The bill proposes significant modifications to Minnesota's K-12 education system, focusing on areas such as general education, charter schools, special education, and school nutrition. It mandates that the commissioner consider input from a diverse range of stakeholders, including parents and Tribal Nations, when developing academic standards, which must now be clear, concise, and objective, while removing the requirement for grade-level appropriateness. The legislation also introduces provisions for credit equivalencies, allowing courses like ethnic studies and health science to fulfill existing credit requirements under specific conditions. Additionally, it expands enrollment options for high school students in postsecondary courses and enhances the framework for online learning by defining blended and digital instruction.

Moreover, the bill amends laws related to adult basic education, increasing the maximum approval period for programs and emphasizing collaboration with community resources. It introduces new definitions for educational excellence, including culturally responsive teaching, and requires the disaggregation of student performance data to improve educational outcomes for historically marginalized communities. The bill also enhances literacy instruction, particularly for students in special education, by mandating evidence-based professional development for teachers and establishing a curriculum review cycle. It includes provisions for confidentiality in investigations by the Department of Education's Office of the Inspector General, enhancing oversight and accountability in educational programs. Overall, the legislation aims to improve educational access, quality, and support for all students in Minnesota.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 120B.021, 120B.024, 124D.09, 124D.094, 124D.52, 120B.11, 120B.35, 121A.031, 121A.41, 124D.162, 124E.02, 124E.03, 124E.06, 124E.07, 124E.16, 124E.26, 120B.119, 120B.12, 120B.123, 120B.124, 124D.42, 121A.49, 125A.091, 124D.117, 124D.119, 13.32, 13.82, 120B.117, 127A.21, 127A.49, 268.19