Bill Text: MN HF1821 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Second world language proficiency made a high school graduation requirement.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-05-03 - Author added Newton [HF1821 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-HF1821-Introduced.html
1.2relating to education; making proficiency in a second world language a
1.3requirement for high school graduation; requiring rulemaking; amending
1.4Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 120B.021; 120B.022, subdivision 1;
1.5120B.023, subdivision 2; 120B.024.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.021, is amended to read:
1.8120B.021 REQUIRED ACADEMIC STANDARDS.
1.9 Subdivision 1. Required academic standards. The following subject areas are
1.10required for statewide accountability:
1.11 (1) language arts;
1.12 (2) mathematics;
1.13 (3) science;
1.14 (4) social studies, including history, geography, economics, and government and
1.15citizenship;
1.16(5) physical education;
1.17 (6) health, for which locally developed academic standards apply;and
1.18 (7) the arts, for which statewide or locally developed academic standards apply, as
1.19determined by the school district. Public elementary and middle schools must offer at least
1.20three and require at least two of the following four arts areas: dance; music; theater; and
1.21visual arts. Public high schools must offer at least three and require at least one of the
1.22following five arts areas: media arts; dance; music; theater; and visual arts.; and
2.1(8) world languages where graduating high school seniors demonstrate an
2.2intermediate-low level of proficiency based on the most current guidelines of the
2.3American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
2.4 The commissioner must submit proposed standards in science and social studies to
2.5the legislature by February 1, 2004.
2.6For purposes of applicable federal law, the academic standards for language arts,
2.7mathematics, and science apply to all public school students, except the very few students
2.8with extreme cognitive or physical impairments for whom an individualized education
2.9program team has determined that the required academic standards are inappropriate. An
2.10individualized education program team that makes this determination must establish
2.11alternative standards.
2.12 With the exception of the world languages graduation requirement under clause
2.13(8), a school district, no later than the 2007-2008 school year, must adopt graduation
2.14requirements that meet or exceed state graduation requirements established in law or
2.15rule. A school district that incorporates these state graduation requirements before the
2.162007-2008 school year must provide students who enter the 9th grade in or before
2.17the 2003-2004 school year the opportunity to earn a diploma based on existing locally
2.18established graduation requirements in effect when the students entered the 9th grade. A
2.19district must adopt a world languages graduation requirement under clause (8) that applies
2.20beginning with 9th grade students in the 2014-2015 school year and later. District efforts
2.21to develop, implement, or improve instruction or curriculum as a result of the provisions
2.22of this section must be consistent with sections120B.10 ,
120B.11 , and
120B.20 .
2.23 The commissioner must include the contributions of Minnesota American Indian
2.24tribes and communities as they relate to the academic standards during the review and
2.25revision of the required academic standards.
2.26 Subd. 1a. Rigorous course of study; waiver. (a) Upon receiving a student's
2.27application signed by the student's parent or guardian, a school district, area learning
2.28center, or charter school must declare that a student meets or exceeds a specific academic
2.29standard required for graduation under this section if the local school board, the school
2.30board of the school district in which the area learning center is located, or the charter
2.31school board of directors determines that the student:
2.32(1) is participating in a course of study, including an advanced placement or
2.33international baccalaureate course or program; a learning opportunity outside the
2.34curriculum of the district, area learning center, or charter school; or an approved
2.35preparatory program for employment or postsecondary education that is equally or more
3.1rigorous than the corresponding state or local academic standard required by the district,
3.2area learning center, or charter school;
3.3(2) would be precluded from participating in the rigorous course of study, learning
3.4opportunity, or preparatory employment or postsecondary education program if the student
3.5were required to achieve the academic standard to be waived; and
3.6(3) satisfactorily completes the requirements for the rigorous course of study,
3.7learning opportunity, or preparatory employment or postsecondary education program.
3.8Consistent with the requirements of this section, the local school board, the school board
3.9of the school district in which the area learning center is located, or the charter school
3.10board of directors also may formally determine other circumstances in which to declare
3.11that a student meets or exceeds a specific academic standard that the site requires for
3.12graduation under this section.
3.13(b) A student who satisfactorily completes a postsecondary enrollment options course
3.14or program under section124D.09 , or an advanced placement or international baccalaureate
3.15course or program under section120B.13 , is not required to complete other requirements
3.16of the academic standards corresponding to that specific rigorous course of study.
3.17 Subd. 2. Standards development. (a) The commissioner must consider advice
3.18from at least the following stakeholders in developing statewide rigorous core academic
3.19standards in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, including history,
3.20geography, economics, government and citizenship,and the arts, and world languages:
3.21(1) parents of school-age children and members of the public throughout the state;
3.22(2) teachers throughout the state currently licensed and providing instruction in
3.23language arts, mathematics, science, social studies,or the arts, or world languages and
3.24licensed elementary and secondary school principals throughout the state currently
3.25administering a school site;
3.26(3) currently serving members of local school boards and charter school boards
3.27throughout the state;
3.28(4) faculty teaching core subjects at postsecondary institutions in Minnesota; and
3.29(5) representatives of the Minnesota business community.
3.30(b) Academic standards must:
3.31(1) be clear, concise, objective, measurable, and grade-level appropriate;
3.32(2) not require a specific teaching methodology or curriculum; and
3.33(3) be consistent with the Constitutions of the United States and the state of
3.34Minnesota.
3.35 Subd. 3. Rulemaking. The commissioner, consistent with the requirements of
3.36this section and section120B.022 , must adopt statewide rules under section
14.389 for
4.1implementing statewide rigorous core academic standards in language arts, mathematics,
4.2science, social studies,and the arts, and world languages. After the rules authorized under
4.3this subdivision are initially adopted, the commissioner may not amend or repeal these
4.4rules nor adopt new rules on the same topic without specific legislative authorization. The
4.5academic standards for language arts, mathematics, and the arts must be implemented for
4.6all students beginning in the 2003-2004 school year. The academic standards for science
4.7and social studies must be implemented for all students beginning in the 2005-2006 school
4.8year. The academic standards for world languages must be implemented beginning with
4.9all 9th grade students in the 2014-2015 school year.
4.10EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
4.11and applies beginning with all 9th grade students in the 2014-2015 school year and later.
4.12 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.022, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.13 Subdivision 1. Elective standards. (a) A district must establish its own standards in
4.14the following subject areas:
4.15(1) career and technical education; and.
4.16(2) world languages.
4.17 A school district must offer courses in all elective subject areas.
4.18 (b) Consistent with sections 120B.021 and 120B.023, subdivision 2, paragraph
4.19(g), and to the extent students speak or are interested in becoming proficient speakers in
4.20multiple world languages, world languages teachers and other school staff should develop
4.21and implement world languages programs that acknowledge and reinforce the language
4.22proficiency and cultural awareness that non-English language speakers already possess,
4.23and encourage students' proficiency in multiple world languages. Programs under this
4.24paragraph must encompass indigenous American Indian languages and cultures, among
4.25other world languages and cultures. The department shall consult with postsecondary
4.26institutions in developing related professional development opportunities.
4.27(c) Any Minnesota public, charter, or nonpublic school may award Minnesota
4.28World Language Proficiency Certificates or Minnesota World Language Proficiency High
4.29Achievement Certificates, consistent with this subdivision.
4.30The Minnesota World Language Proficiency Certificate recognizes students who
4.31demonstrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing language skills at the American
4.32Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' Intermediate-Low level on a valid and
4.33reliable assessment tool. For languages listed as Category 3 by the United States Foreign
4.34Service Institute or Category 4 by the United States Defense Language Institute, the
5.1standard is Intermediate-Low for listening and speaking and Novice-High for reading
5.2and writing.
5.3The Minnesota World Language Proficiency High Achievement Certificate
5.4recognizes students who demonstrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing language
5.5skills at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' Pre-Advanced level
5.6for K-12 learners on a valid and reliable assessment tool. For languages listed as Category
5.73 by the United States Foreign Service Institute or Category 4 by the United States
5.8Defense Language Institute, the standard is Pre-Advanced for listening and speaking and
5.9Intermediate-Mid for reading and writing.
5.10EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
5.11and applies beginning with all 9th grade students in the 2014-2015 school year and later.
5.12 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.023, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
5.13 Subd. 2. Revisions and reviews required. (a) The commissioner of education must
5.14revise and appropriately embed technology and information literacy standards consistent
5.15with recommendations from school media specialists into the state's academic standards
5.16and graduation requirements and implement a review cycle for state academic standards
5.17and related benchmarks, consistent with this subdivision. During each review cycle, the
5.18commissioner also must examine the alignment of each required academic standard and
5.19related benchmark with the knowledge and skills students need for college readiness and
5.20advanced work in the particular subject area.
5.21(b) The commissioner in the 2006-2007 school year must revise and align the state's
5.22academic standards and high school graduation requirements in mathematics to require
5.23that students satisfactorily complete the revised mathematics standards, beginning in the
5.242010-2011 school year. Under the revised standards:
5.25(1) students must satisfactorily complete an algebra I credit by the end of eighth
5.26grade; and
5.27(2) students scheduled to graduate in the 2014-2015 school year or later must
5.28satisfactorily complete an algebra II credit or its equivalent.
5.29The commissioner also must ensure that the statewide mathematics assessments
5.30administered to students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 are aligned with the state academic
5.31standards in mathematics, consistent with section120B.30 , subdivision 1, paragraph
5.32(b). The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and related
5.33benchmarks in mathematics beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.
6.1(c) The commissioner in the 2007-2008 school year must revise and align the state's
6.2academic standards and high school graduation requirements in the arts to require that
6.3students satisfactorily complete the revised arts standards beginning in the 2010-2011
6.4school year. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and
6.5related benchmarks in arts beginning in the 2016-2017 school year.
6.6(d) The commissioner in the 2008-2009 school year must revise and align the state's
6.7academic standards and high school graduation requirements in science to require that
6.8students satisfactorily complete the revised science standards, beginning in the 2011-2012
6.9school year. Under the revised standards, students scheduled to graduate in the 2014-2015
6.10school year or later must satisfactorily complete a chemistry or physics credit or a career
6.11and technical education credit that meets standards underlying the chemistry, physics,
6.12or biology credit or a combination of those standards approved by the district. The
6.13commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and related benchmarks
6.14in science beginning in the 2017-2018 school year.
6.15(e) The commissioner in the 2009-2010 school year must revise and align the state's
6.16academic standards and high school graduation requirements in language arts to require
6.17that students satisfactorily complete the revised language arts standards beginning in the
6.182012-2013 school year. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic
6.19standards and related benchmarks in language arts beginning in the 2018-2019 school year.
6.20(f) The commissioner in the 2010-2011 school year must revise and align the state's
6.21academic standards and high school graduation requirements in social studies to require
6.22that students satisfactorily complete the revised social studies standards beginning in the
6.232013-2014 school year. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic
6.24standards and related benchmarks in social studies beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.
6.25(g) The commissioner in the 2013-2014 school year must establish state world
6.26languages academic standards, supplemented by related benchmarks, that require students
6.27beginning 9th grade in the 2014-2015 school year and later, as a condition of graduating
6.28from a public high school, to demonstrate an intermediate-low level of proficiency based on
6.29the most current guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
6.30Consistent with section 120B.022, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), governing the language
6.31proficiency and cultural awareness of non-English language speakers, an intermediate-low
6.32level of proficiency in a world language other than English that is recognized by the
6.33American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages satisfies the requirements of this
6.34paragraph. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and
6.35related benchmarks in world languages beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.
7.1(g) (h) School districts and charter schools must revise and align local academic
7.2standards and high school graduation requirements in health, world languages, and career
7.3and technical education to require students to complete the revised standards beginning
7.4in a school year determined by the school district or charter school. School districts and
7.5charter schools must formally establish a periodic review cycle for the academic standards
7.6and related benchmarks in health, world languages, and career and technical education.
7.7EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
7.8and applies beginning with all 9th grade students in the 2014-2015 school year and later.
7.9 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.024, is amended to read:
7.10120B.024 GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS; COURSE CREDITS.
7.11 (a) Students beginning 9th grade in the 2011-2012 school year and later must
7.12successfully complete the following high school level course credits for graduation:
7.13 (1) four credits of language arts;
7.14 (2) three credits of mathematics, encompassing at least algebra, geometry, statistics,
7.15and probability sufficient to satisfy the academic standard;
7.16 (3) three credits of science, including at least: (i) one credit in biology; and (ii) one
7.17chemistry or physics credit or a career and technical education credit that meets standards
7.18underlying the chemistry, physics, or biology credit or a combination of those standards
7.19approved by the district, but meeting biology standards under this item does not meet the
7.20biology requirement under item (i);
7.21 (4) three and one-half credits of social studies, encompassing at least United
7.22States history, geography, government and citizenship, world history, and economics or
7.23three credits of social studies encompassing at least United States history, geography,
7.24government and citizenship, and world history, and one-half credit of economics taught in
7.25a school's social studies, agriculture education, or business department;
7.26 (5) one credit in the arts;and
7.27(6) three credits of world languages; and
7.28(6) (7) a minimum of seven four elective course credits.
7.29 A course credit is equivalent to a student successfully completing an academic
7.30year of study or a student mastering the applicable subject matter, as determined by the
7.31local school district.
7.32 (b) An agriculture science course may fulfill a science credit requirement other than
7.33the specified science credit in biology under paragraph (a), clause (3).
8.1 (c) A career and technical education course may fulfill a mathematics or arts credit
8.2requirement or a science credit requirement other than the specified science credit in
8.3biology under paragraph (a), clause (2), (3), or (5).
8.4EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective beginning the 2014-2015 school year
8.5and applies beginning with all 9th grade students in the 2014-2015 school year and later.
1.3requirement for high school graduation; requiring rulemaking; amending
1.4Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 120B.021; 120B.022, subdivision 1;
1.5120B.023, subdivision 2; 120B.024.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.021, is amended to read:
1.8120B.021 REQUIRED ACADEMIC STANDARDS.
1.9 Subdivision 1. Required academic standards. The following subject areas are
1.10required for statewide accountability:
1.11 (1) language arts;
1.12 (2) mathematics;
1.13 (3) science;
1.14 (4) social studies, including history, geography, economics, and government and
1.15citizenship;
1.16(5) physical education;
1.17 (6) health, for which locally developed academic standards apply;
1.18 (7) the arts, for which statewide or locally developed academic standards apply, as
1.19determined by the school district. Public elementary and middle schools must offer at least
1.20three and require at least two of the following four arts areas: dance; music; theater; and
1.21visual arts. Public high schools must offer at least three and require at least one of the
1.22following five arts areas: media arts; dance; music; theater; and visual arts
2.1(8) world languages where graduating high school seniors demonstrate an
2.2intermediate-low level of proficiency based on the most current guidelines of the
2.3American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
2.4 The commissioner must submit proposed standards in science and social studies to
2.5the legislature by February 1, 2004.
2.6For purposes of applicable federal law, the academic standards for language arts,
2.7mathematics, and science apply to all public school students, except the very few students
2.8with extreme cognitive or physical impairments for whom an individualized education
2.9program team has determined that the required academic standards are inappropriate. An
2.10individualized education program team that makes this determination must establish
2.11alternative standards.
2.12 With the exception of the world languages graduation requirement under clause
2.13(8), a school district, no later than the 2007-2008 school year, must adopt graduation
2.14requirements that meet or exceed state graduation requirements established in law or
2.15rule. A school district that incorporates these state graduation requirements before the
2.162007-2008 school year must provide students who enter the 9th grade in or before
2.17the 2003-2004 school year the opportunity to earn a diploma based on existing locally
2.18established graduation requirements in effect when the students entered the 9th grade. A
2.19district must adopt a world languages graduation requirement under clause (8) that applies
2.20beginning with 9th grade students in the 2014-2015 school year and later. District efforts
2.21to develop, implement, or improve instruction or curriculum as a result of the provisions
2.22of this section must be consistent with sections
2.23 The commissioner must include the contributions of Minnesota American Indian
2.24tribes and communities as they relate to the academic standards during the review and
2.25revision of the required academic standards.
2.26 Subd. 1a. Rigorous course of study; waiver. (a) Upon receiving a student's
2.27application signed by the student's parent or guardian, a school district, area learning
2.28center, or charter school must declare that a student meets or exceeds a specific academic
2.29standard required for graduation under this section if the local school board, the school
2.30board of the school district in which the area learning center is located, or the charter
2.31school board of directors determines that the student:
2.32(1) is participating in a course of study, including an advanced placement or
2.33international baccalaureate course or program; a learning opportunity outside the
2.34curriculum of the district, area learning center, or charter school; or an approved
2.35preparatory program for employment or postsecondary education that is equally or more
3.1rigorous than the corresponding state or local academic standard required by the district,
3.2area learning center, or charter school;
3.3(2) would be precluded from participating in the rigorous course of study, learning
3.4opportunity, or preparatory employment or postsecondary education program if the student
3.5were required to achieve the academic standard to be waived; and
3.6(3) satisfactorily completes the requirements for the rigorous course of study,
3.7learning opportunity, or preparatory employment or postsecondary education program.
3.8Consistent with the requirements of this section, the local school board, the school board
3.9of the school district in which the area learning center is located, or the charter school
3.10board of directors also may formally determine other circumstances in which to declare
3.11that a student meets or exceeds a specific academic standard that the site requires for
3.12graduation under this section.
3.13(b) A student who satisfactorily completes a postsecondary enrollment options course
3.14or program under section
3.15course or program under section
3.16of the academic standards corresponding to that specific rigorous course of study.
3.17 Subd. 2. Standards development. (a) The commissioner must consider advice
3.18from at least the following stakeholders in developing statewide rigorous core academic
3.19standards in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, including history,
3.20geography, economics, government and citizenship,
3.21(1) parents of school-age children and members of the public throughout the state;
3.22(2) teachers throughout the state currently licensed and providing instruction in
3.23language arts, mathematics, science, social studies,
3.24licensed elementary and secondary school principals throughout the state currently
3.25administering a school site;
3.26(3) currently serving members of local school boards and charter school boards
3.27throughout the state;
3.28(4) faculty teaching core subjects at postsecondary institutions in Minnesota; and
3.29(5) representatives of the Minnesota business community.
3.30(b) Academic standards must:
3.31(1) be clear, concise, objective, measurable, and grade-level appropriate;
3.32(2) not require a specific teaching methodology or curriculum; and
3.33(3) be consistent with the Constitutions of the United States and the state of
3.34Minnesota.
3.35 Subd. 3. Rulemaking. The commissioner, consistent with the requirements of
3.36this section and section
4.1implementing statewide rigorous core academic standards in language arts, mathematics,
4.2science, social studies,
4.3this subdivision are initially adopted, the commissioner may not amend or repeal these
4.4rules nor adopt new rules on the same topic without specific legislative authorization. The
4.5academic standards for language arts, mathematics, and the arts must be implemented for
4.6all students beginning in the 2003-2004 school year. The academic standards for science
4.7and social studies must be implemented for all students beginning in the 2005-2006 school
4.8year. The academic standards for world languages must be implemented beginning with
4.9all 9th grade students in the 2014-2015 school year.
4.10EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
4.11and applies beginning with all 9th grade students in the 2014-2015 school year and later.
4.12 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.022, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.13 Subdivision 1. Elective standards. (a) A district must establish its own standards in
4.14
4.15
4.16
4.17 A school district must offer courses in all elective subject areas.
4.18 (b) Consistent with sections 120B.021 and 120B.023, subdivision 2, paragraph
4.19(g), and to the extent students speak or are interested in becoming proficient speakers in
4.20multiple world languages, world languages teachers and other school staff should develop
4.21and implement world languages programs that acknowledge and reinforce the language
4.22proficiency and cultural awareness that non-English language speakers already possess,
4.23and encourage students' proficiency in multiple world languages. Programs under this
4.24paragraph must encompass indigenous American Indian languages and cultures, among
4.25other world languages and cultures. The department shall consult with postsecondary
4.26institutions in developing related professional development opportunities.
4.27(c) Any Minnesota public, charter, or nonpublic school may award Minnesota
4.28World Language Proficiency Certificates or Minnesota World Language Proficiency High
4.29Achievement Certificates, consistent with this subdivision.
4.30The Minnesota World Language Proficiency Certificate recognizes students who
4.31demonstrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing language skills at the American
4.32Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' Intermediate-Low level on a valid and
4.33reliable assessment tool. For languages listed as Category 3 by the United States Foreign
4.34Service Institute or Category 4 by the United States Defense Language Institute, the
5.1standard is Intermediate-Low for listening and speaking and Novice-High for reading
5.2and writing.
5.3The Minnesota World Language Proficiency High Achievement Certificate
5.4recognizes students who demonstrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing language
5.5skills at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' Pre-Advanced level
5.6for K-12 learners on a valid and reliable assessment tool. For languages listed as Category
5.73 by the United States Foreign Service Institute or Category 4 by the United States
5.8Defense Language Institute, the standard is Pre-Advanced for listening and speaking and
5.9Intermediate-Mid for reading and writing.
5.10EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
5.11and applies beginning with all 9th grade students in the 2014-2015 school year and later.
5.12 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.023, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
5.13 Subd. 2. Revisions and reviews required. (a) The commissioner of education must
5.14revise and appropriately embed technology and information literacy standards consistent
5.15with recommendations from school media specialists into the state's academic standards
5.16and graduation requirements and implement a review cycle for state academic standards
5.17and related benchmarks, consistent with this subdivision. During each review cycle, the
5.18commissioner also must examine the alignment of each required academic standard and
5.19related benchmark with the knowledge and skills students need for college readiness and
5.20advanced work in the particular subject area.
5.21(b) The commissioner in the 2006-2007 school year must revise and align the state's
5.22academic standards and high school graduation requirements in mathematics to require
5.23that students satisfactorily complete the revised mathematics standards, beginning in the
5.242010-2011 school year. Under the revised standards:
5.25(1) students must satisfactorily complete an algebra I credit by the end of eighth
5.26grade; and
5.27(2) students scheduled to graduate in the 2014-2015 school year or later must
5.28satisfactorily complete an algebra II credit or its equivalent.
5.29The commissioner also must ensure that the statewide mathematics assessments
5.30administered to students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 are aligned with the state academic
5.31standards in mathematics, consistent with section
5.32(b). The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and related
5.33benchmarks in mathematics beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.
6.1(c) The commissioner in the 2007-2008 school year must revise and align the state's
6.2academic standards and high school graduation requirements in the arts to require that
6.3students satisfactorily complete the revised arts standards beginning in the 2010-2011
6.4school year. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and
6.5related benchmarks in arts beginning in the 2016-2017 school year.
6.6(d) The commissioner in the 2008-2009 school year must revise and align the state's
6.7academic standards and high school graduation requirements in science to require that
6.8students satisfactorily complete the revised science standards, beginning in the 2011-2012
6.9school year. Under the revised standards, students scheduled to graduate in the 2014-2015
6.10school year or later must satisfactorily complete a chemistry or physics credit or a career
6.11and technical education credit that meets standards underlying the chemistry, physics,
6.12or biology credit or a combination of those standards approved by the district. The
6.13commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and related benchmarks
6.14in science beginning in the 2017-2018 school year.
6.15(e) The commissioner in the 2009-2010 school year must revise and align the state's
6.16academic standards and high school graduation requirements in language arts to require
6.17that students satisfactorily complete the revised language arts standards beginning in the
6.182012-2013 school year. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic
6.19standards and related benchmarks in language arts beginning in the 2018-2019 school year.
6.20(f) The commissioner in the 2010-2011 school year must revise and align the state's
6.21academic standards and high school graduation requirements in social studies to require
6.22that students satisfactorily complete the revised social studies standards beginning in the
6.232013-2014 school year. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic
6.24standards and related benchmarks in social studies beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.
6.25(g) The commissioner in the 2013-2014 school year must establish state world
6.26languages academic standards, supplemented by related benchmarks, that require students
6.27beginning 9th grade in the 2014-2015 school year and later, as a condition of graduating
6.28from a public high school, to demonstrate an intermediate-low level of proficiency based on
6.29the most current guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
6.30Consistent with section 120B.022, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), governing the language
6.31proficiency and cultural awareness of non-English language speakers, an intermediate-low
6.32level of proficiency in a world language other than English that is recognized by the
6.33American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages satisfies the requirements of this
6.34paragraph. The commissioner must implement a review of the academic standards and
6.35related benchmarks in world languages beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.
7.1
7.2standards and high school graduation requirements in health
7.3and technical education to require students to complete the revised standards beginning
7.4in a school year determined by the school district or charter school. School districts and
7.5charter schools must formally establish a periodic review cycle for the academic standards
7.6and related benchmarks in health
7.7EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
7.8and applies beginning with all 9th grade students in the 2014-2015 school year and later.
7.9 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.024, is amended to read:
7.10120B.024 GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS; COURSE CREDITS.
7.11 (a) Students beginning 9th grade in the 2011-2012 school year and later must
7.12successfully complete the following high school level course credits for graduation:
7.13 (1) four credits of language arts;
7.14 (2) three credits of mathematics, encompassing at least algebra, geometry, statistics,
7.15and probability sufficient to satisfy the academic standard;
7.16 (3) three credits of science, including at least: (i) one credit in biology; and (ii) one
7.17chemistry or physics credit or a career and technical education credit that meets standards
7.18underlying the chemistry, physics, or biology credit or a combination of those standards
7.19approved by the district, but meeting biology standards under this item does not meet the
7.20biology requirement under item (i);
7.21 (4) three and one-half credits of social studies, encompassing at least United
7.22States history, geography, government and citizenship, world history, and economics or
7.23three credits of social studies encompassing at least United States history, geography,
7.24government and citizenship, and world history, and one-half credit of economics taught in
7.25a school's social studies, agriculture education, or business department;
7.26 (5) one credit in the arts;
7.27(6) three credits of world languages; and
7.28
7.29 A course credit is equivalent to a student successfully completing an academic
7.30year of study or a student mastering the applicable subject matter, as determined by the
7.31local school district.
7.32 (b) An agriculture science course may fulfill a science credit requirement other than
7.33the specified science credit in biology under paragraph (a), clause (3).
8.1 (c) A career and technical education course may fulfill a mathematics or arts credit
8.2requirement or a science credit requirement other than the specified science credit in
8.3biology under paragraph (a), clause (2), (3), or (5).
8.4EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective beginning the 2014-2015 school year
8.5and applies beginning with all 9th grade students in the 2014-2015 school year and later.
