MDE Educational Policy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Minnesota law, what is the maximum class size for kindergarten in a school district receiving class-size reduction aid?
- 17 students
- 20 students (Correct answer)
- 22 students
- 25 students
Correct answer: 20 students
Minnesota statute targets a maximum of 20 students per kindergarten classroom for districts receiving class-size reduction aid.
Question 2: Which Minnesota statute governs the state's graduation requirements, including the required credits and assessments students must complete?
- Minn. Stat. § 120B.024 (Correct answer)
- Minn. Stat. § 122A.09
- Minn. Stat. § 124D.59
- Minn. Stat. § 126C.10
Correct answer: Minn. Stat. § 120B.024
Minnesota Statute § 120B.024 establishes the graduation requirements, including required academic credits and assessments for a standard diploma.
Question 3: A Minnesota school district wishes to offer an online learning course to its students through a state-approved provider. Which program framework governs this arrangement?
- Minnesota Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act
- Minnesota Online Learning Act (MOLA) (Correct answer)
- Concurrent Enrollment Program
- Alternative Learning Center statute
Correct answer: Minnesota Online Learning Act (MOLA)
The Minnesota Online Learning Act (MOLA) establishes the rules under which districts provide online courses through state-approved providers.
Question 4: Under the Minnesota Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, a student subjected to a short-term suspension of up to three days must be given:
- A written notice and an opportunity to respond before the suspension takes effect (Correct answer)
- A full due-process hearing before any suspension
- Only verbal notification to parents within 24 hours
- A formal IEP team meeting to review placement
Correct answer: A written notice and an opportunity to respond before the suspension takes effect
For suspensions of up to three days, the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act requires written notice and an opportunity for the student to respond prior to the suspension.
Question 5: What does Minnesota's 'English Learner' definition require before a student is classified as an EL for service purposes?
- Parent self-report only
- A home language survey followed by a state-approved English proficiency screener (Correct answer)
- Teacher observation documented in writing
- A district-developed placement test approved by the school board
Correct answer: A home language survey followed by a state-approved English proficiency screener
Minnesota requires a home language survey and then administration of a state-approved English proficiency screener to identify a student as an English Learner.
Question 6: Which body is responsible for adopting Minnesota's statewide academic standards?
- The Minnesota Legislature alone
- The Commissioner of Education acting unilaterally
- The Minnesota State Board of Education
- The Minnesota Department of Education through a rulemaking process (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The Minnesota Department of Education through a rulemaking process
Minnesota's academic standards are adopted by the Department of Education through the formal rulemaking process, subject to legislative review.
Question 7: Minnesota's Q Comp program provides alternative teacher compensation to districts that meet certain requirements. Which element is NOT required under Q Comp?
- A performance pay component
- Job-embedded professional development
- Collective bargaining agreement approval
- A teacher seniority-based salary schedule as the sole pay structure (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A teacher seniority-based salary schedule as the sole pay structure
Q Comp replaces or supplements the traditional seniority-only schedule with performance-based elements; a pure seniority schedule is not a requirement.
MDE Educational Policy 2
Under Minnesota law, what is the maximum class size for kindergarten in a school district receiving class-size reduction aid?