and state student growth data no later than October 1.

History:

2003 c 129 art 1 s 9; 2004 c 294 art 2 s 5; 2007 c 146 art 2 s 11; 2009 c 96 art 2 s 13; 1Sp2011 c 11 art 2 s 8,9; 2013 c 116 art 2 s 16; 2013 c 144 s 8

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 1 by Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 2, section 16, as amended by Laws 2013, chapter 144, section 8, is effective for the 2014-2015 school year and later. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 2, section 16, the effective date.

120B.362 [Repealed, 2009 c 96 art 2 s 68]

120B.363 CREDENTIAL FOR EDUCATION PARAPROFESSIONALS.

Subdivision 1.Rulemaking.

The Board of Teaching must adopt rules to implement a statewide credential for education paraprofessionals who assist a licensed teacher in providing student instruction. Any paraprofessional holding this credential or working in a local school district after meeting a state-approved local assessment is considered to be highly qualified under federal law. Under this subdivision, the Board of Teaching, in consultation with the commissioner, must adopt qualitative criteria for approving local assessments that include an evaluation of a paraprofessional's knowledge of reading, writing, and math and the paraprofessional's ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and math. The commissioner must approve or disapprove local assessments using these criteria. The commissioner must make the criteria available to the public.

Subd. 2.Training possibilities.

In adopting rules under subdivision 1, the board must consider including provisions that provide training in: students' characteristics; teaching and learning environment; academic instruction skills; student behavior; and ethical practices.

Subd. 3.Initial training.

Within the first 60 days of supervising or working with students, a district must provide each paraprofessional with initial training in emergency procedures, confidentiality, vulnerability, reporting obligations, discipline policies, roles and responsibilities, and a building orientation.

History:

2003 c 129 art 1 s 10

120B.365 ASSESSMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Subdivision 1.Establishment.

An Assessment Advisory Committee of up to 11 members selected by the commissioner is established. The commissioner must select members as follows:

(1) two superintendents;

(2) two teachers;

(3) two higher education faculty; and

(4) up to five members of the public, consisting of parents and members of the business community.

The committee must review all statewide assessments. The committee must submit its recommendations to the commissioner and to the committees of the legislature having jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education policy and budget issues. The commissioner must consider the committees' recommendations before finalizing a statewide assessment.

Subd. 2.Expiration.

Notwithstanding section 15.059, subdivision 5, the committee expires on June 30, 2014.

History:

2003 c 129 art 1 s 11

120B.38 [Repealed, 1998 c 398 art 6 s 38]

120B.39 [Repealed, 2009 c 96 art 2 s 68]