Bill Text: MN SF946 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Engrossed
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: School districts joint operation and innovative delivery of education pilot project establishment and appropriation
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2012-05-07 - Secretary of State Chapter 263 05/01/12 [SF946 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-SF946-Engrossed.html
Bill Title: School districts joint operation and innovative delivery of education pilot project establishment and appropriation
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2012-05-07 - Secretary of State Chapter 263 05/01/12 [SF946 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-SF946-Engrossed.html
1.2relating to education; establishing a pilot project to examine how school districts
1.3might operate jointly to provide innovative delivery of programs and activities
1.4and share resources.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. SCHOOL DISTRICTS' JOINT OPERATION AND INNOVATIVE
1.7DELIVERY OF EDUCATION; PILOT PROJECT.
1.8 Subdivision 1. Establishment; requirements for participation. (a) A four-year
1.9pilot project is established to allow groups of school districts to pursue benefits of operating
1.10jointly to deliver innovative education programs and activities and share resources.
1.11(b) To participate in this pilot project, a group of three or more school districts
1.12must form a joint partnership to share elements common to all the partners in providing
1.13innovative delivery of educational programs and activities and sharing resources. The
1.14member districts of a joint partnership selected by the commissioner may elect to admit
1.15another district at any time during the pilot project.
1.16(c) A partnership under paragraph (b) interested in participating in this pilot project
1.17must apply to the commissioner of education in the form and manner the commissioner
1.18prescribes, consistent with subdivision 2. When submitting its application, each
1.19participating school district in each partnership also must submit to the commissioner:
1.20(1) a formally adopted school board agreement identifying the specific joint use
1.21opportunities the participating district intends to pursue as part of the joint partnership; and
1.22(2) a binding and specific plan for a minimum of two years and a maximum of four
1.23years to provide innovative delivery of educational programs and activities and to share
1.24resources, consistent with this paragraph.
2.1A participating district's plan under clause (2) must describe its educational
2.2objectives and processes for seeking advice and collaboration and managing the project;
2.3its budget arrangements that include regular reviews of expenditures; its administrative
2.4structures for implementing and evaluating the plan; and any other applicable conditions,
2.5regulations, responsibilities, duties, provisions, fee schedules, or legal considerations
2.6needed to implement its plan.
2.7(d) The member districts of the joint partnership must comply with Minnesota
2.8Statutes, section 124D.10, subdivision 8, as though they were a charter school and are
2.9otherwise exempt from all statutes and rules applicable to a school, school board, or
2.10school district unless a statute or rule is made specifically applicable to a charter school.
2.11(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), a school district that participates in the pilot
2.12project under this section shall continue to receive revenue and maintain its taxation
2.13authority as if it were a school district and not participating in the pilot project.
2.14(f) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), a school district that participates in the pilot
2.15project under this section shall continue to be organized and governed by an elected school
2.16board with the general powers under Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.02, as if it were a
2.17school district and not participating in the pilot project.
2.18 Subd. 2. Role of the commissioner. The commissioner, using available department
2.19resources and staff, may select up to six applicants under subdivision 1, paragraph (b),
2.20from throughout the state to participate in this pilot project. The commissioner may
2.21consider and select only those applicants that the commissioner determines have fully
2.22complied with the requirements in subdivision 1.
2.23 Subd. 3. Pilot project evaluation. The commissioner must gather and evaluate data
2.24on the measurable success of the joint partnerships in delivering innovative education
2.25programs and activities and sharing resources. The commissioner must use the data to
2.26develop and submit to the education policy and finance committees of the legislature by
2.27February 1, 2016, a report evaluating the success of this pilot project and recommend
2.28whether or not to continue or expand the pilot project.
2.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
2.30and applies to the 2011-2012 through 2014-2015 school year.
1.3might operate jointly to provide innovative delivery of programs and activities
1.4and share resources.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. SCHOOL DISTRICTS' JOINT OPERATION AND INNOVATIVE
1.7DELIVERY OF EDUCATION; PILOT PROJECT.
1.8 Subdivision 1. Establishment; requirements for participation. (a) A four-year
1.9pilot project is established to allow groups of school districts to pursue benefits of operating
1.10jointly to deliver innovative education programs and activities and share resources.
1.11(b) To participate in this pilot project, a group of three or more school districts
1.12must form a joint partnership to share elements common to all the partners in providing
1.13innovative delivery of educational programs and activities and sharing resources. The
1.14member districts of a joint partnership selected by the commissioner may elect to admit
1.15another district at any time during the pilot project.
1.16(c) A partnership under paragraph (b) interested in participating in this pilot project
1.17must apply to the commissioner of education in the form and manner the commissioner
1.18prescribes, consistent with subdivision 2. When submitting its application, each
1.19participating school district in each partnership also must submit to the commissioner:
1.20(1) a formally adopted school board agreement identifying the specific joint use
1.21opportunities the participating district intends to pursue as part of the joint partnership; and
1.22(2) a binding and specific plan for a minimum of two years and a maximum of four
1.23years to provide innovative delivery of educational programs and activities and to share
1.24resources, consistent with this paragraph.
2.1A participating district's plan under clause (2) must describe its educational
2.2objectives and processes for seeking advice and collaboration and managing the project;
2.3its budget arrangements that include regular reviews of expenditures; its administrative
2.4structures for implementing and evaluating the plan; and any other applicable conditions,
2.5regulations, responsibilities, duties, provisions, fee schedules, or legal considerations
2.6needed to implement its plan.
2.7(d) The member districts of the joint partnership must comply with Minnesota
2.8Statutes, section 124D.10, subdivision 8, as though they were a charter school and are
2.9otherwise exempt from all statutes and rules applicable to a school, school board, or
2.10school district unless a statute or rule is made specifically applicable to a charter school.
2.11(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), a school district that participates in the pilot
2.12project under this section shall continue to receive revenue and maintain its taxation
2.13authority as if it were a school district and not participating in the pilot project.
2.14(f) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), a school district that participates in the pilot
2.15project under this section shall continue to be organized and governed by an elected school
2.16board with the general powers under Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.02, as if it were a
2.17school district and not participating in the pilot project.
2.18 Subd. 2. Role of the commissioner. The commissioner, using available department
2.19resources and staff, may select up to six applicants under subdivision 1, paragraph (b),
2.20from throughout the state to participate in this pilot project. The commissioner may
2.21consider and select only those applicants that the commissioner determines have fully
2.22complied with the requirements in subdivision 1.
2.23 Subd. 3. Pilot project evaluation. The commissioner must gather and evaluate data
2.24on the measurable success of the joint partnerships in delivering innovative education
2.25programs and activities and sharing resources. The commissioner must use the data to
2.26develop and submit to the education policy and finance committees of the legislature by
2.27February 1, 2016, a report evaluating the success of this pilot project and recommend
2.28whether or not to continue or expand the pilot project.
2.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
2.30and applies to the 2011-2012 through 2014-2015 school year.
