1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to education; modifying the requirements for gifted and talented programs
1.3 and services; requiring the commissioner to report certain gifted and talented
1.4 program data; increasing revenue for gifted and talented programs and services;
1.5 appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 120B.15;
1.6 120B.36, subdivision 1; 126C.10, subdivision 2b.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.15, is amended to read:
1.9 120B.15 GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
1.10 Subdivision 1.Assessment and identification.(a) School districts may must identify
1.11students, locally develop programs and services addressing instructional and affective needs,
1.12provide staff development, and evaluate programs to provide gifted and talented students
1.13with challenging and appropriate educational programs and services.
1.14 (b) School districts must adopt guidelines for assessing and identifying students for
1.15participation in gifted and talented programs and services consistent with section 120B.11,
1.16subdivision 2, clause (2). The guidelines should include the use of must require:
1.17 (1) universal screening for all students in targeted grades;
1.18 (1) (2) multiple and objective criteria; and
1.19 (2) (3) assessments and procedures that are valid and reliable, fair, and based on current
1.20theory and research. Assessments and procedures should must be sensitive to
1.21underrepresented groups, including, but not limited to, low-income, minority,
1.22twice-exceptional, and English learners.
1Section 1.
25-04336 as introduced02/28/25 REVISOR CR/RC
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 2770NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: CLARK)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading03/20/2025
Referred to Education Policy 2.1 (c) A school district must screen all students under paragraph (b), clause (1), at least
2.2twice by the end of grade 5, including for any gifted and talented programs or services not
2.3previously identified. Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, a school district must use a
2.4screening instrument or procedure approved by the commissioner. No later than July 1,
2.52027, the commissioner must publish a list of approved screening instruments and procedures.
2.6The commissioner may periodically revise the list of approved screening instruments and
2.7procedures.
2.8 Subd. 2.Academic acceleration; early admission.(a) School districts must adopt
2.9procedures for the academic acceleration of gifted and talented students consistent with
2.10section 120B.11, subdivision 2, clause (2). These procedures must include how the district
2.11will:
2.12 (1) assess a student's readiness and motivation for academic acceleration; and
2.13 (2) match the level, complexity, and pace of the curriculum to a student to achieve the
2.14best most effective type of academic acceleration for that student.
2.15 (b) A school district's procedures under paragraph (a) must also include criteria that help
2.16the school district identify students for:
2.17 (1) single subject acceleration under which a student advances in one or more specific
2.18subject areas based on the student's academic readiness and proficiency; and
2.19 (2) grade acceleration under which a student advances whole grade levels based on an
2.20assessment of the student's academic readiness, proficiency, and social-emotional maturity.
2.21 (d) (c) School districts must adopt procedures consistent with section 124D.02,
2.22subdivision 1, for early admission to kindergarten or first grade of gifted and talented learners
2.23consistent with section 120B.11, subdivision 2, clause (2). The procedures must be sensitive
2.24to underrepresented groups.
2.25 (d) A school district is encouraged to integrate gifted and talented programs and services
2.26under this section with the multitiered system of support framework, if one has been adopted
2.27by the district.
2.28 Subd. 3.Professional development.School districts must provide staff with ongoing
2.29professional development and training on the requirements of this section. The training
2.30must be updated regularly to incorporate current research and best practices.
2.31 Subd. 4.Evaluation.At least twice each year, school districts must evaluate the
2.32effectiveness of their gifted and talented programs and services. The evaluation must include
2.33information gathered from students, parents, and teachers.
2Section 1.
25-04336 as introduced02/28/25 REVISOR CR/RC 3.1 Subd. 5.Reporting requirements.School districts must report their expenditures on
3.2gifted and talented programs and services to the commissioner in the form and manner
3.3determined by the commissioner.
3.4 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for the 2025-2026 school year and later.
3.5 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.36, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
3.6 Subdivision 1.School performance reports and public reporting.(a) The commissioner
3.7shall report:
3.8 (1) student academic performance data under section 120B.35, subdivisions 2 and 3;
3.9 (2) academic progress consistent with federal expectations;
3.10 (3) school safety and student engagement and connection under section 120B.35,
3.11subdivision 3, paragraph (d);
3.12 (4) rigorous coursework under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), and
3.13participation in gifted and talented programs under section 120B.15, including information
3.14about the number of students identified for advanced academics, enrichment, full-time
3.15services, grade acceleration or subject acceleration, and expenditures on each category of
3.16programming;
3.17 (5) the percentage of students under section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), clause
3.18(2), whose progress and performance levels are meeting career and college readiness
3.19benchmarks under sections 120B.307 and 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (e);
3.20 (6) longitudinal data on the progress of eligible districts in reducing disparities in students'
3.21academic achievement and realizing racial and economic integration under section 124D.861;
3.22 (7) the acquisition of English, and where practicable, native language academic literacy,
3.23including oral academic language, and the academic progress of all English learners enrolled
3.24in a Minnesota public school course or program who are currently or were previously counted
3.25as English learners under section 124D.59;
3.26 (8) two separate student-to-teacher ratios that clearly indicate the definition of teacher
3.27consistent with sections 122A.06 and 122A.15 for purposes of determining these ratios;
3.28 (9) staff characteristics excluding salaries;
3.29 (10) student enrollment demographics;
3Sec. 2.
25-04336 as introduced02/28/25 REVISOR CR/RC 4.1 (11) foster care status, including all students enrolled in a Minnesota public school course
4.2or program who are currently or were previously in foster care, student homelessness, and
4.3district mobility; and
4.4 (12) extracurricular activities.
4.5 (b) The school performance report for a school site and a school district must include
4.6school performance reporting information and calculate proficiency rates as required by the
4.7most recently reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
4.8 (c) The commissioner shall develop, annually update, and post on the department website
4.9school performance reports consistent with paragraph (a) and section 120B.11.
4.10 (d) The commissioner must make available performance reports by the beginning of
4.11each school year.
4.12 (e) A school or district may appeal its results in a form and manner determined by the
4.13commissioner and consistent with federal law. The commissioner's decision to uphold or
4.14deny an appeal is final.
4.15 (f) School performance data are nonpublic data under section 13.02, subdivision 9, until
4.16the commissioner publicly releases the data. The commissioner shall annually post school
4.17performance reports to the department's public website no later than September 1, except
4.18in years when the reports reflect new performance standards. The commissioner shall post
4.19the school performance reports no later than October 1 in years with new performance
4.20standards for academic standards-based assessments, and no later than November 1 in years
4.21with new performance standards adopted under Minnesota Rules, part 3501.1200, for English
4.22language proficiency assessments.
4.23 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025, for school performance
4.24reports published on or after that date.
4.25 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 126C.10, subdivision 2b, is amended to read:
4.26 Subd. 2b.Gifted and talented revenue.Gifted and talented revenue for each district
4.27equals the district's adjusted pupil units for that school year times $13 $........ A school
4.28district must reserve gifted and talented revenue and, consistent with section 120B.15, must
4.29spend the revenue only to:
4.30 (1) identify gifted and talented students;
4.31 (2) provide education programs or services for gifted and talented students; or
4Sec. 3.
25-04336 as introduced02/28/25 REVISOR CR/RC 5.1 (3) provide staff development to prepare teachers to best meet the unique needs of gifted
5.2and talented students.
5.3 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for revenue in fiscal year 2026 and later.
5.4 Sec. 4. APPROPRIATIONS.
5.5 Subdivision 1.Department of Education.The sums indicated in this section are
5.6appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years
5.7designated.
5.8 Subd. 2.General education aid.(a) For general education aid under Minnesota Statutes,
5.9section 126C.13, subdivision 4:
2026............5.10 $
2027............5.11 $
5.12 (b) The 2026 appropriation includes $....... for fiscal year 2025 and $....... for fiscal year
5.132026.
5.14 (c) The 2027 appropriation includes $....... for fiscal year 2026 and $....... for fiscal year
5.152027.
5Sec. 4.
25-04336 as introduced02/28/25 REVISOR CR/RC