1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education finance; expanding Minnesota's public education mission 
1.3 	to include a framework to guide future education policy decisions;amending 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120A.03.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120A.03, is amended to read:
1.7 	120A.03 MISSION ~~STATEMENT~~ AND VISION.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Mission statement. The mission of public education in Minnesota, 
1.9 	a system for lifelong learning, is to ensure individual academic achievement, an 
1.10 	informed citizenry, and a highly productive work force. This system focuses on the 
1.11 	learner, promotes and values diversity, provides participatory decision making, ensures 
1.12 	accountability, models democratic principles, creates and sustains a climate for change, 
1.13 	provides personalized learning environments, encourages learners to reach their maximum 
1.14 	potential, and integrates and coordinates human services for learners. The public schools 
1.15 	of this state shall serve the needs of the students by cooperating with the students' parents 
1.16 	and legal guardians to develop the students' intellectual capabilities and lifework skills 
1.17 	in a safe and positive environment. It is part of the department's mission that within the 
1.18 	department's resources the commissioner shall endeavor to:
1.19 	(1) prevent the waste or unnecessary spending of public money;
1.20 	(2) use innovative fiscal and human resource practices to manage the state's 
1.21 	resources and operate the department as efficiently as possible;
1.22 	(3) coordinate the department's activities wherever appropriate with the activities 
1.23 	of other governmental agencies;
2.1 	(4) use technology where appropriate to increase agency productivity, improve 
2.2 	customer service, increase public access to information about government, and increase 
2.3 	public participation in the business of government;
2.4 	(5) utilize constructive and cooperative labor-management practices to the extent 
2.5 	otherwise required by chapters 43A and 179A;
2.6 	(6) report to the legislature on the performance of agency operations and the 
2.7 	accomplishment of agency goals in the agency's biennial budget according to section 
2.8 	16A.10, subdivision 1; and 
2.9 	(7) recommend to the legislature appropriate changes in law necessary to carry out 
2.10 	the mission and improve the performance of the department.
2.11 		Subd. 2.World-class schools vision statement. To improve the mission of public 
2.12 	education in Minnesota, the legislature should pursue policies and school finance reforms 
2.13 	based on the following goals:
2.14 	(1) expand the effectiveness of early education by targeting services to children 
2.15 	from birth to age three, supporting high quality preschool programs, and implementing 
2.16 	universal full-day kindergarten;
2.17 	(2) enhance teacher quality by recruiting exceptional teacher candidates, developing 
2.18 	teacher leadership opportunities, and modifying teacher salary structures to include 
2.19 	incentives for teachers teaching in high-needs schools and in high-need subject areas;
2.20 	(3) raise academic rigor by increasing student expectations and aligning college and 
2.21 	workforce readiness standards;
2.22 	(4) expand family and community involvement by increasing parent involvement 
2.23 	opportunities and encouraging employers to accommodate parents' school involvement 
2.24 	opportunities;
2.25 	(5) enhance multicultural activities by increasing state support for world language 
2.26 	curricula and developing model curricula in other subject areas that promote cultural and 
2.27 	global awareness;
2.28 	(6) improve state and district data systems allowing for an efficient statewide 
2.29 	data repository and creating opportunities for a more rigorous growth-based model of 
2.30 	assessment;
2.31 	(7) define educational adequacy by documenting sufficient levels of educational 
2.32 	funding and enhancing existing school funding formulas;
2.33 	(8) expand educational opportunities for students by lengthening the school year;
2.34 	(9) coordinate special education efforts by streamlining paperwork, sharing best 
2.35 	practices, and emphasizing student outcomes; and
3.1 	(10) promote student health and wellness by funding health care, strengthening 
3.2 	student support services, and implementing best practices.

3.3 	Sec. 2. WORLD-CLASS SCHOOLS WORKING GROUP.
 3.4 		Subdivision 1.Creation. The world class school working group is established 
3.5 	and consists of the following members:
3.6 	(1) three senators, including two members from the majority party and one member 
3.7 	from the minority party, appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee 
3.8 	on Rules and Administration of the senate;
3.9 	(2) three members of the house of representatives, including two members appointed 
3.10 	by the speaker of the house and one member appointed by the minority leader;
3.11 	(3) the commissioner of education; and
3.12 	(4) two members of the public who have an interest in education, appointed by 
3.13 	the governor.
3.14 		Subd. 2.Duties. The working group must monitor the progress of the state in 
3.15 	meeting the world-class schools goals and propose strategies, recommendations, and 
3.16 	draft legislation to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over education by January 
3.17 	15 of each year.
3.18 		Subd. 3.Administrative provisions. (a) The commissioner of education must 
3.19 	convene the initial meeting of the working group. Upon request of the working group, the 
3.20 	commissioner must provide meeting space and administrative services for the working 
3.21 	group. The members of the working group must elect a chair or cochairs from the 
3.22 	legislative members of the working group at the initial meeting.
3.23 	(b) Public members of the working group serve without compensation or payment of 
3.24 	expenses.
3.25 	(c) The working group expires January 15, 2015.
3.26 	(d) The working group may accept gifts and grants, which are accepted on behalf of 
3.27 	the state and constitute donations to the state. Funds received under this paragraph are 
3.28 	appropriated to the commissioner of education for purposes of the working group.
3.29 		Subd. 4.Deadline for appointments and designations. The appointments and 
3.30 	designations authorized under this section must be completed by August 1, 2008.