MN SF4188

Modifies high school instruction hour requirements to allow schools to count hours when students are actively engaged in personalized, competency-based education, effective for the 2024-2025 school year and later.

Redefines "credit" to prohibit awarding credit based solely on seat time or hours of instruction, requiring demonstration of subject matter mastery instead.

Establishes a new definition of "personalized, competency-based education" emphasizing teacher-student decision-making, meaningful assessments, individualized support, mastery-based progress, and equitable learning pathways.

Amends graduation requirements to prohibit basing satisfactory credit completion exclusively on hours of instruction, and clarifies that nothing in the law denies students access to required special education services.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education through June 30, 2027 for planning grants to districts, charter schools, and area learning centers to develop and implement personalized, competency-based education programs, with up to 5 percent retained for administration costs.