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.