Bill Text: MN SF946 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
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-Introduced.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-Introduced.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.
1.14(c) A partnership under paragraph (b) interested in participating in this pilot project
1.15must apply to the commissioner of education in the form and manner the commissioner
1.16prescribes, consistent with subdivision 2. When submitting its application, each
1.17participating school district in each partnership also must submit to the commissioner:
1.18(1) a formally adopted school board agreement identifying the specific joint use
1.19opportunities the participating district intends to pursue as part of the joint partnership; and
1.20(2) a binding and specific four-year plan to provide innovative delivery of
1.21educational programs and activities and to share resources, consistent with this paragraph.
1.22A participating district's plan under clause (2) must describe its educational
1.23objectives and processes for seeking advice and collaboration and managing the project;
1.24its budget arrangements that include regular reviews of expenditures; its administrative
2.1structures for implementing and evaluating the plan; and any other applicable conditions,
2.2regulations, responsibilities, duties, provisions, fee schedules, or legal considerations
2.3needed to implement its plan.
2.4 Subd. 2. Role of the commissioner. The commissioner may select up to six
2.5applicants under subdivision 1, paragraph (b), from throughout the state to participate in
2.6this pilot project. The commissioner may consider and select only those applicants that
2.7the commissioner determines have fully complied with the requirements in subdivision 1.
2.8To the extent needed as demonstrated in district plans, and notwithstanding any law to
2.9the contrary, the commissioner may allow the member districts in a joint partnership to
2.10operate as though they were charter schools under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.10.
2.11 Subd. 3. Pilot project evaluation. The commissioner must gather and evaluate data
2.12on the measurable success of the joint partnerships in delivering innovative education
2.13programs and activities and sharing resources. The commissioner must use the data to
2.14develop and submit to the education policy and finance committees of the legislature by
2.15February 1, 2016, a report evaluating the success of this pilot project and recommend
2.16whether or not to continue or expand the pilot project.
2.17EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
2.18and 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.
1.14(c) A partnership under paragraph (b) interested in participating in this pilot project
1.15must apply to the commissioner of education in the form and manner the commissioner
1.16prescribes, consistent with subdivision 2. When submitting its application, each
1.17participating school district in each partnership also must submit to the commissioner:
1.18(1) a formally adopted school board agreement identifying the specific joint use
1.19opportunities the participating district intends to pursue as part of the joint partnership; and
1.20(2) a binding and specific four-year plan to provide innovative delivery of
1.21educational programs and activities and to share resources, consistent with this paragraph.
1.22A participating district's plan under clause (2) must describe its educational
1.23objectives and processes for seeking advice and collaboration and managing the project;
1.24its budget arrangements that include regular reviews of expenditures; its administrative
2.1structures for implementing and evaluating the plan; and any other applicable conditions,
2.2regulations, responsibilities, duties, provisions, fee schedules, or legal considerations
2.3needed to implement its plan.
2.4 Subd. 2. Role of the commissioner. The commissioner may select up to six
2.5applicants under subdivision 1, paragraph (b), from throughout the state to participate in
2.6this pilot project. The commissioner may consider and select only those applicants that
2.7the commissioner determines have fully complied with the requirements in subdivision 1.
2.8To the extent needed as demonstrated in district plans, and notwithstanding any law to
2.9the contrary, the commissioner may allow the member districts in a joint partnership to
2.10operate as though they were charter schools under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.10.
2.11 Subd. 3. Pilot project evaluation. The commissioner must gather and evaluate data
2.12on the measurable success of the joint partnerships in delivering innovative education
2.13programs and activities and sharing resources. The commissioner must use the data to
2.14develop and submit to the education policy and finance committees of the legislature by
2.15February 1, 2016, a report evaluating the success of this pilot project and recommend
2.16whether or not to continue or expand the pilot project.
2.17EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
2.18and applies to the 2011-2012 through 2014-2015 school year.
