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HF3942 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Continued enrollment for students for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year authorized.

Related bill: SF3908

AI Generated Summary

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

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 05, 2026HouseActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toEducation Finance
March 09, 2026HouseActionAuthor added

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Allows the commissioner to count pupils in average daily membership when school is in session but attendance is prevented for more than 15 consecutive school days during the regular school year or five 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, upon application."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "States that a lawful employee strike is not a justifiable cause for purposes of this subdivision."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 126C.05, subdivision 11, to modify average daily membership rules for justifiable causes and to authorize continued enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year.",
      "modified": [
        "Amends subdivision 11 to expand what constitutes a justifiable cause for continuing to count pupils in ADM.",
        "Adds a temporary, year-specific provision for the 2025-2026 school year allowing districts to count all pupils enrolled prior to January 1, 2026 who have not reenrolled in another Minnesota school."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "126C.05",
    "subdivision": "subd. 11"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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