First Education Committee Meetings.

The House Education Innovation Policy Committee and the House Education Finance Committee met today and both hearings were devoted to reports on the progress of various initiatives that were enacted during the 2016 and 2017 legislative sessions.  A lot of good information was exchanged--especially regarding the state's ESSA plan that has been approved by the United States Department of Education--and it was great to hear that many of the initiatives discussed are producing the results that were projected when the grants were issued.

Below is a link to the House Education Innovation Policy Web Page with links to the reports presented in the right hand column.

House Education Innovation Policy Web Page

Extra credit goes to Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Government Relations Director Adosh Unni for providing concise reports on six different programs where grants had been awarded by MDE.

Bill Introductions

Senate

SF 2537--Hoffman--Clarifies definition of a teacher.

SF 2538--Hoffman--Requires paid orientation or staff development for special education paraprofessionals.

SF 2540--Eichorn--Authorizes funding for the Children's Discovery Museum of Grand Rapids.

SF 2552--Housley--Increases board-approved levy authority for school districts.

SF 2574--Wiger--Directs Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission to evaluate governance changes.

SF 2575--Wiger--Directs Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission to perform a study on school district borrowing.

SF 2576--Wiger--Increases equalization factors for referendum, local option, and debt service levies.

SF 2577--Wiger--Authorizes grants for water conservation programming in Minnesota schools.

SF 2583--Lourey--Authorizes Willow River school district to use Long Term Facilities Maintenance Revenue for other facility-related purposes.

SF 2606--Housley--Requires that certain information be available at the polling place for school district bond referenda.

SF 2608--Newton--Allows school boards to renew existing referendum and capitol project levies.

SF 2620--Rosen--Pension bill.

House

HF 2958--Fischer--Increases safe schools levy.

HF 2959--Fischer--Allows school boards to renew existing referendum levies.

HF 2960--Fischer--Establishes school facilities improvement revenue.

HF 2961--Davnie--Modifies early childhood provisions, makes school readiness plus permanent, changes regional framework for distribution of voluntary prekindergarten programs.

HF 2988--Hornstein--Limits length of state assessments.

HF 3013--Runbeck--Requires teacher training to implement strategies to meet the needs of students with dyslexia.

Thanks to the Chisago County Board.  The Chisago County Board invited me to give a presentation on the financial problems faced by the school districts in Chisago County due to formula and property wealth disparities.  It was great to hear the rousing support provided by the board to efforts SEE makes to bring about a more equitable framework of school funding in Minnesota.  At the same time, the point was made--and I agree--that much more needs to be done.

So thanks to the Chisago County Board for the invitation and the delegations from the Chisago Lakes, Forest Lake, North Branch, Rush City school districts and St. Croix Education District for joining me.  I urge all SEE members to reach out to their county boards and see if there is interest in joint efforts to solve some of the inequities SEE districts often face.