Establishing statewide standards that define what a Minnesota public high school graduate should know and be able to do to function effectively as a purposeful thinker, effective communicator, self-directed learner, productive group participant, and responsible citizen, this legislation outlines the graduation standards in Written Composition that Minnesota public schools must require for a high school diploma for all students who enter ninth grade in 1997 or a subsequent year. Listing three definitions, it then presents statewide graduation standards for Written Composition. It gives general guidelines for score scale points and it gives statewide standards in basic requirements for testing. It discusses alternative tests for written composition, school district responsibilities, test of written composition for limited English proficient students, and passing scores for state tests of written composition. (SC)