MN SF2089

Commissioner of education shall request assistance from the Regional Educational Laboratory Midwest to study the differential cost of operating a school district in Minnesota by July 15, 2009.

Department of Education must provide necessary data to the Regional Educational Laboratory Midwest to complete the study.

Study must examine economic factors affecting school district operating costs including land costs, salaries and benefits, hourly wages, health care costs, transportation costs, energy costs, telecommunication costs, sparsity, housing prices, and administrative costs.

Study must control for varying factors across districts such as class size, teacher credentials, limited English proficiency, poverty, athletic opportunities, Advanced Placement offerings, International Baccalaureate opportunities, college in the schools programs, and extracurricular opportunities.

Regional Educational Laboratory Midwest must report findings to legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education before March 15, 2010.