H.F. No. 4668 Summary

• Modifies district discipline complaint procedures to include two new requirements: communications regarding discipline must be provided in accessible formats and languages, and students and parents must receive notice of the right to appeal to the Department of Education and file complaints with the Department of Human Rights for civil rights violations.

• Establishes a new appeal process allowing students or parents to appeal a district's written discipline complaint determination to the Minnesota Commissioner of Education within 30 days of receiving the district's decision.

• The commissioner must issue a decision on appeals within 60 days and may include corrective actions such as correcting student records or requiring staff training, but may not impose new or additional discipline on the student.

• The commissioner must conduct investigations for appeals involving suspensions lasting longer than five consecutive or cumulative days and must attempt to interview persons with varying perspectives.

• When the commissioner determines an appeal suggests civil rights violations based on protected characteristics, the commissioner must ask permission from the parent or guardian (or student if an adult) before sharing the request with the Department of Human Rights, with restrictions on sharing private educational data.