HF397

This bill focuses on advancing education in Minnesota by mandating annual curriculum audits. It amends a specific section of Minnesota's education law to enhance how districts utilize effective strategies and resources aimed at improving student achievements and readiness for civic engagement.

Key points of the bill include:

1. Annual Evaluation: The education commissioner must identify and help implement successful strategies across districts to boost student achievement and civic readiness.

2. Assistance for Underperforming Districts: Districts failing to make progress over three consecutive years must allocate up to two percent of their general education funds to adopt commissioner-approved methods to enhance performance, considering budget and legal constraints.

3. Reporting Requirements: The commissioner is required to annually report to legislative committees on districts that fail to submit required reports or meet their performance goals.

4. Curriculum Audits: At least 15% of school districts will undergo annual curriculum audits to ensure that their teaching in math and language arts aligns with state academic standards. Districts for these audits will be selected based on their performance reports or identified improvement needs.

Overall, the bill aims to systematically improve the educational outcomes across Minnesota through focused oversight, resource allocation, and consistent auditing against state standards.