2025 Session Last amended: 2024 session

§ 181.9412 — School Conference and Activities Leave

Plain-Language Summary

Minnesota employers must allow an employee up to 16 hours of leave during any 12-month period to attend school conferences or school-related activities for the employee's child (including a foster child), when those events cannot be scheduled during nonwork hours. The leave also covers attending or observing a conference, activity, or program at a child care provider or prekindergarten program. The employer does not have to pay for this time, though the employee may choose to substitute accrued paid vacation or other paid leave.

181.9412 SCHOOL CONFERENCE AND ACTIVITIES LEAVE.

Subdivision 1.Definition.

For purposes of this section, “employee” does not include the requirement of section 181.940, subdivision 2, clause (1). §

Subd. 1a.Foster child.

For the purpose of this section, “child” includes a foster child. §

Subd. 2.Leave of 16 hours.

An employer must grant an employee leave of up to a total of 16 hours during any 12-month period to attend school conferences or school-related activities related to the employee’s child, provided the conferences or school-related activities cannot be scheduled during nonwork hours. If the employee’s child receives child care services as defined in section 142E.01, subdivision 7, or attends a prekindergarten regular or special education program, the employee may use the leave time provided in this section to attend a conference or activity related to the employee’s child, or to observe and monitor the services or program, provided the conference, activity, or observation cannot be scheduled during nonwork hours. When the leave cannot be scheduled during nonwork hours and the need for the leave is foreseeable, the employee must provide reasonable prior notice of the leave and make a reasonable effort to schedule the leave so as not to disrupt unduly the operations of the employer. §

Subd. 3.No pay required; substitute of paid leave.

Nothing in this section requires that the leave be paid; except that an employee may substitute any accrued paid vacation leave or other appropriate paid leave for any part of the leave under this section.

History:

1990 c 577 s 3; 1992 c 438 s 2; 1996 c 341 s 1; 1996 c 408 art 11 s 4; 1999 c 205 art 5 s 21; 2002 c 380 art 5 s 1; 2024 c 80 art 5 s 7

History: History: 1990 c 577 s 3; 1992 c 438 s 2; 1996 c 341 s 1; 1996 c 408 art 11 s 4; 1999 c 205 art 5 s 21; 2002 c 380 art 5 s 1; 2024 c 80 art 5 s 7

Practical Notes

If you need time off to attend your child’s school conference or activity that cannot be scheduled outside your work hours, you are entitled to up to 16 hours over a 12-month period. Give your employer reasonable advance notice when the need is foreseeable and try to schedule the time so it does not unduly disrupt operations. The leave can be unpaid, but you may use your accrued vacation or other paid leave to cover it.

Source: Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes