1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to education; establishing a pilot program to improve educational outcomes,
1.3 safety, and accountability for students with disabilities; requiring reports;
1.4 appropriating money.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. PILOT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES,
1.7SAFETY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
1.8 Subdivision 1.Establishment.(a) The Department of Education must establish a grant
1.9program to fund a pilot program starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The program must:
1.10 (1) improve achievement and educational outcomes for students with disabilities;
1.11 (2) increase access to general education settings;
1.12 (3) foster positive school environments; and
1.13 (4) address service delivery costs.
1.14 (b) The program must involve collaboration with students, families, community leaders,
1.15and the Department of Education Special Education Advisory Panel to redesign inclusion
1.16frameworks that support continuous improvement and measure performance beyond test
1.17scores.
1.18 Subd. 2.Selection process.(a) Grantees must be selected based on proposals that:
1.19 (1) provide a detailed timeline for implementing program goals;
1.20 (2) describe a plan for how to provide an inclusive educational model and how the model
1.21can be adapted over time to meet the needs of all students;
1Section 1.
25-04338 as introduced03/06/25 REVISOR CR/ES
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 2633NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: WESTLIN)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading03/17/2025
Referred to Education Policy 2.1 (3) differentiate between mainstreaming and true inclusion models;
2.2 (4) address accessibility needs, classroom layouts, sensory accommodations, assistive
2.3technology, transition supports, appropriate staffing, and innovative ways to present
2.4classroom curricula, lessons, and special education services;
2.5 (5) address the overrepresentation of students of color in the most restrictive special
2.6education settings;
2.7 (6) identify how students in restrictive settings may be included in the general education
2.8classroom more in the general education model and what steps will be taken to provide
2.9special education services in the general education setting whenever feasible;
2.10 (7) prioritize neurodiversity-affirming practices, trauma-informed practices, student
2.11connection, and evidence-based developmentally appropriate practices;
2.12 (8) identify the prevention and early intervention strategies, including de-escalation, that
2.13may be used to meet the needs of students who become dysregulated;
2.14 (9) incorporate Universal Design for Learning principles;
2.15 (10) include measurable outcomes such as student achievement, extracurricular
2.16participation, restorative justice interventions, number of disciplinary referrals, suspensions
2.17and expulsions, and family and community engagement; and
2.18 (11) incorporate staff training on ableism and disability inclusion.
2.19 (b) The program team must include representatives from the Department of Education,
2.20school administrators, special education staff, parents, and students.
2.21 Subd. 3.Reports.(a) By July 1, 2026, the Department of Education must submit a report
2.22to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction
2.23over education detailing the pilot program's effectiveness, best practices, and cost-benefit
2.24analysis, including draft guidelines and professional development recommendations for
2.25implementing inclusion models.
2.26 (b) By July 1, 2027, the Department of Education must submit a report to the chairs and
2.27ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over education
2.28containing a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot program, including final best practice
2.29guidelines and assessment tools created to help Individualized Education Programs teams
2.30identify how to meet the needs of students in general education settings whenever possible
2.31and appropriate.
2Section 1.
25-04338 as introduced03/06/25 REVISOR CR/ES 3.1 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
3.2 $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of
3.3Education to implement the pilot program to improve educational outcomes, safety, and
3.4accountability for students with disabilities.
3.5 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2026.
3Sec. 2.
25-04338 as introduced03/06/25 REVISOR CR/ES