1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; providing for safe and supportive schools; authorizing 
1.3 	rulemaking; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 
1.4 	120B.36, subdivision 1; 121A.55; 121A.69, subdivision 3; 122A.60, subdivisions 
1.5 	1a, 3; 124D.10, subdivision 8; 124D.895, subdivision 1; 124D.8955; 125B.15; 
1.6 	127A.42, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.7 	chapters 121A; 127A; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 121A.03; 
1.8 	121A.0695.
1.9 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.10 	Section 1. TITLE.
 1.11 	This act may be cited as the "Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act."

1.12 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 120B.36, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.13 		Subdivision 1.School performance report cards. (a) The commissioner 
1.14 	shall report student academic performance under section 120B.35, subdivision 2; the 
1.15 	percentages of students showing low, medium, and high growth under section 120B.35, 
1.16 	subdivision 3, paragraph (b); school safety and student engagement and connection 
1.17 	under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (d); rigorous coursework under section 
1.18 	120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (c); two separate student-to-teacher ratios that clearly 
1.19 	indicate the definition of teacher consistent with sections 122A.06 and 122A.15 for 
1.20 	purposes of determining these ratios; staff characteristics excluding salaries; student 
1.21 	enrollment demographics; district mobility; summary data on incidents of student 
1.22 	bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation and remedial responses to the 
1.23 	incidents under section 121A.031, subdivision 4, clause (10); and extracurricular 
1.24 	activities. The report also must indicate a school's adequate yearly progress status, and 
1.25 	must not set any designations applicable to high- and low-performing schools due solely 
2.1 	to adequate yearly progress status. The commissioner must use the summary data on 
2.2 	prohibited conduct reported under section 121A.031, subdivision 4, clause (10), to inform 
2.3 	the work of the school climate center under section 127A.052 and to assist districts and 
2.4 	schools in improving the educational outcomes of all students and specific categories of 
2.5 	students affected by such prohibited conduct.
2.6 	(b) The commissioner shall develop, annually update, and post on the department 
2.7 	Web site school performance report cards.
2.8 	(c) The commissioner must make available performance report cards by the 
2.9 	beginning of each school year.
2.10 	(d) A school or district may appeal its adequate yearly progress status in writing to 
2.11 	the commissioner within 30 days of receiving the notice of its status. The commissioner's 
2.12 	decision to uphold or deny an appeal is final.
2.13 	(e) School performance report card data are nonpublic data under section 13.02, 
2.14 	subdivision 9, until the commissioner publicly releases the data. The commissioner shall 
2.15 	annually post school performance report cards to the department's public Web site no later 
2.16 	than September 1, except that in years when the report card reflects new performance 
2.17 	standards, the commissioner shall post the school performance report cards no later than 
2.18 	October 1.

2.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and 
2.20 	later.

2.21 	Sec. 3. [121A.031] SCHOOL POLICY TO PROVIDE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE 
2.22 	SCHOOLS.
2.23 		Subdivision 1.Local and state policy; scope and application. (a) This section 
2.24 	applies to:
2.25 	(1) conduct on school premises, at school functions or activities, and on school 
2.26 	transportation;
2.27 	(2) use of electronic technology and communications on school premises, during 
2.28 	school functions or activities, on school transportation, and on school computers, 
2.29 	networks, forums, and mailing lists; and
2.30 	(3) use of electronic technology and communications off school premises to the 
2.31 	extent such use is reasonably foreseeable to substantially and materially disrupt student 
2.32 	learning or the school environment.
2.33 	(b) This section applies to school districts as defined in section 121A.41, subdivision 
2.34 	3, and schools as defined in section 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, 13, and 17, and in 
3.1 	123B.41, subdivision 9, if the school has more than 15 enrolled students and receives 
3.2 	public funds or other public resources.
3.3 		Subd. 2.Local district and school policy. (a) Districts and schools, in consultation 
3.4 	with students, parents, teachers, other school personnel, and community organizations, 
3.5 	shall adopt, implement, and annually review, and revise where appropriate, a written policy 
3.6 	to prevent and prohibit student bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, 
3.7 	consistent with this section. The policy must conform with sections 121A.41 to 121A.56. 
3.8 	A district or school must adopt and implement a local policy under subdivisions 2 to 5 or 
3.9 	comply with the provisions of the state model policy in subdivision 6.
3.10 	(b) Each local district and school policy must establish research-based, 
3.11 	developmentally appropriate best practices that include preventive and remedial measures 
3.12 	and effective discipline for deterring policy violations; apply throughout the school or 
3.13 	district; and foster active student, parent, and community participation. A district or 
3.14 	school may request assistance from the school climate center under section 127A.052 in 
3.15 	complying with local policy requirements. The policy shall:
3.16 	(1) apply to all students, school personnel, and volunteers;
3.17 	(2) specifically list the characteristics contained in the definition of prohibited 
3.18 	conduct under subdivision 3, paragraph (f);
3.19 	(3) emphasize remedial responses over punitive measures;
3.20 	(4) be conspicuously posted throughout the school building;
3.21 	(5) be given to each school employee and independent contractor, if a contractor 
3.22 	regularly interacts with students, at the time of employment with the district or school;
3.23 	(6) be included in the student handbook on school policies; and
3.24 	(7) be available to all parents and other school community members in accessible 
3.25 	languages and format on the district or school Web site.
3.26 	(c) Each district and school under this subdivision must discuss its policy with 
3.27 	students, school personnel, and volunteers and provide training for all school personnel 
3.28 	and volunteers who regularly have direct contact with students to prevent, identify, and 
3.29 	appropriately respond to prohibited conduct.
3.30 	(d) Each district and school under this subdivision must submit an electronic copy 
3.31 	of its bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation policy to the commissioner 
3.32 	for review.
3.33 		Subd. 3.Definitions. (a) The terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings 
3.34 	given them for purposes of this act.
3.35 	(b) "Bullying" means use of one or a series of words, images, or actions, directly or 
3.36 	indirectly between individuals or through technology, that a reasonable person knows or 
4.1 	should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of materially interfering with 
4.2 	the ability of an individual, including a student who observes the conduct, to participate 
4.3 	in a safe and supportive learning environment. Examples of bullying may include, but 
4.4 	are not limited to, conduct that:
4.5 	(1) places an individual in reasonable fear of harm to person or property, including 
4.6 	through intimidation;
4.7 	(2) has a detrimental effect on the physical, social, or emotional health of a student;
4.8 	(3) interferes with a student's educational performance or ability to participate in 
4.9 	educational opportunities;
4.10 	(4) encourages the deliberate exclusion of a student from a school service, activity, 
4.11 	or privilege;
4.12 	(5) creates or exacerbates a real or perceived imbalance of power between students;
4.13 	(6) violates the reasonable expectation of privacy of one or more individuals; or
4.14 	(7) relates to the actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national 
4.15 	origin, immigration status, sex, age, marital status, familial status, socioeconomic status, 
4.16 	physical appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, academic status, 
4.17 	disability, or status with regard to public assistance, age, or any additional characteristic 
4.18 	defined in chapter 363A of a person or of a person with whom that person associates, but 
4.19 	the conduct does not rise to the level of harassment.
4.20 	(c) "Cyberbullying" means bullying through use of technology or any electronic 
4.21 	communication, including, but not limited to, a transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, 
4.22 	sounds, or data, including a post on a social network Internet Web site or forum transmitted 
4.23 	through a computer, cell phone, or other electronic device.
4.24 	(d) "Harassment" means intimidating or abusive behavior toward an individual based 
4.25 	on actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration 
4.26 	status, sex, age, marital status, familial status, socioeconomic status, physical appearance, 
4.27 	sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, academic status, disability, or status 
4.28 	with regard to public assistance, age, or any additional characteristic defined in chapter 
4.29 	363A that creates a hostile environment by materially interfering with or denying a student 
4.30 	or other individual the ability to participate in or receive a benefit, service, or opportunity 
4.31 	in a district or school program. Harassing conduct is unwelcome if the person does not 
4.32 	request or invite it and considers the conduct to be undesirable or offensive.
4.33 	(e) "Intimidation" means a method used to bully or harass an individual.
4.34 	(f) "Prohibited conduct" means bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation 
4.35 	as defined under this subdivision, retaliation for asserting or alleging such conduct, 
4.36 	perpetuating such conduct by transmitting or otherwise communicating hurtful or 
5.1 	demeaning material, or engaging in speech that will materially disrupt a student's learning 
5.2 	environment. Prohibited conduct includes discriminatory conduct based on a person's 
5.3 	actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration 
5.4 	status, sex, marital status, familial status, socioeconomic status, physical appearance, 
5.5 	sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, academic status, disability, or status 
5.6 	with regard to public assistance, age, or any additional characteristic defined in chapter 
5.7 	363A, as well as association with a person or group of persons with one or more of these 
5.8 	actual or perceived characteristics; however, prohibited conduct need not be based on any 
5.9 	particular characteristic defined in this paragraph or chapter 363A. Each district and 
5.10 	school must list in their policy the characteristics identified in this paragraph.
5.11 	(g) "Remedial response" means a measure designed to stop and correct prohibited 
5.12 	conduct, prevent prohibited conduct from recurring, and protect, support, and intervene on 
5.13 	behalf of the student who is the target of the prohibited conduct. Districts and schools 
5.14 	may seek the assistance of the school climate center under section 127A.052 to develop 
5.15 	and implement remedial responses on behalf of a student who is the target of prohibited 
5.16 	conduct, to stop and correct a student engaging in prohibited conduct, and for use with 
5.17 	students and adults in the school community. Districts and schools need not report the 
5.18 	use of remedial responses when their use is unrelated to any particular incident of student 
5.19 	bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation.
5.20 		Subd. 4.Local policy components. (a) Each district and school policy, in 
5.21 	prohibiting bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation against all students and 
5.22 	specific categories of students based on actual or perceived characteristics listed under 
5.23 	subdivision 3, paragraph (f), must, at a minimum:
5.24 	(1) designate a staff member as the primary contact person in the school building to 
5.25 	receive reports of all formal complaints, ensure the policy and its procedures including 
5.26 	restorative practices, consequences, and sanctions are fairly and fully implemented, and 
5.27 	serve as the primary contact on policy and procedural matters implicating both the district 
5.28 	or school and the department;
5.29 	(2) require school employees and trained volunteers who witness bullying, 
5.30 	cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation incidents or possess reliable information 
5.31 	that would lead to a reasonable person to suspect that a student is a target of bullying, 
5.32 	cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation to make reasonable efforts to address and 
5.33 	resolve the prohibited conduct to the extent it does not materially disrupt the education 
5.34 	process;
5.35 	(3) where prohibited conduct appears to materially disrupt the education process, 
5.36 	provide a procedure to promptly begin investigation of a bullying, cyberbullying, 
6.1 	harassment, or intimidation report within three school days of the report, and make the 
6.2 	primary contact person responsible for the investigation and any resulting record and for 
6.3 	keeping and regulating access to any record;
6.4 	(4) indicate how a school will respond to an identified incident of bullying, 
6.5 	cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation, including immediately intervening to protect 
6.6 	the target of the prohibited conduct; at the school administrator's discretion and consistent 
6.7 	with state and federal data practices law governing access to data, notifying the parent of 
6.8 	the reported target of the prohibited conduct, the parent of the student who bullies, law 
6.9 	enforcement officials, or officials of a park and recreation public agency that has adopted a 
6.10 	policy substantially similar to the requirements of section 121A.031 and provides training 
6.11 	to those who have regular contact with youth patrons and personnel who have access 
6.12 	to private data on youth patrons; providing other remedial responses to the prohibited 
6.13 	conduct; and ensuring that remedial responses are tailored to the particular incident and 
6.14 	nature of the conduct and the student's developmental age and behavioral history;
6.15 	(5) prohibit reprisals or retaliation against any person who reports bullying, 
6.16 	cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation and establish appropriate consequences for a 
6.17 	person who engages in reprisal or retaliation;
6.18 	(6) allow anonymous reporting;
6.19 	(7) refer the target, individual who bullies, and other affected individuals to 
6.20 	information about available community resources, as appropriate;
6.21 	(8) where appropriate for a child with a disability to prevent or respond to prohibited 
6.22 	conduct, require the child's individualized education program or section 504 team to 
6.23 	consider the skills and proficiencies the child needs to respond to or not engage in 
6.24 	prohibited conduct;
6.25 	(9) use new employee training materials, the school publication on school rules, 
6.26 	procedures, and standards of conduct, and the student handbook on school policies 
6.27 	to publicize the policy;
6.28 	(10) require annual reporting, collection, and analysis of summary data on incidents 
6.29 	of  bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation and on remedial responses both 
6.30 	to individuals and throughout the school; and
6.31 	(11) require ongoing professional development, consistent with section 122A.60, 
6.32 	to build the skills of all school personnel and volunteers, including, but not limited to, 
6.33 	educators, administrators, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, 
6.34 	athletic coaches, extracurricular activities advisors, volunteers who regularly have direct 
6.35 	contact with students, and paraprofessionals to identify, prevent, and appropriately address 
6.36 	bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation.
7.1 	(b) Professional development under a local policy includes, but is not limited to, 
7.2 	information about:
7.3 	(1) developmentally appropriate strategies both to prevent and to immediately and 
7.4 	effectively intervene to stop bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation;
7.5 	(2) the complex dynamics affecting an individual who bullies, target, and witnesses 
7.6 	to bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation;
7.7 	(3) research on bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, including 
7.8 	specific categories of students at risk for bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and 
7.9 	intimidation in school;
7.10 	(4) the incidence and nature of cyberbullying; and
7.11 	(5) Internet safety and cyberbullying.
7.12 		Subd. 5.Safe and supportive schools programming. (a) Districts and schools 
7.13 	are encouraged to provide developmentally appropriate programmatic instruction to 
7.14 	help students identify, prevent, and reduce bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and 
7.15 	intimidation; value diversity in school and society; develop and improve students' 
7.16 	knowledge and skills for solving problems, managing conflict, engaging in civil discourse, 
7.17 	and recognizing, responding to, and reporting prohibited conduct; and make effective 
7.18 	prevention and intervention programs available to students, school personnel, and parents. 
7.19 	Upon request, the school climate center under section 127A.052 must assist a district 
7.20 	or school in helping students understand social media and cyberbullying. Districts 
7.21 	and schools must establish strategies for creating a positive school climate and use 
7.22 	evidence-based social-emotional learning to prevent and reduce discrimination and other 
7.23 	prohibited conduct.
7.24 	(b) Districts and schools are encouraged to:
7.25 	(1) engage all students in creating a safe and supportive school environment;
7.26 	(2) partner with parents and other community members to develop and implement 
7.27 	prevention and intervention programs;
7.28 	(3) engage all students and adults in integrating education, intervention, and other 
7.29 	remedial responses into the school environment;
7.30 	(4) train student bystanders to intervene in and report incidents of prohibited conduct 
7.31 	to the school's primary contact person;
7.32 	(5) teach students to advocate for themselves and others;
7.33 	(6) prevent inappropriate referrals to special education of students who may engage 
7.34 	in prohibited conduct; and
7.35 	(7) foster student collaborations that support a healthy and safe school climate.
8.1 		Subd. 6.State model policy. (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the 
8.2 	commissioner of human rights, shall develop and maintain a state model policy. A district 
8.3 	or school that does not adopt and implement a local policy under subdivisions 2 to 5 
8.4 	must implement and may supplement the provisions of the state model policy. The 
8.5 	commissioner must assist districts and schools under this subdivision to implement the 
8.6 	state policy. The state model policy must:
8.7 	(1) define bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, consistent with 
8.8 	this section;
8.9 	(2) apply the bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation policy 
8.10 	components in this section;
8.11 	(3) for a child with a disability, whenever an evaluation by an individualized 
8.12 	education program team or a section 504 team indicates that the child's disability affects 
8.13 	the child's social skills development or the child is vulnerable to bullying, cyberbullying, 
8.14 	harassment, or intimidation because of the child's disability, the child's individualized 
8.15 	education program or section 504 plan team must consider the skills and proficiencies 
8.16 	the child needs to avoid and respond to such conduct; and
8.17 	(4) encourage violence prevention and character development education programs 
8.18 	under section 120B.232, subdivision 1.
8.19 	(b) The commissioner shall develop and post departmental procedures for:
8.20 	(1) periodically reviewing district and school programs and policies for compliance 
8.21 	with this section;
8.22 	(2) investigating, reporting, and responding to noncompliance with this section, 
8.23 	which may include an annual review of plans to improve and provide a safe and supportive 
8.24 	school climate;
8.25 	(3) allowing students, parents, and educators to file a complaint about noncompliance 
8.26 	with the commissioner; and
8.27 	(4) annually publishing statewide summary data on incidents of bullying, 
8.28 	cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, consistent with section 120B.36, subdivision 
8.29 	1.
8.30 	(c) Government data of the department on reports and complaints under procedures 
8.31 	developed under paragraph (b), clause (2) or (3), are private data on individuals as defined 
8.32 	in section 13.02, except that the name of a reporter is confidential data on individuals.
8.33 	(d) The commissioner must post on the department's Web site information indicating 
8.34 	that when districts and schools allow noncurriculum-related student groups access to 
8.35 	school facilities, the district or school must give all student groups equal access to the 
8.36 	school facilities regardless of the content of the group members' speech.
9.1 		Subd. 7.Relation to existing law.  This section does not:
9.2 	(1) establish any private right of action;
9.3 	(2) limit rights currently available to an individual under other civil or criminal law, 
9.4 	including, but not limited to, chapter 363A; or
9.5 	(3) interfere with a person's rights of religious expression and free speech and 
9.6 	expression under the First Amendment of the Unites States Constitution.

9.7 	EFFECTIVE DATE. Subdivision 6, paragraph (b), is effective the day following 
9.8 	final enactment; the remainder of this section applies beginning July 1, 2014.

9.9 	Sec. 4. [121A.0315] SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL GRANTS.
9.10 		Subdivision 1.Grant program established. The commissioner of education, after 
9.11 	consulting with the commissioners of human rights, human services, and health, shall 
9.12 	establish a safe and supportive schools grant program to enable a school district or school 
9.13 	to implement the requirements in section 121A.031 and foster academic achievement. 
9.14 	All districts and schools participating under section 121A.031 are eligible to apply for a 
9.15 	grant under this section.
9.16 		Subd. 2.Grant application. To be eligible to receive a grant, a district or school 
9.17 	must submit an application to the commissioner in the form and manner and according 
9.18 	to the timeline established by the commissioner. The application must describe how 
9.19 	the applicant will create and maintain a safe and supportive school environment and 
9.20 	foster academic achievement given the characteristics and circumstances of its students, 
9.21 	their families, and the school community. The commissioner may require additional 
9.22 	information from the applicant. When reviewing the applications, the commissioner 
9.23 	must determine whether the applicant met the requirements of this section and is able to 
9.24 	meet the requirements of section 121A.031.
9.25 		Subd. 3.Grant awards. The commissioner may award grants to eligible applicants 
9.26 	for creating and maintaining a safe and supportive school environment and fostering 
9.27 	academic achievement. Grant amounts may not exceed $....... per resident pupil unit in the 
9.28 	district or school in the prior school year. Grant recipients should be located throughout 
9.29 	the state.
9.30 		Subd. 4.Grant proceeds. A grant recipient must use grant funds to create and 
9.31 	maintain a safe and supportive school environment and foster academic achievement 
9.32 	according to the terms of its grant application.

9.33 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for fiscal year 2014 and later.

10.1 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 121A.55, is amended to read:
10.2 	121A.55 POLICIES TO BE ESTABLISHED.
10.3 	(a) The commissioner of education shall promulgate guidelines to assist each school 
10.4 	board. Each school board shall to establish uniform criteria for dismissal and adopt 
10.5 	written policies and rules to effectuate the purposes of sections 121A.031 and 121A.40 to 
10.6 	121A.56. The policies shall emphasize preventing dismissals through early detection of 
10.7 	problems and shall be designed to address prevent students' inappropriate behavior from 
10.8 	recurring. The policies shall recognize the continuing responsibility of the school for the 
10.9 	education of to educate  the pupil during the dismissal period. The alternative educational 
10.10 	services, if the pupil wishes to take advantage of them, must be adequate to allow the 
10.11 	pupil to make progress towards meeting the graduation standards adopted under section 
10.12 	120B.02 and help prepare the pupil for readmission.
10.13 	(b) An area learning center under section 123A.05 may not prohibit an expelled or 
10.14 	excluded pupil from enrolling solely because a district expelled or excluded the pupil. The 
10.15 	board of the area learning center may use the provisions of the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act to 
10.16 	exclude a pupil or to require an admission plan.
10.17 	(c) Each school district shall develop a policy and report it to the commissioner on 
10.18 	the appropriate use of peace officers and crisis teams to remove students who have an 
10.19 	individualized education program from school grounds.

10.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2014.

10.21 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 121A.69, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
10.22 		Subd. 3.School board policy. Each school board shall adopt a written policy 
10.23 	governing student or staff hazing. The policy must apply to student behavior that occurs 
10.24 	on or off school property and during and after school hours and be consistent with section 
10.25 	121A.031. The policy must include reporting procedures and disciplinary consequences 
10.26 	for violating the policy. Disciplinary consequences must be sufficiently severe to deter 
10.27 	violations and appropriately discipline prohibited behavior. Disciplinary consequences 
10.28 	must conform with sections 121A.031 and 121A.41 to 121A.56. Each school must include 
10.29 	the policy in the student handbook on school policies.

10.30 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2014.

10.31 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 122A.60, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
10.32 		Subd. 1a.Effective staff development activities. (a) Staff development activities 
10.33 	must:
11.1 	(1) focus on the school classroom and research-based strategies that improve student 
11.2 	learning;
11.3 	(2) provide opportunities for teachers to practice and improve their instructional 
11.4 	skills over time;
11.5 	(3) provide opportunities for teachers to use student data as part of their daily work 
11.6 	to increase student achievement;
11.7 	(4) enhance teacher content knowledge and instructional skills, including to 
11.8 	accommodate the delivery of digital and blended learning and curriculum and engage 
11.9 	students with technology;
11.10 	(5) align with state and local academic standards;
11.11 	(6) provide opportunities to build professional relationships, foster collaboration 
11.12 	among principals and staff who provide instruction, and provide opportunities for 
11.13 	teacher-to-teacher mentoring; and
11.14 	(7) align with the plan of the district or site for an alternative teacher professional 
11.15 	pay system.
11.16 	Staff development activities may include curriculum development and curriculum training 
11.17 	programs, and activities that provide teachers and other members of site-based teams 
11.18 	training to enhance team performance. The school district also may implement other 
11.19 	staff development activities required by law and activities associated with professional 
11.20 	teacher compensation models.
11.21 	(b) Release time provided for teachers to supervise students on field trips and school 
11.22 	activities, or independent tasks not associated with enhancing the teacher's knowledge 
11.23 	and instructional skills, such as preparing report cards, calculating grades, or organizing 
11.24 	classroom materials, may not be counted as staff development time that is financed with 
11.25 	staff development reserved revenue under section 122A.61.
11.26 	(c) Staff development activities also may include training for school nurses, school 
11.27 	counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other mental health professionals to support 
11.28 	students, teachers, and school administrators in implementing restorative and reparative 
11.29 	best practices to prevent and appropriately address student bullying, cyberbullying, 
11.30 	harassment, and intimidation, consistent with section 121A.031, subdivision 4, paragraph 
11.31 	(b).

11.32 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2014-2015 school year and 
11.33 	later.

11.34 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 122A.60, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
12.1 		Subd. 3.Staff development outcomes. The advisory staff development committee 
12.2 	must adopt a staff development plan for improving student achievement. The plan must 
12.3 	be consistent with education outcomes that the school board determines. The plan 
12.4 	must include ongoing staff development activities that contribute toward continuous 
12.5 	improvement in achievement of the following goals:
12.6 	(1) improve student achievement of state and local education standards in all areas 
12.7 	of the curriculum by using best practices methods;
12.8 	(2) effectively meet the needs of a diverse student population, including at-risk 
12.9 	children, children with disabilities, and gifted children, within the regular classroom 
12.10 	and other settings;
12.11 	(3) provide an inclusive curriculum for a racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse 
12.12 	student population that is consistent with the state education diversity rule and the district's 
12.13 	education diversity plan;
12.14 	(4) improve staff collaboration and develop mentoring and peer coaching programs 
12.15 	for teachers new to the school or district;
12.16 	(5) effectively teach and model violence prevention policy and curriculum that 
12.17 	address early intervention alternatives, issues of harassment, annually train all school staff 
12.18 	and school volunteers who regularly have direct contact with students in best practices to 
12.19 	create and maintain a safe and supportive learning environment, consistent with section 
12.20 	121A.031, and teach nonviolent alternatives for conflict resolution, including restorative 
12.21 	and reparative processes;
12.22 	(6) effectively deliver digital and blended learning and curriculum and engage 
12.23 	students with technology; and
12.24 	(7) provide teachers and other members of site-based management teams with 
12.25 	appropriate management and financial management skills.

12.26 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2014-2015 school year and 
12.27 	later.

12.28 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 124D.10, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
12.29 		Subd. 8.Federal, state, and local requirements. (a) A charter school shall meet all 
12.30 	federal, state, and local health and safety requirements applicable to school districts.
12.31 	(b) A school must comply with statewide accountability requirements governing 
12.32 	standards and assessments in chapter 120B.
12.33 	(c) A school authorized by a school board may be located in any district, unless the 
12.34 	school board of the district of the proposed location disapproves by written resolution.
13.1 	(d) A charter school must be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, 
13.2 	employment practices, and all other operations. An authorizer may not authorize a charter 
13.3 	school or program that is affiliated with a nonpublic sectarian school or a religious 
13.4 	institution. A charter school student must be released for religious instruction, consistent 
13.5 	with section 120A.22, subdivision 12, clause (3).
13.6 	(e) Charter schools must not be used as a method of providing education or 
13.7 	generating revenue for students who are being home-schooled. This paragraph does not 
13.8 	apply to shared time aid under section 126C.19.
13.9 	(f) The primary focus of a charter school must be to provide a comprehensive 
13.10 	program of instruction for at least one grade or age group from five through 18 years 
13.11 	of age. Instruction may be provided to people younger than five years and older than 
13.12 	18 years of age.
13.13 	(g) A charter school may not charge tuition.
13.14 	(h) A charter school is subject to and must comply with chapter 363A and section 
13.15 	121A.04.
13.16 	(i) A charter school is subject to and must comply with the Pupil Fair Dismissal 
13.17 	Act, sections 121A.40 to 121A.56, and the Minnesota Public School Fee Law, sections 
13.18 	123B.34 to 123B.39.
13.19 	(j) A charter school is subject to the same financial audits, audit procedures, and 
13.20 	audit requirements as a district. Audits must be conducted in compliance with generally 
13.21 	accepted governmental auditing standards, the federal Single Audit Act, if applicable, 
13.22 	and section 6.65. A charter school is subject to and must comply with sections 15.054; 
13.23 	118A.01; 118A.02; 118A.03; 118A.04; 118A.05; 118A.06; 471.38; 471.391; 471.392; and 
13.24 	471.425. The audit must comply with the requirements of sections 123B.75 to 123B.83, 
13.25 	except to the extent deviations are necessary because of the program at the school. 
13.26 	Deviations must be approved by the commissioner and authorizer. The Department of 
13.27 	Education, state auditor, legislative auditor, or authorizer may conduct financial, program, 
13.28 	or compliance audits. A charter school determined to be in statutory operating debt under 
13.29 	sections 123B.81 to 123B.83 must submit a plan under section 123B.81, subdivision 4.
13.30 	(k) A charter school is a district for the purposes of tort liability under chapter 466.
13.31 	(l) A charter school must comply with chapters 13 and 13D; and sections 120A.22, 
13.32 	subdivision 7; 121A.75; and 260B.171, subdivisions 3 and 5.
13.33 	(m) A charter school is subject to the Pledge of Allegiance requirement under 
13.34 	section 121A.11, subdivision 3.
13.35 	(n) A charter school offering online courses or programs must comply with section 
13.36 	124D.095.
14.1 	(o) A charter school and charter school board of directors are subject to chapter 181.
14.2 	(p) A charter school must comply with section 120A.22, subdivision 7, governing 
14.3 	the transfer of students' educational records and sections 138.163 and 138.17 governing 
14.4 	the management of local records.
14.5 	(q) A charter school that provides early childhood health and developmental 
14.6 	screening must comply with sections 121A.16 to 121A.19.
14.7 	(r) A charter school that provides school-sponsored youth athletic activities must 
14.8 	comply with section 121A.38.
14.9 	(s) A charter school must comply with section 121A.031 governing policies on 
14.10 	student bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation.

14.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2014.

14.12 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 124D.895, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
14.13 		Subdivision 1.Program goals. The department, in consultation with the state 
14.14 	curriculum advisory committee, must develop guidelines and model plans for parental 
14.15 	involvement programs that will:
14.16 	(1) engage the interests and talents of parents or guardians in recognizing and 
14.17 	meeting the emotional, intellectual, and physical needs of their school-age children;
14.18 	(2) promote healthy self-concepts among parents or guardians and other family 
14.19 	members;
14.20 	(3) offer parents or guardians a chance to share and learn about educational skills, 
14.21 	techniques, and ideas;
14.22 	(4) provide creative learning experiences for parents or guardians and their 
14.23 	school-age children, including involvement from parents or guardians of color;
14.24 	(5) encourage parents to actively participate in their district's curriculum advisory 
14.25 	committee under section 120B.11 in order to assist the school board in improving 
14.26 	children's education programs; and
14.27 	(6) encourage parents to help in promoting school desegregation/integration; and
14.28 	(7) partner with parents in establishing a positive school climate by developing and 
14.29 	implementing prevention and intervention programs on student bullying, cyberbullying, 
14.30 	harassment, and intimidation under section 121A.031.

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

14.32 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 124D.8955, is amended to read:
14.33 	124D.8955 PARENT AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT POLICY.
15.1 	(a) In order to promote and support student achievement, a local school board is 
15.2 	encouraged to formally adopt and implement a parent and family involvement policy that 
15.3 	promotes and supports:
15.4 	(1) communication between home and school that is regular, two-way, and 
15.5 	meaningful;
15.6 	(2) parenting skills;
15.7 	(3) parents and caregivers who play an integral role in assisting student learning and 
15.8 	learn about fostering students' academic success and learning at home and school;
15.9 	(4) welcoming parents in the school and seeking their support and assistance;
15.10 	(5) partnerships with parents in the decisions that affect children and families 
15.11 	in the schools; and
15.12 	(6) providing community resources to strengthen schools, families, and student 
15.13 	learning, including establishing a positive school climate by developing and implementing 
15.14 	prevention and intervention programs on student bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, 
15.15 	and intimidation under section 121A.031.
15.16 	(b) A school board that implements a parent and family involvement policy under 
15.17 	paragraph (a) must convene an advisory committee composed of an equal number of 
15.18 	resident parents who are not district employees and school staff to make recommendations 
15.19 	to the board on developing and evaluating the board's parent and family involvement 
15.20 	policy. If possible, the advisory committee must represent the diversity of the district. The 
15.21 	advisory committee must consider the district's demographic diversity and barriers to 
15.22 	parent involvement when developing its recommendations. The advisory committee must 
15.23 	recommend to the school board and district or school how programs serving children and 
15.24 	adolescents can collaborate on:
15.25 	(1) understanding normal child and adolescent development;
15.26 	(2) encouraging healthy communication between parents and children;
15.27 	(3) managing students' behavior through positive reinforcement;
15.28 	(4) establishing expectations for student behavior;
15.29 	(5) providing media and Internet guidance, limits, and supervision; and
15.30 	(6) promoting resilience and reducing risks for children.
15.31 	The advisory committee must present its recommendations to the board for board 
15.32 	consideration.
15.33 	(c) The board must consider best practices when implementing this policy.
15.34 	(d) The board periodically must review this policy to determine whether it is aligned 
15.35 	with the most current research findings on parent involvement policies and practices and 
15.36 	how effective the policy is in supporting increased student achievement.
16.1 	(e) Nothing in this section obligates a school district to exceed any parent or family 
16.2 	involvement requirement under federal law.

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

16.4 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 125B.15, is amended to read:
16.5 	125B.15 INTERNET ACCESS FOR STUDENTS.
16.6 	(a) Recognizing the difference between school libraries, school computer labs, and 
16.7 	school media centers, which serve unique educational purposes, and public libraries, 
16.8 	which are designed for public inquiry, all computers at a school site with access to the 
16.9 	Internet available for student use must be equipped to restrict, including by use of 
16.10 	available software filtering technology or other effective methods, all student access 
16.11 	to material that is reasonably believed to be obscene or child pornography or material 
16.12 	harmful to minors under federal or state law.
16.13 	(b) A school site is not required to purchase filtering technology if the school site 
16.14 	would incur more than incidental expense in making the purchase.
16.15 	(c) A school district receiving technology revenue under section 125B.26 must 
16.16 	prohibit, including through use of available software filtering technology or other effective 
16.17 	methods, adult access to material that under federal or state law is reasonably believed to 
16.18 	be obscene or child pornography.
16.19 	(d) A school district, its agents or employees, are immune from liability for failure 
16.20 	to comply with this section if they have made a good faith effort to comply with the 
16.21 	requirements of this section.
16.22 	(e) "School site" means an education site as defined in section 123B.04, subdivision 
16.23 	1, or charter school under section 124D.10.
16.24 	(f) All school sites having computers with Internet access must adopt and implement 
16.25 	a policy to prohibit cyberbullying, consistent with section 121A.031.

16.26 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2014-2015 school year and 
16.27 	later.

16.28 	Sec. 13. [127A.052] SCHOOL CLIMATE CENTER.
16.29 	(a) The commissioner shall establish a school climate center at the department to 
16.30 	help districts and schools under section 121A.031 provide a safe and supportive learning 
16.31 	environment and foster academic achievement for all students by focusing on prevention, 
16.32 	intervention, support, and recovery. The center must work collaboratively with implicated 
16.33 	state agencies identified by the center including, but not limited to, the school safety center 
17.1 	in the Department of Public Safety, and schools, communities, and interested individuals 
17.2 	and organizations to determine how to best use available resources.
17.3 	(b) The center's services shall include:
17.4 	(1) evidence-based policy review, development, and dissemination;
17.5 	(2) single, point-of-contact services for schools, parents, and students seeking 
17.6 	information or other help;
17.7 	(3) qualitative and quantitative data gathering, interpretation, and dissemination of 
17.8 	summary data for existing reporting systems and student surveys and the identification 
17.9 	and pursuit of emerging trends and issues;
17.10 	(4) assistance to districts and schools in using Minnesota student survey results to 
17.11 	inform intervention and prevention programs;
17.12 	(5) education and skill building;
17.13 	(6) multisector and multiagency planning and advisory activities incorporating 
17.14 	best practices and research; and
17.15 	(7) administrative and financial support for school site-based planning, school sites 
17.16 	recovering from incidents of violence, and violence prevention education.
17.17 	(c) The center shall:
17.18 	(1) compile and make available to all districts and schools evidence-based elements 
17.19 	and resources to develop and maintain safe and supportive schools;
17.20 	(2) establish and maintain a central repository for collecting and analyzing 
17.21 	information about bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation, including, but 
17.22 	not limited to:
17.23 	(i) training materials on strategies and techniques to prevent and appropriately 
17.24 	address prohibited conduct;
17.25 	(ii) model programming;
17.26 	(iii) remedial responses consistent with section 121A.031, subdivision 3, paragraph 
17.27 	(g); and
17.28 	(iv) other resources for improving the school climate and preventing bullying, 
17.29 	cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation;
17.30 	(3) assist districts and schools to develop strategies and techniques for effectively 
17.31 	communicating with and engaging parents in efforts to protect students from bullying, 
17.32 	cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation by other students and adults; and
17.33 	(4) solicit input from social media experts on implementing this section.
17.34 	(d) The commissioner shall provide administrative services including personnel, 
17.35 	budget, payroll and contract services, and staff support for center activities including 
17.36 	developing and disseminating materials, providing seminars, and developing and 
18.1 	maintaining a Web site. Center staff shall include a center director, a data analyst 
18.2 	coordinator, and trainers who provide training to affected state and local organizations 
18.3 	under a fee-for-service agreement. The financial, administrative, and staff support the 
18.4 	commissioner provides under this section must be based on an annual budget and work 
18.5 	program developed by the center and submitted to the commissioner by the center director.

18.6 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective beginning July 1, 2013.

18.7 	Sec. 14. [121A.07] SCHOOL CLIMATE COUNCIL.
18.8 		Subdivision 1.Establishment and membership. (a) A multiagency leadership 
18.9 	council is established to improve school climate and school safety so that all Minnesota 
18.10 	students in prekindergarten through grade 12 schools and higher education institutions 
18.11 	are provided with safe and welcoming learning environments in order to maximize each 
18.12 	student's learning potential.
18.13 	(b) The council must strive to include balanced representation from rural, suburban, 
18.14 	and metro area communities.
18.15 	(c) The council shall consist of:
18.16 	(1) the commissioners or their designees from the Departments of Education, 
18.17 	Health, Human Rights, Human Services, Public Safety, and Corrections and the Office of 
18.18 	Higher Education;
18.19 	(2) one representative each from the Board of Teaching, Minnesota Association 
18.20 	of School Administrators, Minnesota School Boards Association, Elementary School 
18.21 	Principals Association, Association of Secondary School Principals, Minnesota 
18.22 	Association of Charter Schools, Nonpublic Education Council, and Education Minnesota 
18.23 	as selected by each organization;
18.24 	(3) two representatives each for student support personnel, parents, and students as 
18.25 	selected by the commissioner of education;
18.26 	(4) two representatives of local law enforcement as selected by the commissioner of 
18.27 	public safety; and
18.28 	(5) two representatives of the judicial branch as selected by the chief justice of 
18.29 	the Supreme Court.
18.30 		Subd. 2.Duties. The council must provide leadership for the following activities:
18.31 	(1) establishment of norms and standards for prevention, intervention, and support 
18.32 	around issues of bullying, harassment, and intimidation;
18.33 	(2) advancement of evidence-based policy and best practices to improve school 
18.34 	climate and promote school safety; and
19.1 	(3) development and dissemination of resources and training for schools and 
19.2 	communities about issues of bullying, harassment, and intimidation and other school 
19.3 	safety-related issues.

19.4 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 127A.42, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
19.5 		Subd. 2.Violations of law. The commissioner may reduce or withhold the district's 
19.6 	state aid for any school year whenever the board of the district authorizes or permits 
19.7 	violations of law within the district by:
19.8 	(1) employing a teacher who does not hold a valid teaching license or permit in a 
19.9 	public school;
19.10 	(2) noncompliance with a mandatory rule of general application promulgated by the 
19.11 	commissioner in accordance with statute, unless special circumstances make enforcement 
19.12 	inequitable, impose an extraordinary hardship on the district, or the rule is contrary to 
19.13 	the district's best interests;
19.14 	(3) the district's continued performance of a contract made for the rental of rooms 
19.15 	or buildings for school purposes or for the rental of any facility owned or operated by or 
19.16 	under the direction of any private organization, if the contract has been disapproved, the 
19.17 	time for review of the determination of disapproval has expired, and no proceeding for 
19.18 	review is pending;
19.19 	(4) any practice which is a violation of sections 1 and 2 of article 13 of the 
19.20 	Constitution of the state of Minnesota;
19.21 	(5) failure to reasonably provide for a resident pupil's school attendance under 
19.22 	Minnesota Statutes;
19.23 	(6) noncompliance with state laws prohibiting discrimination because of race, 
19.24 	color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, status with regard to 
19.25 	public assistance or, disability, as defined in sections 363A.08 to 363A.19 and 363A.28, 
19.26 	subdivision 10, or with state law prohibiting student bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, 
19.27 	and intimidation under section 121A.031; or
19.28 	(7) using funds contrary to the statutory purpose of the funds.
19.29 	The reduction or withholding must be made in the amount and upon the procedure 
19.30 	provided in this section, or, in the case of the violation stated in clause (1), upon the 
19.31 	procedure provided in section 127A.43.

19.32 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2014.

19.33 	Sec. 16. APPROPRIATIONS.
 20.1 	(a) $....... in fiscal year 2014 and $....... in fiscal year 2015 are appropriated from 
20.2 	the general fund to the commissioner of education for the school climate center under 
20.3 	Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.052. 
20.4 	(b) $....... in fiscal year 2014 and $....... in fiscal year 2015 are appropriated from 
20.5 	the general fund to the commissioner of education for grants to districts and schools to 
20.6 	provide safe and supportive learning environments and foster academic achievement for 
20.7 	all students under Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.0315. This appropriation is part of the 
20.8 	base budget for subsequent fiscal years.

20.9 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2013.

20.10 	Sec. 17.  REPEALER.
 20.11 	Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 121A.03; and 121A.0695, are repealed effective 
20.12 	July 1, 2014.