Bill Text: MN HF3150 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Special education caseload provisions modified.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-17 - Introduction and first reading, referred to Education Policy [HF3150 Detail]

Download: Minnesota-2013-HF3150-Introduced.html

1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to education; modifying special education caseload provisions;
1.3proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 125A.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5    Section 1. [125A.085] MAXIMUM CASELOADS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION
1.6TEACHERS AND RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS.
1.7(a) For the purposes of this section, "caseload" means the number of pupils with
1.8disabilities that a school district may assign to a special education teacher or related
1.9service provider to serve as an IEP case manager.
1.10(b) Maximum caseloads for students who receive special education instruction from
1.11a teacher 50 percent or more of the instructional day shall be set by Minnesota Rules,
1.12part 3525.2340, subpart 4, item A. Maximum caseloads for early childhood program
1.13alternatives shall be set by Minnesota Rules, part 3525.2340, subpart 5.
1.14(c) In addition to the limits established in paragraph (b), and regardless of the
1.15percentage of the instructional day a special education provider's students receive special
1.16education instruction, no special education teacher or related service provider shall have a
1.17caseload that exceeds the following limits:
1.18(1) for kindergarten through grade 6, 16 pupils; and
1.19(2) for grades 7 through 12, 21 pupils.
1.20(d) The commissioner shall investigate reports of violations of paragraphs (b) and
1.21(c) and assess a noncomplying school district a penalty of $1,000 per violation.
1.22(e) Upon good cause shown, the commissioner may grant a variance to a district that
1.23cannot comply with the requirements of this section. The commissioner shall have the
1.24authority to promulgate criteria for determining whether a school district has demonstrated
2.1good cause for receiving a variance for a particular teacher or program. No variance may
2.2exceed 90 days unless approved by the commissioner. The commissioner shall report
2.3annually the number of variances granted, the school districts to which variances have
2.4been granted, and the reasons for each variance.
2.5EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for the 2014-2015 school year and
2.6later.
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