This bill amends various sections of the Minnesota Statutes to allow for the administration of a nationally recognized college entrance exam, such as the ACT or SAT, to high school students, specifically in grades 11 or 12. Key changes include the requirement for the Department of Education to contract with a provider of a nationally recognized college entrance exam to fulfill federal accountability requirements starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill also mandates that the commissioner provide this exam at no cost to students in the specified grades and ensures that parents have access to information about the exam's content and preparation resources.

Additionally, the bill repeals a previous statute related to the comprehensive assessment system and makes several amendments to existing provisions regarding testing and assessment. It emphasizes the importance of providing students with opportunities to take the college entrance exam and aligns the state's educational accountability measures with the new requirements. The effective date for all these changes is set for the 2026-2027 school year and later.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 120B.30, 120B.302, 120B.303, 120B.305, 136F.302
1st Engrossment: 120B.30, 120B.302, 120B.303, 120B.305, 136F.302