1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to higher education; requiring a report on Minnesota State Colleges and 
1.3 	Universities course placement practices; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. REPORT ON MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 
1.6 	COURSE PLACEMENT PRACTICES.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Review. (a) The Office of Higher Education shall document, review, and 
1.8 	analyze college admission and course placement policies, practices, and assessments used 
1.9 	by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. The review shall seek to determine 
1.10 	if policies, practices, and assessments used have:
1.11 	(1) adverse consequences for a student and their family, including burdensome economic 
1.12 	and related costs of delaying their degree plans;
1.13 	(2) hindered the participation of students;
1.14 	(3) hindered the placement, retention, or timely college graduation of students; and
1.15 	(4) excluded students from admission thereby hindering their full participation in higher 
1.16 	education.
1.17 	(b) The review must consider impacts for various student communities, including but 
1.18 	not limited to Indigenous students, English as a second language (ESL) students, and students 
1.19 	of color.
1.20 		Subd. 2.Determination. Utilizing the review conducted under subdivision 1, the 
1.21 	commissioner shall determine whether:
2.1 	(1) students, including Indigenous students, ESL students, and students of color, are:
2.2 	(i) denied admission;
2.3 	(ii) disproportionately assigned to enroll in developmental courses; or
2.4 	(iii) delayed or deterred in their educational progress; and
2.5 	(2) policies, practices, and instruments:
2.6 	(i) are disproportionately reliant on test scores;
2.7 	(ii) impose barriers for students in terms of enrollment, retention, and completion; and
2.8 	(iii) may be culturally biased.
2.9 		Subd. 3.Recommendation. The commissioner shall recommend changes based on the 
2.10 	information obtained in subdivisions 1 and 2 to existing measures, instruments, and placement 
2.11 	practices. By February 1, 2024, the commissioner shall report the recommendations to the 
2.12 	chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
2.13 	higher education. The commissioner shall seek external advice and expertise to address the 
2.14 	above reviews, determinations, findings, and recommendations.

2.15 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.16 	$....... in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
2.17 	the Office of Higher Education for the purposes of section 1. This is a onetime appropriation.