Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the state's education code, including, but not limited to, modifications of the per-pupil funding level, high school graduation requirements, merit scholarships, guidance counselors and other advisors, and early childhood education.

Highlights:

- Increases the per-pupil funding level for each school district from $3,250 to $3,420 for the 2009-2010 school year, and from $3,325 to $3,779 for the 2010-2011 school year (Sec. 22). - Provides for the following Appropriations for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years (Secs. 40-43):

- $2.3 million to the Education Standards and Practices Board to support a mentorship grant program; - $2 million to the Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide transportation payments to school districts; - $1.5 million to the Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide grants to four school districts offering early childhood education programs; and - $500,000 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide three grants for instructional coaching programs, of which each recipient must provide matching funds.

- Authorizes the board of a school district to operate an approved early childhood education program, provided that enrollment in the program is voluntary and the program is limited to students who are at least four years old by August 31 of the year of enrollment and are not enrolled in a public school kindergarten program (Sec. 35). - Requires all students in grade eleven to take the ACT, SAT, or WorkKeys assessments, of which the school district shall pay for, unless the school district superintendent exempts a student from this requirement because it is not required by the student's individualized education program plan or other special circumstances exist. The student's career advisor or guidance counselor is required to meet with the students to review the results of the examination (Sec. 19). - Amends high school graduation requirements as follows (Sec. 10):

- Existing law:
- Four units of English language arts; - Four units of mathematics; - Four units of science; - Four units of social studies, including one of world history and one of United States history; - One-half unit of health; - One-half unit of physical education during each school year, provided that once every four years the unit must be a concept-based fitness class; - Two units of fine arts, at least one of which must be music; - Two units of the same foreign language; and - Two units of career and technical education.
- New law:
- Four units of English language arts from a sequence that includes literature, composition, and speech; - Three units of mathematics; - Three units of science, including one of physical science, one of biology, and either one unit of any other science or two one-half units of any other science; - Three units of social studies, including one unit of United States history, either one-half unit of United States government and one-half unit of economics or one unit of problems of democracy, and one unit or two one-half units of any other social studies; - One unit of physical education or one-half unit of physical education and one-half unit of health; - Three units of foreign languages, Native American languages, fine arts, or career and technical education courses; and - Any five additional units.

- Provides for an optional high school curriculum for students who, after two years of high school have failed to pass at least one-half unit from three sections of the high school graduation requirements listed above, or if the student has a GPA at or below the twenty-fifth percentile of other students in the district who are enrolled in the same grade. If the student's career advisor, guidance counselor, or principle determines that the student is eligible, and the student's parent consents in writing, then the student is eligible to receive a diploma upon completing the following requirements (Sec. 14):

- Four units of English language arts from a sequence that includes literature, composition, and speech; - Two units of mathematics; - Two units of science; - Three units of social studies, which may include up to one-half unit of North Dakota studies and one-half unit of multicultural studies; - One unit of physical education or one-half unit of physical education and one-half unit of health; - Two units of foreign languages, native American languages, fine arts, or career and technical education courses; and - Any seven additional units.

- Establishes a merit scholarship for any student who graduates from high school during or after the 2010-2011 school year in the amount of $750 for each semester during which the student is enrolled full time at an accredited institute of higher education and maintains a GPA of at least 2.75, provided that the amount does not exceed $6,000. Student's may receive a merit scholarship with technical honors or a merit scholarship with academic honors upon completing the following academic requirements (Secs. 11-13):

- Merit scholarship with technical honors:
- Complete one unit of algebra II; - Complete two units of a coordinated plan of study recommended by the Department of Career and Technical Education and approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction; - Complete three additional units, two of which must be in the area of career and technical education; - Obtain a grade of "C" in each unit or one-half unit required for the diploma; - Obtain a cumulative GPA of at least "B"; and - Receive a score of at least 24 on the ACT, a score of at least 1,100 on the critical reading and mathematics portion of the SAT, or a score of at least five on each of the three WorkKeys assessments recommended by the Department of Career and Technical Education and approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
- Merit scholarship with academic honors:
- Complete one unit of algebra II; - Complete one additional unit of mathematics for which algebra II is a prerequisite; - Complete two units of the same foreign or native language, one unit of fine arts or career and technical education, and one unit of a foreign or Native American language, fine arts, or career and technical education; - Obtain a grade of at least "C" in each unit or one-half unit required for the diploma; - Obtain a cumulative GPA of at least "B"; - Receive a composite score of at least 24 on the ACT or a score of at least 1,100 on the critical reading and mathematics portion of the SAT; and - Complete one unit of an advanced placement course and examination or a duel-credit course.

- Requires each school district to have one full-time counselor for every 300 students in grades seven through twelve, and permits up to one-third of those counselors to be "career advisors," meaning an individual who holds a certificate in career development facilitation issued by the Department of Career and Technical Education or an individual who is provisionally approved by the Department to serve as a career advisor (Sec. 4). - Requires career advisors to meet with students in grades seven through twelve to discuss the student's academic assessments and career interest surveys, and advise the student on career development and work-planning activities (Sec. 5). - Requires each school district, beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, to have one full-time student performance strategist for every 400 students in average daily membership in kindergarten through grade three. Performance strategists must meet the qualifications of an elementary school teacher and serve as a tutor or instructional coach (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text