1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; requiring the state board of 
  1.3             education to approve a learning year program unless it 
  1.4             adversely affects student learning; providing for 
  1.5             alternative school year start dates; amending 
  1.6             Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 120.65; and 126.12, 
  1.7             subdivision 1. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 120.65, is 
  1.10  amended to read: 
  1.11     120.65 [ESTABLISHMENT AND APPROVAL.] 
  1.12     The state board of education shall: 
  1.13     (1) establish standards and requirements for the 
  1.14  qualification of districts which may operate on a flexible 
  1.15  learning year basis; 
  1.16     (2) establish standards and evaluation criteria for 
  1.17  flexible learning year programs; 
  1.18     (3) prepare and distribute all necessary forms for 
  1.19  application by any district for state authorization for a 
  1.20  flexible learning year program; 
  1.21     (4) review the proposed flexible learning year program of 
  1.22  any qualified district as to conformity to standards and the 
  1.23  evaluation of appropriateness of priorities, workability of 
  1.24  procedure and overall value; 
  1.25     (5) approve or disapprove a proposed flexible learning year 
  1.26  programs program unless there is compelling evidence that the 
  2.1   program will adversely affect student learning in a district. 
  2.2      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 126.12, 
  2.3   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  2.4      Subdivision 1.  [SCHOOL YEAR START DATE.] (a) Except for 
  2.5   paragraph (b), learning programs during summer, flexible 
  2.6   learning year programs authorized under sections 120.59 to 
  2.7   120.67, and learning year programs under section 121.585, a 
  2.8   school district shall not commence an elementary or secondary 
  2.9   school year prior to Labor Day.  Days which are devoted to 
  2.10  teachers' workshops may be held before Labor Day.  Districts 
  2.11  that enter into cooperative agreements are encouraged to adopt 
  2.12  similar school calendars. 
  2.13     (b) A school district may, before March 15, by vote of 
  2.14  three-quarters of its school board members, commence the next 
  2.15  school year prior to Labor Day.  The district must file an 
  2.16  affidavit with the commissioner within 30 days of its vote.  The 
  2.17  affidavit must state the educational benefits for students in 
  2.18  the district.