MN HF714

Amends the Education Innovation Research Zones Pilot Program by removing the requirement that innovation zone partnerships must research proposed innovations, allowing them to implement innovative education programs without mandatory research methodology documentation.

Adds new examples of allowable innovations including new models of evaluation and assessment using multiple indicators, improved teacher and principal mentoring and evaluation, and alternative high school diploma pathways for students completing postsecondary education or career certifications.

Changes innovation zone plan submission requirements by removing the mandatory research methodology description and renumbering remaining required plan components submitted to the commissioner of education.

Modifies the Innovation Research Zone Advisory Panel structure by reducing it from 9 to 8 members and removes the requirement that the commissioner must approve or reject plans, replacing it with discretionary "may" language for approval, remediation, and suspension actions.

Changes reporting requirements to allow the commissioner to "may" rather than "must" analyze innovation zones' progress and submit biennial reports to the legislature, making these actions discretionary rather than mandatory.