1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; allowing school districts to 
  1.3             determine when to begin the school year; amending 
  1.4             Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 120A.40. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 120A.40, is 
  1.7   amended to read: 
  1.8      120A.40 [SCHOOL CALENDAR.] 
  1.9      ~~(a) Except for learning programs during summer, flexible~~ 
  1.10  ~~learning year programs authorized under sections 124D.12 to~~ 
  1.11  ~~124D.127, and learning year programs under section 124D.128, a~~ 
  1.12  ~~district must not commence an elementary or secondary school~~ 
  1.13  ~~year before September 1, except as provided under paragraph~~ 
  1.14  ~~(b).  Days devoted to teachers' workshops may be held before~~ 
  1.15  ~~September 1.  Districts that enter into cooperative agreements~~ 
  1.16  ~~are encouraged to adopt similar school calendars.~~  
  1.17     ~~(b)~~ A district may begin the school year on any day before 
  1.18  September 1 ~~to accommodate a construction or remodeling project~~ 
  1.19  ~~of $400,000 or more affecting a district school facility~~. 
  1.20     <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective the day 
  1.21  following final enactment.