The Minnesota Department of Education is moving forward with a rewrite of state rules for integrating schools despite criticism that the changes are a step backwards.

Administrative Law Judge Ann O’Reilly began the first of two days of testimony about the proposed changes Wednesday. More than 150 people filled a conference room at the state Department of Education offices in Roseville to learn about the changes, and some offered testimony.

The new rules come after state lawmakers voted in 2013 to overhaul Minnesota’s efforts to integrate schools and ensure all students have equitable access to education.

State education officials say the changes bring increased focus to improving minority student academic performance and closing the achievement gap. There is less emphasis on bringing racial balance to schools deemed “racially isolated” because they enroll inordinately large numbers of minority students.

For years, districts used state integration money to create magnet schools and other programs to encouraged integration at schools with large populations of minority students. Those efforts have been successful at integrating some schools, but critics say they never went far enough.

Myron Orfield, a University of Minnesota law professor and vocal advocate of improving school integration efforts, said the shift in focus of the state’s integration rule is both unconstitutional and unreasonable. He said the changes will weaken the state’s already insufficient efforts to desegregate schools and provide all students with equal opportunities.

“Segregation hurts children,” Orfield said, noting that students who attend segregated schools often do worse academically. “Minnesota is doubling down on a chilling standard that we have no compelling interest in racial integration.”

Orfield was working with a group to block the rule changes, but their challenge was dropped after they learned the administrative law judge’s decision was advisory and would not be legally binding. Another group of parents and community leaders filed a class-action lawsuit against the state in November alleging Minnesota was not doing enough to desegregate schools.

The new integration rules would require every district or school with 20 percent or more of their enrollment being “protected students” to develop an achievement and integration plan and submit it to the state. Those plans would outline what schools would do to improve academic growth and proficiency of “protected students,” who are black, Asian, Hispanic and American Indian.

Integration plans must also include details for aiding students who qualify for free and reduced-priced meals, a federal poverty indicator.

Charter school advocates have also expressed concern over the changes, which include their schools in the state’s integration plans for the first time. Charter schools that meet the enrollment threshold would have to submit integration plans and also would be eligible for state integration aid.

Public input on the proposed rule changes is expected to continue Thursday. Written comments will be accepted until Jan. 27, and after that O’Reilly will issue a ruling that may include recommended changes to the proposed rule.

The rule change will not be adopted until after Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius and Gov. Mark Dayton sign off.

Christopher Magan can be reached at 651-228-5557. Follow him at twitter.com/chris_magan.