1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; giving charter schools greater 
  1.3             flexibility; clarifying application of the state's 
  1.4             high school graduation rule; allowing teachers to 
  1.5             perform administrative functions; amending Minnesota 
  1.6             Statutes 1998, section 124D.10, subdivisions 10 and 11.
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 124D.10, 
  1.9   subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 10.  [PUPIL PERFORMANCE.] A charter school must 
  1.11  design its programs to at least provide instruction in the 
  1.12  subject areas under section 120A.22, subdivision 9, and meet the 
  1.13  outcomes basic skills requirements in reading, mathematics, and 
  1.14  writing adopted by the state board for public school students.  
  1.15  In the absence of state board requirements, the school must meet 
  1.16  the outcomes contained in the contract with the sponsor.  The 
  1.17  achievement levels of the outcomes contained in the contract may 
  1.18  exceed the achievement levels of any outcomes adopted by the 
  1.19  state board for public school students.  
  1.20     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 124D.10, 
  1.21  subdivision 11, is amended to read: 
  1.22     Subd. 11.  [EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER OPERATING MATTERS.] A 
  1.23  charter school must employ or contract with necessary teachers, 
  1.24  as defined by section 122A.15, subdivision 1, who hold valid 
  1.25  licenses to perform the particular service for which they are 
  1.26  employed in the school.  The school may employ necessary 
  2.1   employees who are not required to hold teaching licenses to 
  2.2   perform duties other than teaching and may contract for other 
  2.3   services.  The school may discharge teachers and nonlicensed 
  2.4   employees.  A teacher, without holding a valid administrator's 
  2.5   license, may perform administrative, supervisory, or 
  2.6   instructional leadership duties. 
  2.7      The board of directors also shall decide matters related to 
  2.8   the operation of the school, including budgeting, curriculum and 
  2.9   operating procedures.  
  2.10     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.11     Sections 1 and 2 are effective for the 1999-2000 school 
  2.12  year and later.