MN SF1821

Establishes alternative accountability measures for charter schools where at least 70 percent of enrolled students are eligible for the graduation incentives program under section 124D.68, effective for 2017-2018 school year and later.

Requires charter school contracts to include performance evaluation based on three components: 30 percent on student achievement and growth using nationally or state-normed assessments for continuously enrolled students; 40 percent on postsecondary and workforce readiness measures such as graduation rates, drop-out rates, and work certification; and 30 percent on student engagement measures including attendance and character assessments.

Mandates that for eligible schools, charter contracts must be based on student academic, career and college readiness, and student engagement performance measures rather than standard statewide accountability measures under chapter 120B.

Requires charter schools serving at-risk populations to demonstrate growth in any four of nine specified postsecondary readiness measures, including three-year average graduation rates, participation in national assessments like ACT or ASVAB, and student enrollment in postsecondary programs or military service.

Specifies that student engagement evaluation includes three of six possible measures such as daily attendance rates, improvement in attendance, truancy data, and participation in character and social competency assessments for groups of 10 or more continuously enrolled students.