This Minnesota House bill (H.F. No. 1928) proposes provisions related to special education due process procedures, including providing dedicated time for teachers to complete required due process forms.

Key Provisions:

1. Due Process Time for Teachers

   • Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, school districts (including charter schools and cooperative units with unionized teachers) must provide teachers who work directly with students on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) with four contract days per year to complete due process forms and procedures.
     
   • These four days must be evenly spread throughout the school year.
     
   • The district must develop a plan, in collaboration with the teachers' exclusive representative (union), outlining how it will staff classrooms on those allotted days.
     

2. Negotiation & Staffing Plan

   • If the district and the teachers' union cannot agree on a staffing plan for the due process days, the district must use the allocated funding to hire substitute teachers to cover for those completing due process requirements.
     

3. Due Process Aid for Schools

   • School districts enrolling students are eligible for due process aid.
     
   • The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will calculate the statewide average cost of four additional due process days for teachers working with special education students and determine a per-student funding amount.
     
   • Adjustments will be made yearly based on prior-year spending data.
     

In summary, this bill establishes funding and designated work time for special education teachers to complete due process-related paperwork and procedures, ensuring compliance with individualized education requirements while reducing workload concerns.