HF3942

Purpose

The bill aims to protect funding for students when disruptions prevent regular attendance. It authorizes counting certain students toward average daily membership (ADM) for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year and makes a one-year provision related to students enrolled before January 1, 2026.

Main Provisions

• Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 126C.05 subdivision 11 (ADM rules) to address counting students during disruptions.
• 11a (justifiable cause): If school is in session but students cannot attend for more than 15 consecutive days in the regular school year, or five consecutive days during summer school or intersession classes of flexible-year programs, because of epidemic calamity, weather, fuel shortage, or other justifiable cause, the commissioner may allow the district to continue counting these pupils in ADM upon application. A lawful employees strike is not considered justifiable.
• 11b (2025-26 special rule): For the 2025-2026 school year only, the commissioner must allow a school district or charter school to continue counting all pupils in ADM who were enrolled in the school before January 1, 2026 and have not reenrolled in another Minnesota school.
• The clause "Notwithstanding subdivision 8" indicates this provision overrides certain existing ADM rules in these scenarios.

Significance and Impact

• Provides funding continuity by allowing additional pupils to be counted toward ADM during disruptions, reducing potential funding losses.
• Establishes a one-year, targeted expansion (2025-26) for students who were enrolled before 2026 and did not move to another Minnesota school.
• Excludes employee strikes as a justifiable reason to exclude pupils from ADM.
• Requires action by the state education commissioner (either discretionary approval under 11a or mandatory inclusion under 11b) to apply.

Changes to Existing Law

• Expands the set of circumstances under which a district can count students toward ADM during interruptions.
• Introduces a mandatory ADM counting provision for a specific cohort of students for the 2025-26 year.
• Reaffirms that strikes are not considered justifiable causes for ADM counting in these provisions.

Terminology and Concepts Included

• Average daily membership (ADM)
• Justifiable cause
• Epidemic
• Calamity
• Weather
• Fuel shortage
• Summer school
• Intersession classes
• Flexible school year programs
• Commissioner (education)
• School district
• Charter school
• Reenrolled
• Enrolled prior to January 1, 2026

Practical Implications

• School districts and charter schools may need to apply to the commissioner to haveADM counted for affected students.
• The changes primarily affect funding calculations tied to ADM, not direct student requirements for attendance.

Relevant Terms Average daily membership (ADM) Justifiable cause Epidemic Calamity Weather Fuel shortage Summer school Intersession Flexible school year programs Commissioner School district Charter school Reenrolled Enrolled prior to January 1, 2026 Education finance Attendance