1998 Minnesota Statutes

     124D.19 Community education programs; advisory council. 

    Subdivision 1.    Authorization.  Each school board may 
 initiate a community education program in its district and 
 provide for the general supervision of the program.  Each board 
 may, as it considers appropriate, employ community education 
 staff to further the purposes of the community education program.

    Subd. 2.    Advisory council.  Each board must provide 
 for an advisory council to consist of members who represent:  
 various service organizations; churches; public and nonpublic 
 schools; local government including elected officials; public 
 and private nonprofit agencies serving youth and families; 
 parents; youth; park, recreation or forestry services of 
 municipal or local government units located in whole or in part 
 within the boundaries of the school district; and any other 
 groups participating in the community education program in the 
 school district. 

    Subd. 3.    Community education director.  (a) Except as 
 provided under paragraphs (b) and (c), each board shall employ a 
 licensed community education director.  The board shall submit 
 the name of the person who is serving as director of community 
 education under this section on the district's annual community 
 education report to the commissioner. 

    (b) A board may apply to the commissioner under Minnesota 
 Rules, part 3512.3500, subpart 9, for authority to use an 
 individual who is not licensed as a community education director.

    (c) A board of a district with a total population of 2,000 
 or less may identify an employee who holds a valid Minnesota 
 principal or superintendent license under Minnesota Rules, 
 chapter 3512, to serve as director of community education.  To 
 be eligible for an exception under this paragraph, the board 
 shall certify in writing to the commissioner that the district 
 has not placed a licensed director of community education on 
 unrequested leave. 

    Subd. 4.    Cooperation.  The council must function in 
 cooperation with the community education director in an advisory 
 capacity in the interest of promoting the goals and objectives 
 of sections 124D.18 and 124D.19. 

    Subd. 5.    Policy to avoid program duplication.  Each 
 council must adopt a policy to reduce and eliminate program 
 duplication within the district. 

    Subd. 6.    Summer programs.  Notwithstanding any law to 
 the contrary, during the summer a school district may offer 
 community education programs to elementary and secondary 
 pupils.  The district may use community education revenue 
 received pursuant to section 124D.20 and charge fees for the 
 cost of the programs.  

    Subd. 7.    Programs for adults with disabilities.  A 
 board may offer, as part of a community education program, a 
 program for adults with disabilities.  Boards are encouraged to 
 offer programs cooperatively with other districts and 
 organizations.  Programs may not be limited to district 
 residents.  Programs may include: 

    (1) services enabling the adults to participate in 
 community activities or community education classes; 

    (2) classes specifically for adults with disabilities; 

    (3) outreach activities to identify adults needing service; 

    (4) activities to increase public awareness of the roles of 
 people with disabilities; 

    (5) activities to enhance the role of people with 
 disabilities in the community; and 

    (6) other direct and indirect services and activities 
 benefiting adults with disabilities.  

    Subd. 8.    Program approval.  To be eligible for 
 revenue for the program for adults with disabilities, a program 
 and budget must receive approval from the community education 
 section in the department.  Approval may be for five years.  
 During that time, a board must report any significant changes to 
 the department for approval.  For programs offered 
 cooperatively, the request for approval must include an 
 agreement on the method by which local money is to be derived 
 and distributed.  A request for approval must include all of the 
 following:  

    (1) characteristics of the people to be served; 

    (2) description of the program services and activities; 

    (3) program budget and amount of aid requested; 

    (4) participation by adults with disabilities in developing 
 the program; 

    (5) assessment of the needs of adults with disabilities; 
 and 

    (6) cooperative efforts with community organizations.  

    Subd. 9.    Youth development plans.  A district 
 advisory council may prepare a youth development plan.  The 
 council is encouraged to use the state guidelines when 
 developing the local plan.  The school board may approve the 
 youth development plan. 

    Subd. 10.    Youth service programs.  (a) A school board 
 may offer, as part of a community education program with a youth 
 development program, a youth service program that provides young 
 people with meaningful opportunities to become involved in their 
 community, develop individual capabilities, make career 
 connections, seek support networks and services, become active 
 citizens, and address community needs through youth service.  
 The board may award up to one credit, or the equivalent, toward 
 graduation for a pupil who completes the youth service 
 requirements of the district.  The community education advisory 
 council, after considering the results of the commissioner's 
 study under section 124D.50, subdivision 1, must design the 
 program in cooperation with the district planning, evaluating 
 and reporting committee and local organizations that train 
 volunteers or need volunteers' services.  

    (b) Programs must include: 

    (1) preliminary training for pupil volunteers conducted, 
 when possible, by organizations experienced in such training; 

    (2) supervision of the pupil volunteers to ensure 
 appropriate placement and adequate learning opportunity; 

    (3) sufficient opportunity, in a positive setting for human 
 development, for pupil volunteers to develop general skills in 
 preparation for employment, to enhance self-esteem and 
 self-worth, and to give genuine service to their community; 

    (4) integration of academic learning with the service 
 experience; and 

    (5) integration of youth community service with elementary 
 and secondary curriculum. 

    (c) Youth service projects include, but are not limited to, 
 the following: 

    (1) human services for the elderly, including home care and 
 related services; 

    (2) tutoring and mentoring; 

    (3) training for and providing emergency services; 

    (4) services at extended day programs; 

    (5) environmental services; and 

    (6) service-learning programs in which schools, including 
 post-secondary schools, and employers work together with young 
 people to provide them with meaningful opportunities for 
 community service and with the academic and technical skills 
 that employers require. 

    (d) The commissioner shall maintain a list of acceptable 
 projects with a description of each project.  A project that is 
 not on the list must be approved by the commissioner.  

    (e) A youth service project must have a community sponsor 
 that may be a governmental unit or nonprofit organization.  To 
 assure that pupils provide additional services, each sponsor 
 must assure that pupil services do not displace employees or 
 reduce the workload of any employee. 

    (f) The commissioner shall assist districts in planning 
 youth service programs, implementing programs, and developing 
 recommendations for obtaining community sponsors.  

    Subd. 11.    Extended day programs.  (a) A school board 
 may offer, as part of a community education program, an extended 
 day program for children from kindergarten through grade 6 for 
 the purpose of expanding students' learning opportunities.  A 
 program must include the following: 

    (1) adult supervised programs while school is not in 
 session; 

    (2) parental involvement in program design and direction; 

    (3) partnerships with the kindergarten through grade 12 
 system, and other public, private, or nonprofit entities; and 

    (4) opportunities for trained secondary school pupils to 
 work with younger children in a supervised setting as part of a 
 community service program. 

    (b) The district may charge a sliding fee based upon family 
 income for extended day programs.  The district may receive 
 money from other public or private sources for the extended day 
 program.  The board of the district must develop standards for 
 school age child care programs.  Districts must adopt standards 
 within one year after the district first offers services under a 
 program authorized by this subdivision.  The state board of 
 education may not adopt rules for extended day programs. 

    (c) The district shall maintain a separate account within 
 the community services fund for all funds related to the 
 extended day program. 

    HIST: 1971 c 900 s 4; 1976 c 239 s 29; 1977 c 447 art 4 s 1; 
 1980 c 609 art 4 s 22; 1982 c 548 art 6 s 1; 1Sp1985 c 12 art 4 
 s 1; 1987 c 398 art 4 s 3-5; 1988 c 718 art 4 s 1,2; 1989 c 329 
 art 4 s 1,2; art 9 s 6; 1990 c 562 art 3 s 1,13; 1991 c 199 art 
 2 s 8; 1991 c 265 art 4 s 1,2; 1993 c 146 art 5 s 13; 1993 c 224 
 art 12 s 9,10; 1994 c 465 art 2 s 11; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 4 s 30; 
 art 16 s 13; 1997 c 162 art 2 s 12-14; 1998 c 397 art 3 s 
 36-42,103; art 11 s 3