Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to provide dedicated time for teachers to complete due process forms and procedures related to special education. It aims to ensure that teachers have sufficient resources and time to fulfill these obligations without impacting their regular teaching duties.

Main Provisions

• Due Process Days: Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, school districts must provide teachers involved in special education with four additional contract days per year. These days are to be used exclusively for completing due process forms and procedures required for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Individualized Family Services Plans (IFSPs).

• Plan Development: School districts are required to collaborate and negotiate with the teachers' exclusive representatives to develop a plan on how to utilize the provided revenue and allocate the four due process days. This plan should ensure that these days are evenly spread throughout the school year.

• Staffing During Due Process Days: If the district and the teachers' representatives cannot agree on staffing arrangements for the due process days, the district is obliged to use the allotted funds to hire substitute teachers.

• Funding and Aid: The Minnesota Department of Education is responsible for calculating and allocating due process aid for school districts based on the additional costs of these four days. Aid will be determined annually, with adjustments based on the previous year’s expenditures.

Significant Changes

• This bill introduces a new requirement for school districts to provide specific days dedicated to due process tasks for special education, with financial aid calculations adjusted annually.
• It explicitly mandates collaboration between school districts and teachers' unions to determine usage plans and staffing for these due process days.

Relevant Terms

• Due process forms and procedures
• Individualized Education Programs (IEP)
• Individualized Family Services Plans (IFSP)
• Special education
• Due process aid
• Substitute teachers
• Department of Education