1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; appropriating money to the Office of Educational 
1.3 	Accountability through the University of Minnesota;amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2006, section 120B.31, subdivision 3.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120B.31, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 3.Educational accountability. (a) The Independent Office of Educational 
1.8 	Accountability, as authorized by Laws 1997, First Special Session chapter 4, article 5, 
1.9 	section 28, subdivision 2, is established, and shall be funded through the Board of Regents 
1.10 	of the University of Minnesota. The office shall advise the education committees of 
1.11 	the legislature and the commissioner of education, at least on a biennial basis, on the 
1.12 	degree to which the statewide educational accountability and reporting system includes a 
1.13 	comprehensive assessment framework that measures school accountability for students 
1.14 	achieving the goals described in the state's results-oriented graduation rule. The office 
1.15 	shall consider whether the statewide system of educational accountability utilizes multiple 
1.16 	indicators to provide valid and reliable comparative and contextual data on students, 
1.17 	schools, districts, and the state, and if not, recommend ways to improve the accountability 
1.18 	reporting system.
1.19 	(b) When the office reviews the statewide educational accountability and reporting 
1.20 	system, it shall also consider:
1.21 	(1) the objectivity and neutrality of the state's educational accountability system; and
1.22 	(2) the impact of a testing program on school curriculum and student learning.

1.23 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.1 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
 2.2 	$....... in fiscal year 2008 and $....... in fiscal year 2009 are appropriated from the 
2.3 	general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Office of 
2.4 	Educational Accountability under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.31, subdivision 3. 
2.5 	The base appropriation for the Office of Educational Accountability in fiscal years 2010 
2.6 	and 2011 is $....... each year.