HF3890

Purpose

• To allow school districts and charter schools to continue counting students in average daily membership (ADM) for funding purposes when students cannot attend due to extraordinarily disruptive events, for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year.

Main Provisions

• The bill amends Minn. Stat. 126C.05, subd. 11, to let the commissioner approve, on application, counting students in ADM even if they are prevented from attending for more than:
  • 15 consecutive school days during the regular school year, or
  • 5 consecutive school days during summer school or intersession classes of flexible school year programs because of epidemic calamity, weather, fuel shortage, or other justifiable cause.
• A lawful employees strike is not considered a justifiable cause for purposes of this provision.
• For the 2025-2026 school year only, the commissioner must allow a school district or charter school to count all pupils who were enrolled in the school prior to November 1, 2025 and have not reenrolled in another Minnesota school.
• The authorization applies notwithstanding subdivision 8, meaning it overrides certain existing rules when applying this exception.

How it Works / Scope

• When attendance is disrupted by the named causes and meets the day-count thresholds, districts may have those students continue to be counted in ADM, which affects funding calculations.
• The mandatory 2025-2026 provision affects only students who were enrolled before November 1, 2025 and who have not reenrolled elsewhere in Minnesota.

Significance and Implications

• Aims to limit funding losses for districts during emergencies or disruptions by allowing continued ADM counting.
• Establishes a clear exception process (via commissioner approval) and specifies a one-year mandatory application for the 2025-2026 year for eligible students.
• Sets a boundary by excluding attendance disruptions caused by lawful teacher or staff strikes.

Examples of Key Terms Used

• Average daily membership (ADM)
• Justifiable cause
• Epidemic calamity
• Weather shortage
• Fuel shortage
• Summer school
• Intersession
• Flexible school year programs
• Enrollment
• Reenrollment

Relevant Terms - Average daily membership (ADM) - Justifiable cause - Epidemic calamity - Weather shortage - Fuel shortage - Summer school - Intersession - Flexible school year programs - Enrollment - Reenrollment - Commissioner (of Education) - Minnesota Statutes 126C.05 subdivision 11