1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; establishing centers for innovation and teaching excellence; 
1.3 	creating a student loan repayment program; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND TEACHING EXCELLENCE 
1.6 	PROGRAM.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Purpose. In order to transform schools with the largest achievement 
1.8 	gaps between students of color and white students, and between students in poverty 
1.9 	and those from more advantaged families, the center for innovation and teaching 
1.10 	excellence program is established to provide necessary support to the students, teachers, 
1.11 	administrators, parents, and the community to help create an environment where all 
1.12 	students reach their full potential.
1.13 		Subd. 2.Center for innovation and teaching excellence. (a) A school that meets 
1.14 	the following criteria is eligible to become a center for innovation and teaching excellence 
1.15 	school:
1.16 	(1) an elementary school receiving Title I funding with an adequate yearly progress 
1.17 	status of school in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring, in the bottom ten 
1.18 	percent of elementary schools based on the average math and reading proficiency rates for 
1.19 	all students in the past three years, and in the bottom five percent of elementary schools 
1.20 	based on showing the least growth in student achievement based on the state growth 
1.21 	model under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.35; 
1.22 	(2) a secondary school receiving Title I funding with an adequate yearly progress 
1.23 	status of school in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring, in the bottom ten 
1.24 	percent of secondary schools based on the average math and reading proficiency rates for 
2.1 	all students in the past three years, and in the bottom five percent of secondary schools 
2.2 	based on showing the least growth in student achievement based on the state growth 
2.3 	model under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.35; 
2.4 	(3) a secondary school receiving Title I funding with an adequate yearly progress 
2.5 	status of school in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring with a graduation rate 
2.6 	below 60 percent based on the data from the 2005-2006, 2006-2007, and 2007-2008 
2.7 	school years; or 
2.8 	(4) a secondary school eligible for but not receiving Title I funds that are in 
2.9 	the bottom ten percent of secondary schools based on the average math and reading 
2.10 	proficiency rates for all students in the past three years, and in the bottom five percent of 
2.11 	secondary schools based on showing the least growth in student achievement based on the 
2.12 	state growth model under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.35. 
2.13 	(b) An eligible school must notify the commissioner of its intention to become a 
2.14 	center for innovation and teaching excellence school before the start of the 2010-2011 
2.15 	school year. 
2.16 		Subd. 3. Class size ratio. Center for innovation and teaching excellence schools 
2.17 	must maintain a class size ratio of one licensed classroom teacher for every 18 students.
2.18 		Subd. 4.Coordinated planning time.  In addition to preparation time provided 
2.19 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.50, center for innovation and teaching excellence 
2.20 	schools must provide each licensed teacher with a minimum of five additional minutes 
2.21 	of time within the student day for every 25 minutes of classroom instructional time for 
2.22 	coordinated planning time with other licensed teachers to focus on planning, analyzing, 
2.23 	and evaluating instruction for students, and focus on the needs of students, including 
2.24 	those identified through student data. Coordinated planning time shall be provided in one 
2.25 	uninterrupted block during the student day.
2.26 		Subd. 5.School counselors ratio. Each center for innovation and teaching 
2.27 	excellence school must maintain a ratio of one licensed school counselor for every 250 
2.28 	students. 
2.29 		Subd. 6.School social workers ratio. Each center for innovation and teaching 
2.30 	excellence school must maintain a ratio of one licensed school social worker for every 
2.31 	400 students. 
2.32 		Subd. 7.School nurses ratio. Each center for innovation and teaching excellence 
2.33 	school must maintain a ratio of one licensed school nurse for every ........ students. 
2.34 		Subd. 8.School psychologists ratio. Each center for innovation and teaching 
2.35 	excellence school must maintain a ratio of one licensed psychologist for every 1,000 
2.36 	students. 
3.1 		Subd. 9.Staff development set aside to close the achievement gap. In addition to 
3.2 	staff development funds set aside under Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.61, districts 
3.3 	with center for innovation and teaching excellence schools are required to reserve an 
3.4 	amount equal to at least one percent of basic revenue for staff development. Fifty percent 
3.5 	of the additional revenue reserved under this subdivision must be allocated to the center 
3.6 	for innovation and teaching excellence school sites in the district on a per teacher basis 
3.7 	and must be retained by the site until used.
3.8 		Subd. 10.Student loan repayment program. (a) The Department of Education 
3.9 	must establish and administer a student loan repayment program to reduce the achievement 
3.10 	gap and address teacher quality by attracting ethnic minority individuals into the teaching 
3.11 	profession.
3.12 	(b) To be eligible for the loan repayment program, an individual must:
3.13 	(1) be a licensed employee of a center for innovation and teaching excellence school; 
3.14 	(2) be an ethnic minority; and 
3.15 	(3) submit an application to the Department of Education.
3.16 	(c) One-fourth of the principal of the outstanding loan amount of qualified education 
3.17 	loans shall be forgiven for each year of employment or pro rata amount for eligible 
3.18 	employment during part of a school year, part-time employment as a substitute teacher, or 
3.19 	other eligible part--time employment at a center for innovation and teaching excellence 
3.20 	school. A qualified educational loan means a government, commercial, or foundation loan 
3.21 	for costs paid for tuition, reasonable education expenses, and reasonable living expenses 
3.22 	related to the individual's education from an accredited higher education institution.
3.23 	(d) Eligible individuals may apply annually for loan repayment under this 
3.24 	subdivision.

3.25 	Sec. 2. INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE GRANTS.
 3.26 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The Department of Education shall establish and 
3.27 	administer a grant program for center for innovation and teaching excellence schools that 
3.28 	provide a comprehensive support system for students and teachers.
3.29 		Subd. 2.Eligibility for grants. To be eligible for an innovation and excellence 
3.30 	grant, a school must: 
3.31 	(1) be a center for innovation and teaching excellence school; and 
3.32 	(2) submit an application to the Department of Education.
3.33 		Subd. 3.Grant amount. The commissioner may award a grant in the amount 
3.34 	it determines to be appropriate to accomplish the eligible grant activities as outlined 
3.35 	in the application. 
4.1 		Subd. 4.Eligible grant activities. The grants must be used to accomplish the 
4.2 	following: 
4.3 	(1) structure instructional time to meet student needs, including, but not limited to, 
4.4 	a longer school day or year, or different class schedules; 
4.5 	(2) integrate parent and family outreach into the school program, including, but not 
4.6 	limited to, home visits by teachers, transportation for parents to attend conferences, or 
4.7 	credit parents can earn against fees by attending conferences and getting involved; or 
4.8 	(3) colocate family and community services in the school building.

4.9 	Sec. 3. APPROPRIATIONS.
 4.10 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education.  The sums indicated in this section are 
4.11 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
4.12 	designated.
4.13 		Subd. 2.Student loan repayment program. For the student loan repayment 
4.14 	program:

4.15 | | $ | ....... | ..... | 2010
4.16 | | $ | ....... | ..... | 2011
4.17 		Subd. 3.Innovation and excellence grants. For innovation and excellence grants: 

4.18 | | $ | ....... | ..... | 2010
4.19 | | $ | ....... | ..... | 2011