MDE Educational Policy 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Minnesota district receives a complaint that a student with a disability was denied a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Which state agency investigates such complaints?
- Minnesota Department of Human Services
- Minnesota Department of Education's Division of Compliance and Assistance (Correct answer)
- Office of Civil Rights (federal only)
- Minnesota Board of Teaching
Correct answer: Minnesota Department of Education's Division of Compliance and Assistance
MDE's Division of Compliance and Assistance investigates IDEA-related complaints to ensure students with disabilities receive FAPE.
Question 2: Under Minnesota's open enrollment law, which of the following is a valid reason for a receiving district to deny a nonresident student's application?
- The student has a disability requiring specialized services the district lacks capacity to provide (Correct answer)
- The student's academic record shows below-average grades
- The student lives in a lower-income zip code
- The student previously attended a charter school
Correct answer: The student has a disability requiring specialized services the district lacks capacity to provide
A receiving district may deny enrollment if it lacks the capacity or program to serve the student's identified disability-related needs.
Question 3: Which Minnesota education finance term refers to the foundational per-pupil revenue amount upon which most other general education aid is calculated?
- Compensatory revenue
- Basic revenue (Correct answer)
- Referendum equalization aid
- Sparsity revenue
Correct answer: Basic revenue
Basic revenue is the foundational per-pupil funding amount multiplied by adjusted pupil units to determine most general education aid in Minnesota.
Question 4: Minnesota requires all licensed teachers to complete what every five years to renew their license?
- A content area master's degree
- 125 clock hours of continuing professional development (Correct answer)
- A Praxis subject matter exam
- A student teaching placement review
Correct answer: 125 clock hours of continuing professional development
Minnesota teachers must complete 125 clock hours of continuing professional development aligned to their license every five-year renewal cycle.
Question 5: A school district's locally adopted levy that exceeds the state property tax formula limit must be approved by:
- The Commissioner of Education
- A majority of school board members at two consecutive meetings
- Voters in a district-wide referendum (Correct answer)
- The Minnesota Legislature through a special session bill
Correct answer: Voters in a district-wide referendum
Operating levies beyond the formula allowance require voter approval through a district-wide referendum under Minnesota school finance law.
Question 6: Which Minnesota policy requires schools to have a plan for students experiencing homelessness to maintain school stability and access services?
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Title I
- McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, implemented through MDE (Correct answer)
- Minnesota Safe Schools Act
- Pupil Transportation Act
Correct answer: McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, implemented through MDE
The McKinney-Vento Act, implemented at the state level through MDE, requires each district to designate a liaison and provide immediate enrollment and support for homeless students.
Question 7: Under Minnesota statute, a 'world's best workforce' (WBWF) plan must be updated and submitted to MDE by each school district on what cycle?
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every two years
- Every three years
- Every five years
Correct answer: Annually
Minnesota's World's Best Workforce statute requires districts to review and submit an updated WBWF plan annually.
MDE Educational Policy 3
A Minnesota district receives a complaint that a student with a disability was denied a free appropriate public education (FAPE).
Which state agency investigates such complaints?