SF4453 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Site-governed schools requirements modification
Related bill: HF4176
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- Establish a framework for Minnesota school districts to create and operate sitegoverned schools.
- Allow district boards to review proposals, form sitegoverning agreements, and set up a governance structure that gives a school more autonomy over leadership, budgeting, learning models, curriculum, assessments, and policies.
- Create a pathway for teachers, parents, students (where appropriate), and community members to participate in governance, with the district still acting as the legal employer.
What is a sitegoverned school
- A sitegoverned school is approved by a school board through a sitegoverned school agreement and a memorandum of understanding (MOU), if applicable.
- A sitegoverned school operates under a sitegoverning council that includes teachers, administrators (including the principal), parents, students if appropriate, and community members.
- Key autonomies can be granted to the site, including leadership, budget, learning model, curriculum development, and policy setting, while remaining subject to certain district standards and oversight.
Proposal process and approval timeline
- A school board may invite proposals for sitegoverned schools and must review proposals that include a sitegoverning agreement and an MOU (if applicable).
- A site may propose a model not listed in the original request if at least 60% of the site’s teachers support it.
- A proposal can be submitted by a group of licensed district professionals (from one or more sites) and must include parent or community involvement.
- The board must decide within 60 days of receipt to approve, deny, or return the proposal for more information or development.
- Initial sitegoverned agreements are typically three years and may be renewed for up to five years if performance targets are met.
Governance, autonomy, and roles
- The sitegoverning council determines: leadership model (including choosing a principal), the budget and revenue allocation, learning model and school organization, curriculum and assessment practices, student promotion/attendance/discipline/graduation policies, length of the school day/year, and staff hiring rules.
- At least 70% of the site’s teachers must be selected by the site before final approval of the agreement.
- The district remains the legal employer of all site staff; staff are hired under mutual consent by the site and the district, and may be subject to work agreements aligned with the site’s mission.
- The district may also perform certain services and receive an administrative fee for managing federal programs and other district-wide functions. The site or district may allocate revenues for site-specific services as agreed in the site budget.
Grants and funding for teacher-governed models
- A grant program is created to support teacher-governed schools, including:
- Planning grants up to 50,000 in the first year.
- Implementation grants up to 100,000 in each of the next two years.
- Grants are first-come, first-served until funds run out; termination of an agreement early requires a pro rata grant return.
- Recipients are encouraged to seek matching funds or in-kind contributions.
- Districts with grants must share best practices and progress publicly, including on the district’s website.
Revenue, budgeting, and financial rules
- Site revenue includes: general education revenue, district/local/private sources, referendum revenue, and applicable federal funds (e.g., federal education programs) as agreed in the site’s agreement.
- Districts may keep an administrative fee for managing programs and services and may specify service charges within the agreement.
- Revenue allocated to the site is used to fund all site staff and site obligations; unspent revenue carries over for the site’s use.
- The site is responsible for allocating funds for all staff and provisions of the agreement.
Exemptions and accountability
- Sitegoverned schools created under this section are exempt from many general statute requirements and rules that apply to traditional schools, similar to charter schools, but they remain subject to specified chapters and sections (e.g., certain chapters, and sections on staff qualifications and student protections).
- The district and site council must include performance standards in the agreement, including:
- Student achievement targets based on multiple indicators (using growth models or value-added growth models).
- A process for addressing noncompliance with district oversight and accountability requirements.
- Other performance provisions as agreed.
- Agreements must be filed with the commissioner, with initial terms up to three years and potential renewals for up to five years based on performance.
Termination, renewal, and conversion
- The district board may terminate a sitegoverned agreement for:
- Failure to meet the agreement’s provisions after at least two full school years.
- Violations of law.
- Other good cause that endangers student safety or welfare.
- If a sitegoverned school is terminated or not renewed for reasons other than cause, it may convert to charter school status under chapter 124E. If chartered, the school would own materials, supplies, and equipment purchased during the sitegoverned period.
Special notes
- The bill provides a pathway for school districts to pilot and scale self-governing school models while maintaining district governance structures and accountability.
- It explicitly sets up a framework for parent, teacher, and community involvement in governance and decision-making, with clear timelines and conditions for approval, funding, and renewal.
Relevant Terms sitegoverned schools; sitegoverning council; site council; school board; memorandum of understanding; autonomy; leadership model; budget; learning model; curriculum; formative and summative assessments; student promotion; attendance; discipline; graduation requirements; school day; school year; staff selection; mutual consent; general education revenue; federal programs; administrative fee; planning grant; implementation grant; value-added growth model; growth model; accountability; performance standards; commissioner; termination; charter school; chapter 124E; grants; best practices; reporting.
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Upcoming committee meetings
- Education Policy on: March 18, 2026 12:00
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 17, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 17, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Education Policy |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Authority for a school board to approve sitegoverned schools via proposals and sitegoverning school agreements.",
"Requirement for a memorandum of understanding when applicable.",
"Mechanisms for approving, denying, or requesting additional information on proposals within specified timelines."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends section 123B.045 to authorize and govern district-created sitegoverned schools, including proposal submission, board approval, and MOUs.",
"modified": [
"Modifies 123B.045 to establish and regulate sitegoverned schools as a district option, including the proposal process and related governance."
]
},
"citation": "123B.045",
"subdivision": "Subd.1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Creation of the sitegoverning council with teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community members.",
"Allowance for teacher majority on the council at the option of a majority of teachers.",
"Requirements for leadership model, budgeting, curriculum approval, reporting, and dispute resolution."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines roles and responsibilities for sitegoverned schools, including the sitegoverning council, composition, leadership, budgeting, performance, and reporting requirements.",
"modified": [
"Specifies detailed autonomy and responsibilities of sitegoverned schools and the process to determine leadership and staffing arrangements."
]
},
"citation": "123B.045",
"subdivision": "Subd.2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Authorization for revenue to the site from state, local, private, and federal sources (including ESEA, IDEA, and Perkins Act).",
"Establishment of a district-administered grant program to support teacher-governed school development (planning and implementation grants).",
"Provisions for grant terms, carryover, and matching or in-kind contributions."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Outlines revenue to self-governed schools, including general education revenue and federal funds, and provisions for grants and administration.",
"modified": [
"Incorporates explicit federal funding sources (ESEA, IDEA, Carl Perkins Act) into site revenue and grant framework."
]
},
"citation": "123B.045",
"subdivision": "Subd.3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Exemption of sitegoverned schools from most statutes and rules, subject to charter school framework under chapter 124E and specific chapters and sections listed."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Exemption from statutes and rules for sitegoverned schools, with specified exceptions and cross-references to charter school law.",
"modified": [
"Explicitly ties sitegoverned schools to charter school framework while listing specific chapters and sections to which they remain subject."
]
},
"citation": "123B.045",
"subdivision": "Subd.4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Requirement to include student achievement targets and performance provisions in the agreement.",
"Annual filing with the commissioner; potential renewal terms based on performance."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Performance standards and annual review provisions for sitegoverned schools.",
"modified": [
"Establishes performance-driven renewal and oversight mechanisms for sitegoverned schools."
]
},
"citation": "123B.045",
"subdivision": "Subd.5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Grounds for termination including performance failures, legal violations, or other good cause.",
"Option for terminated or nonrenewed sites to convert to charter school status under chapter 124E."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Board termination provisions and post-termination options for sitegoverned schools.",
"modified": [
"Defines termination procedures and enables conversion to charter status upon termination, preserving assets and materials."
]
},
"citation": "123B.045",
"subdivision": "Subd.6"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Requires the principal to be licensed consistent with section 123B.147, subdivision 2."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Licensing requirement for principals of sitegoverned schools.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "123B.147",
"subdivision": "Subd.2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Extension of staff leave of absence procedures to sitegoverned schools."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Staff leave processes (requested and unrequested) apply to sitegoverned schools in the same manner as other district schools.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "122A.40",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Continuation of existing staff leave procedures for sitegoverned schools."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Staff leave of absence processes (cont.) apply similarly to sitegoverned schools.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "122A.41",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Inclusion of sitegoverned schools within statutes governing employee discipline and related processes."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Staff discipline and related provisions applicable to sitegoverned schools.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "122A.50",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Extension of staff-related statutes to sitegoverned schools where appropriate."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Additional staff-related provisions apply to sitegoverned schools.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "122A.51",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Sitegoverned schools are aligned with charter school framework under chapter 124E."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Charter school framework reference for sitegoverned schools.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "124E",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"References to chapter 13 as applicable statutes governing governance/meetings."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Chapter 13 referenced as part of the exemption provisions; open meeting laws may apply to sitegoverned schools as appropriate.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "13",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"References to chapter 13D as applicable statutes governing governance/meetings."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Chapter 13D referenced as part of the exemption provisions; related open meeting/bid processes may apply.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "13D",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"References to chapter 179A as applicable statutes."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Chapter 179A referenced in exemption provisions; applicable statutes for special education and student services may apply.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "179A",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Recognizes ESEA as a source of federal funding for sitegoverned schools."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Elemental federal funding reference to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Recognizes IDEA as a source of federal funding for sitegoverned schools."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Elemental federal funding reference to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Recognizes the Perkins Act as a source of federal funding for sitegoverned schools."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Elemental federal funding reference to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "20 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee