Purpose

• Explain what the bill aims to change in Minnesota education law. In short, it seeks to repeal the state’s authority to adopt rules for statewide health standards, make changes to how health standards are defined and taught, and remove certain funds tied to this effort. It also updates several statutory sections related to education standards.

Main provisions

• Definition of “Required standard”
  • The bill defines “Required standard” as a statewide adopted expectation for student learning across multiple subjects, including language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, health, and the arts.
• Health standards framework
  • It states that locally developed health standards apply until statewide rules implementing statewide health standards are required to be implemented in the classroom, or until a locally adopted health learning expectation is in place.
• Repeal of authority to adopt statewide health rules
  • The bill repeals the authority to adopt rules implementing statewide health standards under the relevant statute (section 120B.021, subdivision 3).
• Amendments to relevant statute sections
  • It amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 sections 120B.018(6), 120B.021 subdivisions 1-4, and 120B.024 subdivision 1 to reflect the new framework for standards and how they are adopted and used.
• Interaction with prior law
  • The bill repeals or revises provisions from Laws 2024, chapter 115 (article 2, sections 21 and 22), affecting how health standards and related funds are handled.

Significant changes to existing law

• Policy shift away from statewide health rules
  • The bill removes the state’s authority to adopt statewide health standards by rule, signaling a move toward keeping health standards at the local level (with temporary references to statewide standards that may be implemented later).
• Redefinition of standard adoption
  • By redefining “Required standard” and clarifying when local health standards apply, the bill alters the pathway from statewide rulemaking to local control for health education.
• Funding changes
  • It includes canceling certain funds related to implementing statewide health standards, reducing or altering funding tied to those efforts.
• Revisions to core education statutes
  • The changes affect sections 120B.018, 120B.021, and 120B.024, which govern standards and their implementation, as well as how health education is taught in schools.

Potential implications

• Local control emphasis
  • Local districts may retain more control over health education standards in the near term, rather than following statewide health standards set by rules.
• Uncertainty about statewide implementation
  • If statewide health standards rules are not adopted, districts may rely on locally developed or adopted health standards for longer.
• Budgetary impact
  • Canceling funds tied to statewide health standards could affect programs, resources, or initiatives previously supported by those funds.

Practical summary in plain terms

• The bill focuses on health education standards by removing the state’s rulemaking path for statewide health standards and shifting to local control for health standards, with a defined “Required standard” that covers several subjects. It also makes edits to how standards are defined and funded, and it cancels certain funds tied to implementing statewide health standards.

Relevant Terms - statewide health standards - health standards - statewide rules implementing statewide health standards - 120B.018 - 120B.021 - 120B.024 - locally developed academic standards in health - locally adopted expectation for student learning in health - Required standard - statewide adopted expectation for student learning - language arts - mathematics - science - social studies - physical education - health - the arts - Laws 2024 chapter 115 article 2 sections 21 and 22 - canceling funds