Bill Text: MN SF1302 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: School grading system and school recognition program creations; school report cards modification
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-26 - Referred to Education [SF1302 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-SF1302-Introduced.html
1.2relating to education; creating a school grading system; creating a school
1.3recognition program; modifying school report cards; authorizing rulemaking;
1.4requiring a report;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 120B.36,
1.5subdivision 1, by adding subdivisions; proposing coding for new law in
1.6Minnesota Statutes, chapter 120B.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 120B.36, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.9 Subdivision 1. School performance report cards. (a) The commissioner shall
1.10report the school's improvement rating under subdivision 3; the district's grade under
1.11subdivision 4; the school's grade under section 120B.37, subdivision 3; student academic
1.12performance under section120B.35, subdivision 2 ; the percentages of students showing
1.13low, medium, and high growth under section120B.35, subdivision 3 , paragraph (b);
1.14school safety and student engagement and connection under section120B.35 , subdivision
1.153, paragraph (d); rigorous coursework under section120B.35, subdivision 3 , paragraph
1.16(c); two separate student-to-teacher ratios that clearly indicate the definition of teacher
1.17consistent with sections122A.06 and
122A.15 for purposes of determining these ratios;
1.18staff characteristics excluding salaries; student enrollment demographics; district mobility;
1.19and extracurricular activities. The report also must indicate a school's adequate yearly
1.20progress status, and must not set any designations applicable to high- and low-performing
1.21schools due solely to adequate yearly progress status.
1.22 (b) The commissioner shall develop, annually update, and post on the department
1.23Web site school performance report cards.
1.24 (c) The commissioner must make available performance report cards by the
1.25beginning of each school year.
2.1 (d) A school or district may appeal its adequate yearly progress status in writing to
2.2the commissioner within 30 days of receiving the notice of its status. The commissioner's
2.3decision to uphold or deny an appeal is final.
2.4 (e) School performance report card data are nonpublic data under section13.02,
2.5subdivision 9 , until not later than ten days after the appeal procedure described in
2.6paragraph (d) concludes. The department shall annually post school performance report
2.7cards to its public Web site no later than September 1.
2.8 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 120B.36, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.9to read:
2.10 Subd. 3. School improvement rating. The annual report shall identify each
2.11school's performance as having improved, remained the same, or declined. This school
2.12improvement rating shall be based on a comparison of the current year's and previous
2.13year's student and school performance data.
2.14 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 120B.36, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.15to read:
2.16 Subd. 4. District grade. The annual report under subdivision 1, shall include
2.17a district grade, which shall consist of weighted district average grades, by level, for all
2.18elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools in the district. A district's weighted
2.19average grade shall be calculated by weighting individual school grades under subdivision
2.201, determined pursuant to section 120B.37, by school enrollment.
2.21 Sec. 4. [120B.37] SCHOOL GRADING SYSTEM.
2.22 Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) The terms defined in this subdivision apply to this
2.23section.
2.24(b) "Eligible student" means any student, except a student:
2.25(1) attending an alternative school who is subject to school district or charter school
2.26policies for expulsion for repeated or serious offenses;
2.27(2) who is in a dropout retrieval program serving students who have officially been
2.28designated as dropouts; or
2.29(3) who are in programs operated or contracted by the Department of Juvenile
2.30Justice.
2.31 Subd. 2. Grading system. (a) The Department of Education shall adopt rules
2.32creating a formula for determining a school's score consistent with:
3.1(1) 50 percent based on the aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled in
3.2the school who have been assessed on all statewide, standardized assessments required
3.3under section 120B.30;
3.4(2) 25 percent based on student learning gains in reading and mathematics as
3.5measured under section 120B.35;
3.6(3) 15 percent based on the student learning gains as measured under section
3.7120B.35, of the lowest quartile of students in the school in reading on the assessments
3.8required under section 120B.30, unless these students are at or above grade level
3.9performance; and
3.10(4) ten percent based on the student learning gains as measured under section
3.11120B.35, of the lowest quartile of students in the school in mathematics on the assessments
3.12required under section 120B.30, unless these students are at or above grade level
3.13performance.
3.14(b) The Department of Education shall adopt rules setting cutoff scores for the
3.15following school grades:
3.16(1) "A," schools making excellent progress;
3.17(2) "B," schools making above average progress;
3.18(3) "C," schools making satisfactory progress;
3.19(4) "D," schools making less than satisfactory progress; and
3.20(5) "F," schools failing to make adequate progress.
3.21(c) In any year in which 80 percent or more of the schools that have a grade applied
3.22under subdivision 3 earn a grade of A or B, the department shall raise the score required to
3.23earn a school grade for that level of school by five percent statewide.
3.24 Subd. 3. Application of grades. Each school that has students who are tested and
3.25included in the school grading system shall receive a school grade, unless the number of
3.26its students tested and included in the school grading system is less than the minimum
3.27sample size necessary, based on accepted professional practice, for statistical reliability
3.28and prevention of the unlawful release of personally identifiable student data.
3.29 Sec. 5. [120B.38] SCHOOL RECOGNITION PROGRAM.
3.30 Subdivision 1. Findings and intent. The legislature finds that there is a need for
3.31a performance incentive program for outstanding faculty and staff in highly productive
3.32schools. The legislature further finds that performance-based incentives are commonplace
3.33in the private sector and should be infused into the public sector as a reward for
3.34productivity.
4.1 Subd. 2. Eligibility. All school sites, including charter schools, are eligible to
4.2receive school recognition awards if:
4.3(1) a school received an "A" under section 120B.37, subdivision 3, in the previous
4.4school year;
4.5(2) a school improved at least one letter grade under section 120B.37, subdivision 3,
4.6in the previous school year; or
4.7(3) a school that had improved more than one letter grade, two years prior, under
4.8section 120B.37, subdivision 3, maintained that letter grade in the previous school year.
4.9 Subd. 3. Distribution. The Department of Education shall annually divide the
4.10appropriation for school recognition awards by the number of pupils served in all schools
4.11eligible that year under subdivision 2, and distribute to each school its share. Funds must
4.12be distributed to the school's fiscal agent and placed in the school's account and must be
4.13used for purposes listed in subdivision 4, as determined jointly by the school's staff. If
4.14school staff cannot reach agreement by November 1, the awards will be distributed by the
4.15school principal or charter school director.
4.16 Subd. 4. Usage. (a) School recognition awards must be used for the following:
4.17(1) nonrecurring bonuses to the faculty and staff;
4.18(2) nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment or materials to assist in
4.19maintaining and improving student performance; or
4.20(3) temporary personnel for the school to assist in maintaining and improving
4.21student performance.
4.22(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, school recognition awards are not
4.23subject to collective bargaining.
4.24 Sec. 6. INCREASED FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY REPORT.
4.25The Department of Education, by February 1, 2012, shall report to the legislative
4.26committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education policy and
4.27finance, recommendations on fiscal mandates that could be waived to give schools
4.28that achieve an "A" under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.37, subdivision 3, or that
4.29improve more than one grade within a year, under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.37,
4.30subdivision 3, greater financial flexibility.
4.31 Sec. 7. RULEMAKING.
4.32The Department of Education shall adopt rules to implement the school grading
4.33system under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.37, and the school recognition program
4.34under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.38.
1.3recognition program; modifying school report cards; authorizing rulemaking;
1.4requiring a report;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 120B.36,
1.5subdivision 1, by adding subdivisions; proposing coding for new law in
1.6Minnesota Statutes, chapter 120B.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 120B.36, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.9 Subdivision 1. School performance report cards. (a) The commissioner shall
1.10report the school's improvement rating under subdivision 3; the district's grade under
1.11subdivision 4; the school's grade under section 120B.37, subdivision 3; student academic
1.12performance under section
1.13low, medium, and high growth under section
1.14school safety and student engagement and connection under section
1.153, paragraph (d); rigorous coursework under section
1.16(c); two separate student-to-teacher ratios that clearly indicate the definition of teacher
1.17consistent with sections
1.18staff characteristics excluding salaries; student enrollment demographics; district mobility;
1.19and extracurricular activities. The report also must indicate a school's adequate yearly
1.20progress status, and must not set any designations applicable to high- and low-performing
1.21schools due solely to adequate yearly progress status.
1.22 (b) The commissioner shall develop, annually update, and post on the department
1.23Web site school performance report cards.
1.24 (c) The commissioner must make available performance report cards by the
1.25beginning of each school year.
2.1 (d) A school or district may appeal its adequate yearly progress status in writing to
2.2the commissioner within 30 days of receiving the notice of its status. The commissioner's
2.3decision to uphold or deny an appeal is final.
2.4 (e) School performance report card data are nonpublic data under section
2.5subdivision 9
2.6paragraph (d) concludes. The department shall annually post school performance report
2.7cards to its public Web site no later than September 1.
2.8 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 120B.36, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.9to read:
2.10 Subd. 3. School improvement rating. The annual report shall identify each
2.11school's performance as having improved, remained the same, or declined. This school
2.12improvement rating shall be based on a comparison of the current year's and previous
2.13year's student and school performance data.
2.14 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 120B.36, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.15to read:
2.16 Subd. 4. District grade. The annual report under subdivision 1, shall include
2.17a district grade, which shall consist of weighted district average grades, by level, for all
2.18elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools in the district. A district's weighted
2.19average grade shall be calculated by weighting individual school grades under subdivision
2.201, determined pursuant to section 120B.37, by school enrollment.
2.21 Sec. 4. [120B.37] SCHOOL GRADING SYSTEM.
2.22 Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) The terms defined in this subdivision apply to this
2.23section.
2.24(b) "Eligible student" means any student, except a student:
2.25(1) attending an alternative school who is subject to school district or charter school
2.26policies for expulsion for repeated or serious offenses;
2.27(2) who is in a dropout retrieval program serving students who have officially been
2.28designated as dropouts; or
2.29(3) who are in programs operated or contracted by the Department of Juvenile
2.30Justice.
2.31 Subd. 2. Grading system. (a) The Department of Education shall adopt rules
2.32creating a formula for determining a school's score consistent with:
3.1(1) 50 percent based on the aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled in
3.2the school who have been assessed on all statewide, standardized assessments required
3.3under section 120B.30;
3.4(2) 25 percent based on student learning gains in reading and mathematics as
3.5measured under section 120B.35;
3.6(3) 15 percent based on the student learning gains as measured under section
3.7120B.35, of the lowest quartile of students in the school in reading on the assessments
3.8required under section 120B.30, unless these students are at or above grade level
3.9performance; and
3.10(4) ten percent based on the student learning gains as measured under section
3.11120B.35, of the lowest quartile of students in the school in mathematics on the assessments
3.12required under section 120B.30, unless these students are at or above grade level
3.13performance.
3.14(b) The Department of Education shall adopt rules setting cutoff scores for the
3.15following school grades:
3.16(1) "A," schools making excellent progress;
3.17(2) "B," schools making above average progress;
3.18(3) "C," schools making satisfactory progress;
3.19(4) "D," schools making less than satisfactory progress; and
3.20(5) "F," schools failing to make adequate progress.
3.21(c) In any year in which 80 percent or more of the schools that have a grade applied
3.22under subdivision 3 earn a grade of A or B, the department shall raise the score required to
3.23earn a school grade for that level of school by five percent statewide.
3.24 Subd. 3. Application of grades. Each school that has students who are tested and
3.25included in the school grading system shall receive a school grade, unless the number of
3.26its students tested and included in the school grading system is less than the minimum
3.27sample size necessary, based on accepted professional practice, for statistical reliability
3.28and prevention of the unlawful release of personally identifiable student data.
3.29 Sec. 5. [120B.38] SCHOOL RECOGNITION PROGRAM.
3.30 Subdivision 1. Findings and intent. The legislature finds that there is a need for
3.31a performance incentive program for outstanding faculty and staff in highly productive
3.32schools. The legislature further finds that performance-based incentives are commonplace
3.33in the private sector and should be infused into the public sector as a reward for
3.34productivity.
4.1 Subd. 2. Eligibility. All school sites, including charter schools, are eligible to
4.2receive school recognition awards if:
4.3(1) a school received an "A" under section 120B.37, subdivision 3, in the previous
4.4school year;
4.5(2) a school improved at least one letter grade under section 120B.37, subdivision 3,
4.6in the previous school year; or
4.7(3) a school that had improved more than one letter grade, two years prior, under
4.8section 120B.37, subdivision 3, maintained that letter grade in the previous school year.
4.9 Subd. 3. Distribution. The Department of Education shall annually divide the
4.10appropriation for school recognition awards by the number of pupils served in all schools
4.11eligible that year under subdivision 2, and distribute to each school its share. Funds must
4.12be distributed to the school's fiscal agent and placed in the school's account and must be
4.13used for purposes listed in subdivision 4, as determined jointly by the school's staff. If
4.14school staff cannot reach agreement by November 1, the awards will be distributed by the
4.15school principal or charter school director.
4.16 Subd. 4. Usage. (a) School recognition awards must be used for the following:
4.17(1) nonrecurring bonuses to the faculty and staff;
4.18(2) nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment or materials to assist in
4.19maintaining and improving student performance; or
4.20(3) temporary personnel for the school to assist in maintaining and improving
4.21student performance.
4.22(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, school recognition awards are not
4.23subject to collective bargaining.
4.24 Sec. 6. INCREASED FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY REPORT.
4.25The Department of Education, by February 1, 2012, shall report to the legislative
4.26committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education policy and
4.27finance, recommendations on fiscal mandates that could be waived to give schools
4.28that achieve an "A" under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.37, subdivision 3, or that
4.29improve more than one grade within a year, under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.37,
4.30subdivision 3, greater financial flexibility.
4.31 Sec. 7. RULEMAKING.
4.32The Department of Education shall adopt rules to implement the school grading
4.33system under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.37, and the school recognition program
4.34under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.38.
