SF4453

Purpose

• Establish a framework for Minnesota school districts to create and operate sitegoverned schools.
• Allow district boards to review proposals, form sitegoverning agreements, and set up a governance structure that gives a school more autonomy over leadership, budgeting, learning models, curriculum, assessments, and policies.
• Create a pathway for teachers, parents, students (where appropriate), and community members to participate in governance, with the district still acting as the legal employer.

What is a sitegoverned school

• A sitegoverned school is approved by a school board through a sitegoverned school agreement and a memorandum of understanding (MOU), if applicable.
• A sitegoverned school operates under a sitegoverning council that includes teachers, administrators (including the principal), parents, students if appropriate, and community members.
• Key autonomies can be granted to the site, including leadership, budget, learning model, curriculum development, and policy setting, while remaining subject to certain district standards and oversight.

Proposal process and approval timeline

• A school board may invite proposals for sitegoverned schools and must review proposals that include a sitegoverning agreement and an MOU (if applicable).
• A site may propose a model not listed in the original request if at least 60% of the site’s teachers support it.
• A proposal can be submitted by a group of licensed district professionals (from one or more sites) and must include parent or community involvement.
• The board must decide within 60 days of receipt to approve, deny, or return the proposal for more information or development.
• Initial sitegoverned agreements are typically three years and may be renewed for up to five years if performance targets are met.

Governance, autonomy, and roles

• The sitegoverning council determines: leadership model (including choosing a principal), the budget and revenue allocation, learning model and school organization, curriculum and assessment practices, student promotion/attendance/discipline/graduation policies, length of the school day/year, and staff hiring rules.
• At least 70% of the site’s teachers must be selected by the site before final approval of the agreement.
• The district remains the legal employer of all site staff; staff are hired under mutual consent by the site and the district, and may be subject to work agreements aligned with the site’s mission.
• The district may also perform certain services and receive an administrative fee for managing federal programs and other district-wide functions. The site or district may allocate revenues for site-specific services as agreed in the site budget.

Grants and funding for teacher-governed models

• A grant program is created to support teacher-governed schools, including:
  • Planning grants up to 50,000 in the first year.
  • Implementation grants up to 100,000 in each of the next two years.
• Grants are first-come, first-served until funds run out; termination of an agreement early requires a pro rata grant return.
• Recipients are encouraged to seek matching funds or in-kind contributions.
• Districts with grants must share best practices and progress publicly, including on the district’s website.

Revenue, budgeting, and financial rules

• Site revenue includes: general education revenue, district/local/private sources, referendum revenue, and applicable federal funds (e.g., federal education programs) as agreed in the site’s agreement.
• Districts may keep an administrative fee for managing programs and services and may specify service charges within the agreement.
• Revenue allocated to the site is used to fund all site staff and site obligations; unspent revenue carries over for the site’s use.
• The site is responsible for allocating funds for all staff and provisions of the agreement.

Exemptions and accountability

• Sitegoverned schools created under this section are exempt from many general statute requirements and rules that apply to traditional schools, similar to charter schools, but they remain subject to specified chapters and sections (e.g., certain chapters, and sections on staff qualifications and student protections).
• The district and site council must include performance standards in the agreement, including:
  • Student achievement targets based on multiple indicators (using growth models or value-added growth models).
  • A process for addressing noncompliance with district oversight and accountability requirements.
  • Other performance provisions as agreed.
• Agreements must be filed with the commissioner, with initial terms up to three years and potential renewals for up to five years based on performance.

Termination, renewal, and conversion

• The district board may terminate a sitegoverned agreement for:
  • Failure to meet the agreement’s provisions after at least two full school years.
  • Violations of law.
  • Other good cause that endangers student safety or welfare.
• If a sitegoverned school is terminated or not renewed for reasons other than cause, it may convert to charter school status under chapter 124E. If chartered, the school would own materials, supplies, and equipment purchased during the sitegoverned period.

Special notes

• The bill provides a pathway for school districts to pilot and scale self-governing school models while maintaining district governance structures and accountability.
• It explicitly sets up a framework for parent, teacher, and community involvement in governance and decision-making, with clear timelines and conditions for approval, funding, and renewal.

Relevant Terms sitegoverned schools; sitegoverning council; site council; school board; memorandum of understanding; autonomy; leadership model; budget; learning model; curriculum; formative and summative assessments; student promotion; attendance; discipline; graduation requirements; school day; school year; staff selection; mutual consent; general education revenue; federal programs; administrative fee; planning grant; implementation grant; value-added growth model; growth model; accountability; performance standards; commissioner; termination; charter school; chapter 124E; grants; best practices; reporting.