1997 Minnesota Code
Chapters 120 - 129B Education Code: Prekindergarten - Grade 12
Chapter 121 State Administration; Interstate Compact
Section 121.1601 Office of desegregation/integration.

121.1601 Office of desegregation/integration.

Subdivision 1. Establishment. (a) An office of desegregation/integration is established in the department of children, families, and learning to coordinate and support activities related to student enrollment, student and staff recruitment and retention, transportation, and interdistrict cooperation among metropolitan school districts.

(b) At the request of a metropolitan school district involved in cooperative desegregation/integration efforts, the office shall perform any of the following activities:

(1) assist districts with interdistrict student transfers, including student recruitment, counseling, placement, and transportation;

(2) coordinate and disseminate information about schools and programs;

(3) assist districts with new magnet schools and programs;

(4) assist districts in providing staff development and in-service training; and

(5) coordinate and administer staff exchanges.

(c) The office shall collect data on the efficacy of districts' desegregation/integration efforts and make recommendations based on the data. The office shall periodically consult with the metropolitan council to coordinate school desegregation/integration efforts with the housing, social, economic, and infrastructure needs of the metropolitan area. The office shall develop a process for resolving students' disputes and grievances about student transfers under a desegregation/integration plan.

Subd. 2. Coordination. The commissioner shall coordinate the office activities under subdivision 1 with new or existing department and state board of education efforts to accomplish school desegregation/integration. The commissioner may request information or assistance from, or contract with, any state or local agency or officer, local unit of government, or recognized expert to assist the commissioner in performing the activities described in subdivision 1.

Subd. 3. Advisory board. The commissioner shall establish an advisory board composed of:

(1) eight superintendents, each of whom shall be selected by the superintendents of the school districts located in whole or in part within each of the eight metropolitan districts established under section 473.123, subdivision 3c; and

(2) one person each selected by the Indian affairs council, the council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, the council on Black Minnesotans, and the council on affairs of Chicano/Latino people.

The advisory board shall advise the office on complying with the requirements under subdivision 1. The advisory board may solicit comments from teachers, parents, students, and interested community organizations and others.

HIST: 1994 c 647 art 8 s 2; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1997 c 7 art 3 s 3