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 119B.011, 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.