State General Levy Hearing. The House Property Tax and Local Government Division held an extremely interesting hearing this morning on the state general levy that is applied against business and seasonal/recreational property. This levy has been the bane of the state's business community since it was first applied for property taxes payable in 2002 as part of Governor Ventura's "Big Plan" that was passed in 2001. The complaint from the business community is that the tax is arbitrary and makes Minnesota's business climate less competitive than neighboring states and, as such, hurts Minnesota's economic status. Today's hearing didn't feature much of a history lesson, with only Representative Ann Lenczewski who served on the Tax Conference Committee during the 2001 session offering much of an explanation of how the state general levy came to be. She got 99.99% of it right with her explanation, but she forgot one little item that if enacted would have made the state business levy unnecessary. Governor Ventura's original proposal called for an expansion of the sales tax base and that revenue would have been used to back-fill the revenue loss resulting from the elimination of the state general education levy. As many of you can remember, in the spring of 2001, the state budget was in great shape financially, but there was still a need to provide revenue to replace the revenue generated by the general education levy. The House of Representatives eliminated the general education levy (the Senate did not), but did not provide anything in the form of replacement revenue. As the two-against-one (House and Governor versus the Senate) took shape during the tax negotiations during the special session, the Senate insisted that some measure of revenue assurance be part of the final package and that assurance came in the form of the state general levy, which was originally dedicated to education. That dedication that was extremely brief due to the fact that the state fell into deficit following the recession that was exacerbated by the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001. It was believed that state government needed greater flexibility during that period and the state general levy dedication for education was sacrificed to that belief.
The problem with today's hearing is that no one really acknowledges those stubborn facts. From SEE's standpoint, eliminating the general education levy was one of the biggest--if not the biggest--mistakes made by state government in recent decades. It's difficult to believe that it was over seven biennia ago that this decision was made and only recently have many of the adverse effects of that decision been rectified. I think it's important to recall that the Chair of the House tax conferees that promoted the decision to eliminate the general education levy stated as the agreement was finalized that (and I paraphrase) "there will be no more Minnesota Miracle." Unfortunately, he was right. The plight of low property wealth school districts in the wake of the decision to eliminate the general education levy worsened dramatically. The value of the equalization formulas passed in the early 1990s was eroding due to property wealth growth and massive amounts of state aid were funneled to high property wealth districts to replace levy revenue that had previously been supplied through the general education levy. On top of that, the referendum cap was increased twice during the first decade of the 21st century, which widened the gap between the districts at the 5th and 95th percentiles by approximately $800 per pupil unit. Another adverse effect of the elimination of the general education levy is that the state lost an effective tool to balance property tax incidence on homestead and agricultural property.
While I don't totally agree with the business community's synopsis that the state general levy is arbitrary, I can see the problems that it has created for a number of individual businesses (and there are issues with the property tax classification system that pushes burden onto businesses). But getting rid of it completely without some recognition of the effects it would have on the state budget and the residual effects it could have on education funding both in terms of adequacy and equity would be short-sighted. When I hear witnesses talk about how property taxes are solely a local tax for local needs, I shiver a bit. Not because of that mentality per se (everyone has a right to their opinion), but because Minnesota's tradition of fairness in education funding rests on a strong statewide commitment with state resources and not on a collection of disparate communities depending on their local property tax base to supply the bulk of the funding for education. If the state general levy is to go away, it will need to be replaced with a revenue stream that will provide resources to meet the needs of Minnesota's students. Ah, blogging. The world's greatest blood pressure medication.
What the House of Representatives does in regard to the state general levy and other property tax measures will be interesting. There are a variety of measures floating around in addition to the ones discussed in the House Property Tax and Local Government Division, including measures that would take agricultural property off the tax base for future debt service levies and eliminate the student achievement levy (a very limited version of the general education levy) that was passed as part of the 2013 omnibus education funding bill. We will see where they go. The problem in every case is that the state takes a considerable revenue hit and the only way to remedy that is through a tax increase or a budget cut. Any movement here couldn't be an isolated movement; there would be ripple effects.
Great Program at Bloomington Schools. I saw this news story on KSTP while eating my dinner this evening and thought it was a great example of how a little creativity can go a long ways in providing quality learning opportunities for students. The Bloomington school district has teamed up Extreme Sandbox, a company located in Hastings, to give interested students the opportunity to work with heavy equipment and get the feel of what a career in construction would look like. Great work Bloomington. Way to think outside the (sand) box!
Here's a link to the story: http://kstp.com/article/12303/?vid=2637365&v=1
And here's a link to Extreme Sandbox: https://www.extremesandbox.com/
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Tuesday's Committee Action. The education-related hearings featured some big-time action on Tuesday, as all three committees handled interesting issues. I spent the morning in the Senate Education Finance Committee, where I testified on SF 489 and SF 490, Senator Dahle's bills focused on increasing debt service equalization that complete the set of recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Education's School Facilities Finance Working Group. Senator Dahle's SF 75 and SF 76, which deal with the deferred maintenance and technology portions of those recommendations, were heard earlier in the legislative session. I was joined at the witness table by Tri-City United Superintendent Teri Preisler and she did an excellent job representing both SEE and her district and pointing out why increased debt service equalization would promote both improved school facilities and tax fairness in improving those facilities. Committees love to hear from people involved in the nuts-and-bolts of school decisions and Teri gave the committee members a solid and detailed synopsis of the decisions made in the Tri-City United District, which was formed through the consolidation of the LeCenter and Montgomery-Lonsdale school districts almost three years ago. Consolidations can be a challenge and Tri-City United has come through with flying colors. That said, the district--like most districts--has facility needs and addressing those needs will likely include a commitment to both new construction and increased deferred maintenance. I want to thank Senator Dahle for introducing each of the School Facilities Finance Working Group recommendations. He has done it in a way that makes a lot of sense, as it shows that the recommendations are separable with each addressing a different aspect of the facilities challenge facing school districts throughout Minnesota. The Senate has made facilities upgrades one of their top education priorities, which is great to see. The gap in districts' ability to address their facility needs in a fair and equitable manner is very real and is clearly an equity issue. Hopefully, the Education Finance Committee can coordinate its work with the Tax Committee and a system can be devised that provides both needed revenue and an element of property tax fairness to solve the facility issue.
The House Education Innovation Policy Committee dealt with the Education Tax Credit that Minnesota families can employ to defray a number of supplemental expenses. HF 798, a bill introduced by Representative Jim Knoblach, would increase both the Minnesota tax deduction for tuition payments and expand the tax credit to include tuition payments. One of the great fights of the early Carlson administration era in the 1990s was the scuffle over whether or not tuition payments should be eligible for the tax credit. Opponents of expanding the tax credit to include these expenditures won that bout and the issue has largely lay dormant since. I wouldn't be surprised if all that changed this year with the House of Representatives pushing aggressively to expand the tax credit. Other bills heard in the House this morning included:
The House Education Innovation Policy Committee dealt with the Education Tax Credit that Minnesota families can employ to defray a number of supplemental expenses. HF 798, a bill introduced by Representative Jim Knoblach, would increase both the Minnesota tax deduction for tuition payments and expand the tax credit to include tuition payments. One of the great fights of the early Carlson administration era in the 1990s was the scuffle over whether or not tuition payments should be eligible for the tax credit. Opponents of expanding the tax credit to include these expenditures won that bout and the issue has largely lay dormant since. I wouldn't be surprised if all that changed this year with the House of Representatives pushing aggressively to expand the tax credit. Other bills heard in the House this morning included:
- HF 72--Representative Paul Anderson's bill that would make pre-kindergarten expenditures eligible for the education tax credit,
- HF 245--Representative Dean Urdahl's bill that would allow a tax credit for teachers who work toward a Masters' Degree in their licensure field area,
- HF 359--Representative Linda Runbeck's bill that would make the reading tax credit passed in 2014 permanent and revise some of the procedures surrounding the bill, and,
- HF 667--Representative Paul Anderson's bill that would increase the amount of the education tax credit, but not expand the definition of allowable expenditures.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Mondays are Quiet. . . At least at this point in the 2015 session. There is a light committee schedule on Mondays and with floor sessions not heating up at this point, the day is largely devoted to looking over the bill introductions. We're closing in on the first thousand bills of the session in the House as the tally reached 985 today. The Senate is a little behind the House in total number, but they eclipsed the 900 introduction mark with today's session ending the day with 909 introductions. One change I have witnessed during my career is the volume of bills that are introduced over a session (and biennium). In an earlier era, it was rare that 2,000 bills would be introduced over the two-year biennium. We will likely reach 2,000 bills in the first year alone in 2015 (which has been the pattern over the past decade as well). I don't know what to attribute the plethora of introductions to, but it certainly keeps me reading.
Speaking of introductions, here are today's (light day for education):
Speaking of introductions, here are today's (light day for education):
Senate
SF 849 -- Stumpf -- Appropriates money for the Minnesota Resource Learning Center -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF0849&session=ls89&version=latest&session_number=0&session_year=2015
House
HF 876 -- Peterson -- Increases funding for area learning centers -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF876&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 887 -- O'Driscoll -- Dedicates unclaimed lottery prize money for acquisition of certain school trust lands -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF887&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 897 -- Davnie -- Requires school districts to adopt a policy on recess -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF897&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 928 -- Baker -- Allows New London-Spicer school district to start school before Labor Day in 2015-2016 school year -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF928&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 929 -- Baker -- Allows Willmar school district to start school before Labor Day in 2015-2016 school year -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF929&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 947 -- Kresha -- Establishes an after-school community grant program -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF947&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 964 -- Wills -- Implements portions of the 2013 legislative auditor's report on special education -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF964&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 982 -- Urdahl -- Directs eligible public postsecondary institutions to give full credit for completed PSEO courses -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF982&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 983 -- Lucero -- Creates a new revenue source for school districts with low levels of per pupil revenue -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF983&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 984 -- Drazkowski -- Phases out general education levy over six years and repeals the student achievement levy -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF984&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 985 -- Wills -- Modifies school lunch aid provisions -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF985&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Oops. Got a little backed up and didn't blog yesterday, so here comes the wrap-up from Thursday's House Education Innovation Policy Committee hearing on HF 2--the comprehensive teacher licensing and evaluation legislation introduced by Representative Jenifer Loon--and bill introductions from Thursday's sessions in the House and Senate.
The first education-related night meeting of the year took place on Thursday evening with the House Education Innovation Committee discussing HF 2 and considering several amendments offered to the bill. I don't think you are going to find too many education-related bills where well-meaning people have come to almost diametrically opposed views on the bill. One side views it as a punitive bill that simply seeks to dismiss teachers deemed as underperforming and open up the field to unqualified community experts who are sadly lacking in teaching skills. The other side views it as an effort to help relieve teacher shortages by making it easier for community experts to teach, clarifying requirements for teachers with licenses in other states, and raising student performance by ensuring that the most qualified teachers are in classrooms throughout the state. I have grossly oversimplified the discussion by presenting the most extreme poles of the debate and ignoring the vast intellectual space between these poles, but the tug-and-pull over the bill seems to gravitate toward one of these two camps. The DFL minority caucus offered three amendments to the bill on Thursday evening, but all were defeated on straight party-line votes, which leaves the bill's primary provisions untouched and as controversial--at least in the minds of some--as ever. While the concentration on the elimination of "last in/first out" in determining sequence in the unrequested leave-of-absence process, there is a lot more to this bill that has escaped the public's scrutiny. It will be interesting to see if that remains the case as the bill moves forward. For now, the bill has been recommended to pass by the House Education Innovation Policy Committee and is now being re-referred to the House Education Finance Committee. That usually signals that the bill will be folded into the Omnibus Education Funding bill, which is increasingly likely this year as this particular bill is not moving at all in the Senate. Putting it into the Omnibus Education Funding bill ensures that it will be discussed at part of the final negotiations at the end of the session. So, buckle up and bone up on the provisions in this bill. We're going to hear more about them.
Feud Emerging? The big story to hit the airwaves on Friday is the tiff between Governor Dayton and his fellow DFLers in the Senate majority. It's been awhile since we've had one of these because Governor Dayton is the first DFL Governor since 1990 (two terms of Republicans Arne Carlson and Tim Pawlenty forming a sandwich around Independent Jesse Ventura), but as someone who was around during former Governor Rudy Perpich's terms from 1982 until 1990, this is really nothing new. I thought Blois Olson's "get your popcorn" comment kind of sums things up aptly. Who knows whether this continues or how acrimonious it gets, but I got a close-up view of the tensions between the Perpich Administration and the DFL legislature over open enrollment, PSEO, and the art school back in the late-1980s, and it's part of the process. The largest complication may come over how hard the Governor pushes for some of his budget and tax initiatives and seeing he has the bully pulpit and the veto pen and the Legislature doesn't have the votes to override any vetoes. Just another thing to watch as the session continues.
Bill Introductions.
The first education-related night meeting of the year took place on Thursday evening with the House Education Innovation Committee discussing HF 2 and considering several amendments offered to the bill. I don't think you are going to find too many education-related bills where well-meaning people have come to almost diametrically opposed views on the bill. One side views it as a punitive bill that simply seeks to dismiss teachers deemed as underperforming and open up the field to unqualified community experts who are sadly lacking in teaching skills. The other side views it as an effort to help relieve teacher shortages by making it easier for community experts to teach, clarifying requirements for teachers with licenses in other states, and raising student performance by ensuring that the most qualified teachers are in classrooms throughout the state. I have grossly oversimplified the discussion by presenting the most extreme poles of the debate and ignoring the vast intellectual space between these poles, but the tug-and-pull over the bill seems to gravitate toward one of these two camps. The DFL minority caucus offered three amendments to the bill on Thursday evening, but all were defeated on straight party-line votes, which leaves the bill's primary provisions untouched and as controversial--at least in the minds of some--as ever. While the concentration on the elimination of "last in/first out" in determining sequence in the unrequested leave-of-absence process, there is a lot more to this bill that has escaped the public's scrutiny. It will be interesting to see if that remains the case as the bill moves forward. For now, the bill has been recommended to pass by the House Education Innovation Policy Committee and is now being re-referred to the House Education Finance Committee. That usually signals that the bill will be folded into the Omnibus Education Funding bill, which is increasingly likely this year as this particular bill is not moving at all in the Senate. Putting it into the Omnibus Education Funding bill ensures that it will be discussed at part of the final negotiations at the end of the session. So, buckle up and bone up on the provisions in this bill. We're going to hear more about them.
Feud Emerging? The big story to hit the airwaves on Friday is the tiff between Governor Dayton and his fellow DFLers in the Senate majority. It's been awhile since we've had one of these because Governor Dayton is the first DFL Governor since 1990 (two terms of Republicans Arne Carlson and Tim Pawlenty forming a sandwich around Independent Jesse Ventura), but as someone who was around during former Governor Rudy Perpich's terms from 1982 until 1990, this is really nothing new. I thought Blois Olson's "get your popcorn" comment kind of sums things up aptly. Who knows whether this continues or how acrimonious it gets, but I got a close-up view of the tensions between the Perpich Administration and the DFL legislature over open enrollment, PSEO, and the art school back in the late-1980s, and it's part of the process. The largest complication may come over how hard the Governor pushes for some of his budget and tax initiatives and seeing he has the bully pulpit and the veto pen and the Legislature doesn't have the votes to override any vetoes. Just another thing to watch as the session continues.
Bill Introductions.
Senate
SF 720 -- Dahms -- Allows Lac Qui Parle School District to start school before Labor Day in 2015-2016 -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF720&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 724 -- Clausen -- Increases local option revenue -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF724&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 740 -- Pratt -- Requires that special education student reporting systems must have a universal filing system and repeals legislation passed in 2014 calling for the development of a single online vendor for these purposes -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF740&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 741 -- Saxhaug -- Increases transportation sparsity revenue -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF741&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 759 -- Jensen -- Creates teacher loan forgiveness program for teaching candidates in areas of teacher shortage -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF759&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 767 -- Jensen -- Clarifies Minnesota teaching requirements for teaching candidates with licenses granted in another state -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=SF767&b=senate&y=2015&ssn=0
SF 788 -- Torres Ray -- Increases general education basic revenue, extended day revenue, English language revenue, and revenue for universal pre-kindergarten programs -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=SF788&b=senate&y=2015&ssn=0
SF 793 -- Newman -- Allows districts to use alternative tax base for debt service levies -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF793&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 811 -- Wiger -- Governor's omnibus education bill -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF811&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 822 -- Stumpf -- Provides alternative compensation revenue for all districts currently not participating in the program -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF822&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
House
HF 768 -- Schomacker -- Exempts Hendricks from tuition reciprocity agreement -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF768&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 774 -- Kiel -- Enhances access to online college courses in high school settings -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF774&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 784 -- Norton -- Increases debt service equalization -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF784&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 785 -- Norton -- Modifies general education revenue provisions -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF785&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 789 -- Bly -- Directs Board of Teaching to develop standards for project-based learning -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF789&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 796 -- Swedzinski -- Allows Lac Qui Parle school district to start 2015-2016 school year before Labor Day -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF796&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 798 -- Knoblach -- Expands education tax credit to include private school tuition -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF798&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 804 -- Christensen -- Requires that special education student reporting systems must have a universal filing system and repeals legislation passed in 2014 calling for the development of a single online vendor for these purposes -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF804&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 835 -- Norton -- Modifies general education revenue provisions -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF835&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 838 -- Christensen -- Increases revenue for equity in telecommunications access -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF838&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 844 -- Loon -- Governor's omnibus education bill -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF844&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 854 -- Christensen -- Increases total operating capital revenue -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF854&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 855 -- Norton -- Modifies general education revenue provisions -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF855&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 856 -- Christensen -- Establishes special technology revenue -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF856&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 857 -- Marquart -- Enhances capital projects referendum per the recommendations of the School Facilities Finance working group recommendations -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF857&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 858 -- Pierson -- Appropriates revenue for collaborative urban educator program -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF858&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 859 -- Kresha -- Provides grant to Minnesota Council on Economic Education -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF859&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 860 -- Marquart -- Expands deferred maintenance program per the recommendations of the School Facilities Finance working group recommendations -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF860&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Tremendous Testimony in the Senate. Every now and then an issue pops up that isn't recognized as one of the major issues facing the state, but the individuals who come to testify are so compelling that it is really something to watch. That's the way it was today when the Senate Education Finance Committee discussed Senator Lyle Koenen's SF 88. SF 88 would allow those school districts that are currently using a 4-day school week to continue to do so. There has been some concern expressed that the Minnesota Department of Education wants to put an end to districts' ability to have a four-day week. While that sounds good on its face, the evidence presented by five school districts currently using the 4-day school week shows that the 4-day school week option is more than just a viable choice for districts that are under considerable financial stress; it is a solid choice that promotes learning, provides greater student opportunity, and effective staff development. What was particularly impressive about today's testimony is that it came from all segments of the school community. Students, teachers, administrators, school board members, and parents all came forward from these districts and explained how the 4-day school week is working well in their community and how they cannot see going back to a 5-day week without considerable disruption, cost, and--most importantly--loss of the increased opportunity and effectiveness that the 4-day week has provided.
To me, this is another "form over content" issue. Whenever anyone mentions "4-day school week," you can almost hear the gasps of "How terrible!" or "How did that happen?" And that's why it's extremely important for policymakers to listen to those who are employing the 4-day school week and understand how they got there and how they are making it work (and more importantly making it work effectively for their needs). Each of these districts has re-arranged its schedule to get the maximum amount of value out of both student contact and professional development times. There have been impediments--and I don't imagine the initial decision was a comfortable one--but each of these districts has worked with its community (or communities) to make the newly-adopted system work admirably and, in a number of instances, provide more student opportunity without sacrificing academic performance. Sounds like a true win-win to me and I hope the Legislature and MDE see it the same way.
Contingents from five different school districts testified: MACCRAY, Blackduck, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, Lake Superior, and Ogilvie. Each of these districts came to the decision to implement a 4-day school week from slightly different paths, but each one of them now swears by the framework and want to retain it.
The Senate also heard a raft of bills dealing with allowing school districts to start their 2015-2016 school year before Labor Day and allowing districts to establish a flexible learning year without MDE approval (SF 162).
House Hearing. The House Education Finance Committee spent its time discussing two bills related to pre-kindergarten program--Representative Halverson's SF 226 that would increase funding for learning readiness and Representative Loon's HF 318 that would fund the parent-child home program--and Representative Wills' HF 568 and Representative Bernardy's HF 674 that would increase funding for the Minnesota Reading Corps.
Interesting Story from MPR. There hasn't been a lot of discussion of the Common Core standards thus far during the legislative session (which is a bit of a surprise to me), but I heard this interesting story on Minnesota Public Radio's Marketplace Morning Report this morning (I guess that's why they call it a morning report). The story focused on the costs of developing tests to measure the performance on the Common Core standards.
Here's the link: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/education/learningcurve/adding-costs-new-common-core-tests
Here's a different story on the same topic from Monday's Marketplace Morning: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/education/learningcurve/common-core-testing-you-get-what-you-pay
To me, this is another "form over content" issue. Whenever anyone mentions "4-day school week," you can almost hear the gasps of "How terrible!" or "How did that happen?" And that's why it's extremely important for policymakers to listen to those who are employing the 4-day school week and understand how they got there and how they are making it work (and more importantly making it work effectively for their needs). Each of these districts has re-arranged its schedule to get the maximum amount of value out of both student contact and professional development times. There have been impediments--and I don't imagine the initial decision was a comfortable one--but each of these districts has worked with its community (or communities) to make the newly-adopted system work admirably and, in a number of instances, provide more student opportunity without sacrificing academic performance. Sounds like a true win-win to me and I hope the Legislature and MDE see it the same way.
Contingents from five different school districts testified: MACCRAY, Blackduck, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, Lake Superior, and Ogilvie. Each of these districts came to the decision to implement a 4-day school week from slightly different paths, but each one of them now swears by the framework and want to retain it.
The Senate also heard a raft of bills dealing with allowing school districts to start their 2015-2016 school year before Labor Day and allowing districts to establish a flexible learning year without MDE approval (SF 162).
House Hearing. The House Education Finance Committee spent its time discussing two bills related to pre-kindergarten program--Representative Halverson's SF 226 that would increase funding for learning readiness and Representative Loon's HF 318 that would fund the parent-child home program--and Representative Wills' HF 568 and Representative Bernardy's HF 674 that would increase funding for the Minnesota Reading Corps.
Interesting Story from MPR. There hasn't been a lot of discussion of the Common Core standards thus far during the legislative session (which is a bit of a surprise to me), but I heard this interesting story on Minnesota Public Radio's Marketplace Morning Report this morning (I guess that's why they call it a morning report). The story focused on the costs of developing tests to measure the performance on the Common Core standards.
Here's the link: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/education/learningcurve/adding-costs-new-common-core-tests
Here's a different story on the same topic from Monday's Marketplace Morning: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/education/learningcurve/common-core-testing-you-get-what-you-pay
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Testy Tuesday. Well, it wasn't actually testy, but things got a little fired up in both of the House education-related hearings today. HF 2--Representative Loon's comprehensive teacher licensure reform bill--was the sole bill on the House Education Innovation Policy Committee agenda and it elicited a lot of discussion. The bill provides for a number of teacher reforms, most notably the streamlining of requirements of teachers licensed in other states to teach in Minnesota. the allowance for community experts greater freedom to teach, and changes in the methods used to determine the unrequested leave-of-absence process in school districts. Most of the testimony came from those concerned with proposed changes with the strongest statements coming from the Minnesota Board of Teaching and Education Minnesota. I thought that the greatest concern would be in the proposed elimination of "last in/first out" process to determine layoffs, but the most salient concern seemed to be focused on the community expert provision, which both the Board of Teaching and Education Minnesota contend cheapens the teaching profession and would put unqualified individuals in front of classrooms. The Board of Teaching also expressed deep concerns over the bill's intent to make it easier for teachers licensed in other states to teach in Minnesota. The Minnesota Association of Colleges of Teacher Education joined with the the Board of Teaching in contending that Minnesota's standards for teachers are higher than they are in other states and intentionally so. Moving away from these high standards by allowing out-of-state teachers a streamlined path to gain a Minnesota license would be a mistake in the eyes of these groups. The testimony coming from individual teachers who believe they would be adversely affected by the proposed changes was quite powerful and it will be interesting to see if the bill will be amended at some juncture to accommodate their concerns. There was also powerful testimony supporting the bill, especially coming from charter schools. Time expired before amendments could be offered and the Committee will take up this bill again at a hearing on Thursday night, beginning at 6 PM.
The House Education Finance Committee delved into the implementation of the Health Insurance Transparency Act (HITA) that was passed last session and directed bidding for employees health insurance beginning with this bargaining cycle. Part of that law required all school districts to request a bid from the Public Employees Insurance Plan (PEIP). There is some question as to whether or not this was accomplished and, if it wasn't, why not. Education Minnesota has long sought a more comprehensive teacher health insurance plan for teachers throughout the state, but abandoned efforts to establish a single statewide plan and opted for the procedural changes in HITA instead. There is some question as to what, if any, benefit other than requiring districts to seek additional bids for health insurance (if that can indeed be classified as a benefit). Needless to say, the jury is still out on the changes brought about by HITA, but there was ample skepticism expressed today about the wisdom of those changes.
To me, the common theme in both these hearings is whether or not the state trusts school districts to make the right decisions, both in terms of hiring qualified teachers and purchasing health insurance. I get that it's not always going to be sweetness and light between school districts and school district employees, but that's because one side is labor and the other side is management. Disagreement on some matters is part of the territory. The question is how much, if any, should the state interfere in the processes discussed today.
Things were more sedate in the Senate, where the expanded provision of school breakfast was the main item on the agenda. The committee also discussed a grant for the Headwaters science center and the Northwestern online college in the high school program.
The House Education Finance Committee delved into the implementation of the Health Insurance Transparency Act (HITA) that was passed last session and directed bidding for employees health insurance beginning with this bargaining cycle. Part of that law required all school districts to request a bid from the Public Employees Insurance Plan (PEIP). There is some question as to whether or not this was accomplished and, if it wasn't, why not. Education Minnesota has long sought a more comprehensive teacher health insurance plan for teachers throughout the state, but abandoned efforts to establish a single statewide plan and opted for the procedural changes in HITA instead. There is some question as to what, if any, benefit other than requiring districts to seek additional bids for health insurance (if that can indeed be classified as a benefit). Needless to say, the jury is still out on the changes brought about by HITA, but there was ample skepticism expressed today about the wisdom of those changes.
To me, the common theme in both these hearings is whether or not the state trusts school districts to make the right decisions, both in terms of hiring qualified teachers and purchasing health insurance. I get that it's not always going to be sweetness and light between school districts and school district employees, but that's because one side is labor and the other side is management. Disagreement on some matters is part of the territory. The question is how much, if any, should the state interfere in the processes discussed today.
Things were more sedate in the Senate, where the expanded provision of school breakfast was the main item on the agenda. The committee also discussed a grant for the Headwaters science center and the Northwestern online college in the high school program.
Monday, February 09, 2015
Monday Report. Monday is characteristically a slow day early in the legislative session as legislators make their way back into the Capitol from their districts. Each house has a floor session, but those sessions tend to be short and used almost solely for introducing bills at this juncture. There were fireworks in the State Office Building today as the raises Governor Dayton gave to his cabinet and several other officials were debated energetically. There will undoubtedly be push-back on that decision, but it is difficult to know what can be done to totally reverse the action. But that doesn't mean it won't find its way into the discussion in some form or another for just about every day remaining in the 2015 legislative session.
You Have to See This. The New York Times Education Life section that accompanies the Sunday The New York Times periodically was included in this week's edition. With all the talk about universal pre-kindergarten and other programs that promote kindergarten readiness, I thought this story was one of the more interesting ones I have come across recently. I guess being ready for first grade isn't enough. 6-year-olds have to be ready for college as well.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/education/edlife/is-your-first-grader-college-ready.html?ref=education
Bill Introductions.
You Have to See This. The New York Times Education Life section that accompanies the Sunday The New York Times periodically was included in this week's edition. With all the talk about universal pre-kindergarten and other programs that promote kindergarten readiness, I thought this story was one of the more interesting ones I have come across recently. I guess being ready for first grade isn't enough. 6-year-olds have to be ready for college as well.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/education/edlife/is-your-first-grader-college-ready.html?ref=education
Bill Introductions.
Senate
SF 630 -- Clausen -- Qualifies certain homeless children for early educational services -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF0630&session=ls89&version=latest&session_number=0&session_year=2015
SF 652 -- Johnson -- Creates vision therapy pilot -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF652&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 658 -- Jensen -- Clarifies referendum revenue authorization for Owatonna school district -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF658&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 664 -- Torres Ray -- Requires report on efficacy on teacher preparation programs -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF664&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 665 -- Torres Ray -- Reaffirms the importance of teacher mentoring programs -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF665&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 676 -- Dahle -- Makes charter schools and the Crosswinds Integration Magnet eligible for small schools revenue -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF676&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
House
HF 667 -- S. Anderson -- Modifies K-12 education expense tax credit -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF667&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 670 -- Davnie -- Increases Local Option Revenue -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF670&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 671 -- Newton -- Increases state aid for school breakfast program -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF671&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 672 -- S. Anderson -- Allows computer science course credit to fulfill a mathematics requirement -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF672&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 674 -- Bernardy -- Increases funding for Minnesota reading corps program -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF674&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 681 -- Erickson -- Clarifies teacher skills examination test -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF681&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 689 -- Hamilton -- Permits Red Rock Central school district to open school before Labor Day for the 2015-2016 school year -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF689&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 694 -- Bly -- Ensures nontraditional instruction program choices -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF694&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 702 -- Norton -- Clarifies foreign language proficiency skills for gold and platinum bilingual and multilingual state seals -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF702&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 703 -- Howe -- Requires a study on a concurrent enrollment course -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF703&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 704 -- Howe -- Modifies certain enrollment options provisions -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF704&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 712 -- Davnie -- Increases general education basic formula amount by 4% for 2015-2016 and provides for annual inflationary increases thereafter -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF712&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 718 -- Loon -- Clarifies definition of general education revenue -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF718&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 719 -- Loon -- Clarifies definition of general education revenue -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF719&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 720 -- Loon -- Repeals the student achievement levy -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF720&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 721 -- Loon -- Modifies requirements for placing teachers on unrequested leave of absence -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF721&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 724 -- Bernardy -- Provides full funding for college concurrent enrollment program -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF724&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 727 -- Wills -- Provides postsecondary enrollment options program information to students and parents -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF727&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 732 -- Quam -- Changes the definition of a Type III vehicle -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF732&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 733 -- Petersburg -- Clarifies referendum revenue authorization for Owatonna school district -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF733&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 739 -- Davnie -- Increases general education, extended day, special education, EL, and phase-in of universal pre-school program -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF739&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
Sunday, February 08, 2015
Review and Preview. It was a hectic week and things are only going to get more hectic. The week was highlighted by the Senate DFL caucus' announcement of its funding proposals and it is certainly a comprehensive package that would meet a lot of school district needs. Foremost among the proposals is Senator Kevin Dahle's SF 76, which would expand eligibility to the alternative facilities program from 25 districts to all of the districts in the state. It has a considerable price tag in terms of local levy and state equalization aid to mitigate the effects of those local levies, but there's no question that there are unmet facilities needs for most school districts in the state and the current array of facility programs don't go nearly far enough in providing school districts with the tools they need to stay ahead of their facility needs. Not to sound snide, but if anyone should understand the need for comprehensive deferred maintenance funding, it should be legislators, who are now surrounded by a Capitol that is undergoing massive (and I mean massive) repairs. There's a long ways from here to there, but here's hoping that facility funding stays front-and-center in this year's legislative proceedings.
Another bill introduced in the House on Thursday by Representative Steve Drazkowski and soon to be introduced in the Senate by Senator Lyle Coenen is the bill that would put all future debt service levies on the referendum market value tax base from which agricultural property is removed. The impetus behind this bill is the consistent and continuing rise in the value of agricultural property and how that is affecting rural communities that are trying to pass debt service levies. This bill could fit nicely with the aforementioned SF 76, but a lot will depend on how much state money will be available for the property tax equalization needed to make the approaches fully mesh. Here is hoping for an uptick in the state's revenue position when the February forecast is released at the end of the month.
The upcoming week will also be busy. The House Education Innovation Policy Committee will be hearing HF 2, Representative Jenifer Loon's comprehensive teacher licensure bill, on Tuesday morning. The House Education Finance Committee will be taking testimony on the implementation of the Health Insurance Transparency Act in the afternoon on the same day. The Senate Education Finance Committee will be hearing Senator Alice Johnson's School Breakfast bill on Tuesday. Wednesday features a slew of bills on waiving the Labor Day start for the 2015-2016 school year being heard in the Senate, with the House Education Finance Committee tackling two early childhood education bills. Thursday will see the discussion of teacher issues, math standards, and expanding eligibility to enroll in concurrent enrollment in the House and Minnesota Department of Education reports from the Teacher Development and Evaluation and the Testing Reduction Advisory Group.
Always check on the legislative website for upcoming hearings. Here is the link: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/schedules.aspx
Congrats to Beth Giese! Cannon Falls Superintendent Beth Giese has been named this year's winner of the Kay Jacobs award, an annual award given by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. Here's a story from the Cannon Falls Beacon on the award that provides more background on Beth and the award. Beth truly deserves the award, as she's worked very hard on a tight budget to help lead that district.
Link: http://www.cannonfalls.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=25435&TM=69104.45
Great Job Once Again by the Southeast Service Cooperative. The Southeast Service Cooperative had its annual Legislative Forum on Saturday in Rochester. As usual, the forum was an astounding success. If you ever want to know how to set up a successful legislative forum, check with the folks at the Southeast Service Cooperative on how to set it up and then get Dover-Eyota Superintendent Bruce Klaehn to be the emcee. Over a dozen legislators attended and the presentations by the local superintendents on a variety of issues facing the school districts in Southeastern Minnesota were superb.
Here is a link to the Powerpoint presentations from the superintendents. Video of the forum may be available in the near future.
Link: http://www.ssc.coop/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=1&ModuleInstanceID=29&ViewID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424-D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=1045&PageID=1
Another bill introduced in the House on Thursday by Representative Steve Drazkowski and soon to be introduced in the Senate by Senator Lyle Coenen is the bill that would put all future debt service levies on the referendum market value tax base from which agricultural property is removed. The impetus behind this bill is the consistent and continuing rise in the value of agricultural property and how that is affecting rural communities that are trying to pass debt service levies. This bill could fit nicely with the aforementioned SF 76, but a lot will depend on how much state money will be available for the property tax equalization needed to make the approaches fully mesh. Here is hoping for an uptick in the state's revenue position when the February forecast is released at the end of the month.
The upcoming week will also be busy. The House Education Innovation Policy Committee will be hearing HF 2, Representative Jenifer Loon's comprehensive teacher licensure bill, on Tuesday morning. The House Education Finance Committee will be taking testimony on the implementation of the Health Insurance Transparency Act in the afternoon on the same day. The Senate Education Finance Committee will be hearing Senator Alice Johnson's School Breakfast bill on Tuesday. Wednesday features a slew of bills on waiving the Labor Day start for the 2015-2016 school year being heard in the Senate, with the House Education Finance Committee tackling two early childhood education bills. Thursday will see the discussion of teacher issues, math standards, and expanding eligibility to enroll in concurrent enrollment in the House and Minnesota Department of Education reports from the Teacher Development and Evaluation and the Testing Reduction Advisory Group.
Always check on the legislative website for upcoming hearings. Here is the link: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/schedules.aspx
Congrats to Beth Giese! Cannon Falls Superintendent Beth Giese has been named this year's winner of the Kay Jacobs award, an annual award given by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. Here's a story from the Cannon Falls Beacon on the award that provides more background on Beth and the award. Beth truly deserves the award, as she's worked very hard on a tight budget to help lead that district.
Link: http://www.cannonfalls.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=25435&TM=69104.45
Great Job Once Again by the Southeast Service Cooperative. The Southeast Service Cooperative had its annual Legislative Forum on Saturday in Rochester. As usual, the forum was an astounding success. If you ever want to know how to set up a successful legislative forum, check with the folks at the Southeast Service Cooperative on how to set it up and then get Dover-Eyota Superintendent Bruce Klaehn to be the emcee. Over a dozen legislators attended and the presentations by the local superintendents on a variety of issues facing the school districts in Southeastern Minnesota were superb.
Here is a link to the Powerpoint presentations from the superintendents. Video of the forum may be available in the near future.
Link: http://www.ssc.coop/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=1&ModuleInstanceID=29&ViewID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424-D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=1045&PageID=1
Thursday, February 05, 2015
Hearings and Press Conferences. It was a very busy day in the legislatoeducation (my made-up word) world in St. Paul today with three education-related hearings and two education-related press conferences. The day started with a hearing in the House Education Innovation Committee that featured testimony from a number of career and technical programs throughout the state. It was an interesting hearing that showed how school districts are trying to reach a segment of the student population that is interested in pursuing technical training.
While the House committee was having that discussion, the Senate Education Finance/Policy Committee was debating Senator LeRoy Stumpf's SF 298. SF 298 allows the Minnesota Board of Teaching to grant full licenses to teaching candidates who have not achieved the requisite score on the ACTPlus Writing or SAT test under certain circumstances. The hearing featured some very compelling testimony from several teachers and administrators who are hamstrung by the current teacher licensure requirements that they believe treat qualified teaching candidates unfairly. The theme put forward by Senator Stumpf's witnesses was that of allowing school districts to make decisions on individuals they believe are qualified to teach students in their districts. There is this unspoken belief put forward by some that school districts don't have the ability to figure out who is and who is not a good teaching candidate. Several witnesses took that mindset on directly, also pointing out that the teacher development and evaluation program that takes effect this year will give school districts another tool in raising the performance of teachers. Stay tuned on this one.
The House Education Finance Committee heard a presentation by two participants from the Teacher Development and Evaluation-Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System Alignment Work Group convened last summer by the Minnesota Department of Education along with Rose Hermodson, the MDE staff person who has worked with a broad range of advisory groups, task forces, and working groups over the past few years. The primary recommendations of the working group call for: (1) a merging of the alternative compensation and teacher development and evaluation programs, and (2) all districts should receive the same level of state funding to accomplish the purposes set out by the combining of those programs. Obviously, there is a funding challenge given that any funding for this purpose was not contained in the Governor's initial budget and no bills have been introduced to this point that would provide funding to supply resources to non-alternative compensation districts. I have greatly condensed the recommendations, but the full report can be viewed at his link: http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/Welcome/AdvBCT/TeachDev/index.htm It is the second link from the top.
Now to the press conferences. Room 181 was busy. Proponents of Early Learning Scholarships held a press conference at 11:30 announcing their intention to seek increased funding of Early Learning Scholarships in the coming session. It is certainly a broad-based bipartisan coalition that is coming forward. Bills containing this budget request were introduced in both houses today--SF 606 (Cohen) and HF 603 (Kresha)--and it's my guess those bills will be heard relatively soon. House Education Finance Committee chair Jenifer Loon stated her support of Early Learning Scholarships over universal pre-kindergarten funding in comments she made to Minnesota Public Radio. While one approach does not preclude the other, given the fiscal constraints that the Legislature will likely face as it attempts to put together its omnibus education funding packages, it may be difficult to invest heavily in both programs. Again, stay tuned.
Here is the link to a MinnPost article that does a pretty good job summing up the differences in the two approaches and the challenge facing the legislature: http://www.minnpost.com/learning-curve/2015/02/early-ed-hot-capitol-rift-focus-all-kids-or-risk-kids
And here is the aforementioned MPR story: http://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2015/02/early-learning-plans-compete-for-money/
The Early Learning Scholarship press conference was followed shortly thereafter by a press conference on the treatment of agricultural property in school debt service referendum. Representative Steve Drazkowski and Senator Lyle Coenen are introducing a bill that would base all future debt service questions on referendum market value (from which all agricultural land is excluded) instead of adjusted net tax capacity (which includes agricultural property). Agricultural land values have been skyrocketing over the past decade and with the erosion of the debt service equalization program, the property tax burden on agricultural property has likewise skyrocketed. Agricultural land is a very special case, as unlike other revenue-generating property, farmers are forced to take the price the market offers as opposed to being able to hike the price of what they sell in order to accommodate higher property taxes. Taking agricultural land off the tax base for debt service questions would obviously move the burden onto homes and businesses, but there may be ways to mitigate the effects of that shift, albeit probably not totally. SEE has worked tirelessly since its inception to tackle issues in the property tax world that create disparities in opportunity or cause taxpayers to assume too great a burden in attempting to pass operating or debt service levies. This issue may be a bit more complex than straightforward equalization policy, but it's a discussion that needs to take place.
Here is a story from KTTC television on the press conference: http://www.kttc.com/story/28035370/2015/02/05/new-legislation-would-ease-property-tax-burden-on-on-rural-landowners
Bill Introductions.
While the House committee was having that discussion, the Senate Education Finance/Policy Committee was debating Senator LeRoy Stumpf's SF 298. SF 298 allows the Minnesota Board of Teaching to grant full licenses to teaching candidates who have not achieved the requisite score on the ACTPlus Writing or SAT test under certain circumstances. The hearing featured some very compelling testimony from several teachers and administrators who are hamstrung by the current teacher licensure requirements that they believe treat qualified teaching candidates unfairly. The theme put forward by Senator Stumpf's witnesses was that of allowing school districts to make decisions on individuals they believe are qualified to teach students in their districts. There is this unspoken belief put forward by some that school districts don't have the ability to figure out who is and who is not a good teaching candidate. Several witnesses took that mindset on directly, also pointing out that the teacher development and evaluation program that takes effect this year will give school districts another tool in raising the performance of teachers. Stay tuned on this one.
The House Education Finance Committee heard a presentation by two participants from the Teacher Development and Evaluation-Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System Alignment Work Group convened last summer by the Minnesota Department of Education along with Rose Hermodson, the MDE staff person who has worked with a broad range of advisory groups, task forces, and working groups over the past few years. The primary recommendations of the working group call for: (1) a merging of the alternative compensation and teacher development and evaluation programs, and (2) all districts should receive the same level of state funding to accomplish the purposes set out by the combining of those programs. Obviously, there is a funding challenge given that any funding for this purpose was not contained in the Governor's initial budget and no bills have been introduced to this point that would provide funding to supply resources to non-alternative compensation districts. I have greatly condensed the recommendations, but the full report can be viewed at his link: http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/Welcome/AdvBCT/TeachDev/index.htm It is the second link from the top.
Now to the press conferences. Room 181 was busy. Proponents of Early Learning Scholarships held a press conference at 11:30 announcing their intention to seek increased funding of Early Learning Scholarships in the coming session. It is certainly a broad-based bipartisan coalition that is coming forward. Bills containing this budget request were introduced in both houses today--SF 606 (Cohen) and HF 603 (Kresha)--and it's my guess those bills will be heard relatively soon. House Education Finance Committee chair Jenifer Loon stated her support of Early Learning Scholarships over universal pre-kindergarten funding in comments she made to Minnesota Public Radio. While one approach does not preclude the other, given the fiscal constraints that the Legislature will likely face as it attempts to put together its omnibus education funding packages, it may be difficult to invest heavily in both programs. Again, stay tuned.
Here is the link to a MinnPost article that does a pretty good job summing up the differences in the two approaches and the challenge facing the legislature: http://www.minnpost.com/learning-curve/2015/02/early-ed-hot-capitol-rift-focus-all-kids-or-risk-kids
And here is the aforementioned MPR story: http://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2015/02/early-learning-plans-compete-for-money/
The Early Learning Scholarship press conference was followed shortly thereafter by a press conference on the treatment of agricultural property in school debt service referendum. Representative Steve Drazkowski and Senator Lyle Coenen are introducing a bill that would base all future debt service questions on referendum market value (from which all agricultural land is excluded) instead of adjusted net tax capacity (which includes agricultural property). Agricultural land values have been skyrocketing over the past decade and with the erosion of the debt service equalization program, the property tax burden on agricultural property has likewise skyrocketed. Agricultural land is a very special case, as unlike other revenue-generating property, farmers are forced to take the price the market offers as opposed to being able to hike the price of what they sell in order to accommodate higher property taxes. Taking agricultural land off the tax base for debt service questions would obviously move the burden onto homes and businesses, but there may be ways to mitigate the effects of that shift, albeit probably not totally. SEE has worked tirelessly since its inception to tackle issues in the property tax world that create disparities in opportunity or cause taxpayers to assume too great a burden in attempting to pass operating or debt service levies. This issue may be a bit more complex than straightforward equalization policy, but it's a discussion that needs to take place.
Here is a story from KTTC television on the press conference: http://www.kttc.com/story/28035370/2015/02/05/new-legislation-would-ease-property-tax-burden-on-on-rural-landowners
Bill Introductions.
Senate
SF 524 -- Clausen -- Modifies principals' academy provisions -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF0524&session=ls89&version=latest&session_number=0&session_year=2015
SF 541 -- Clausen -- Increases general education basic formula by 4% for 2015-2016 with on-going inflationary adjustments in subsequent years -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF541&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 550 -- Weber -- Allows Red Rock Central school district to start school before Labor Day in 2015-2016 -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF550&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 553 -- Torres Ray -- Requires school districts to adopt a policy on recess for elementary school students -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF553&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 557 -- Clausen -- Appropriates money for schools to develop Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) programs -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF557&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 559 -- Clausen -- Amends alternative teacher licensure and teacher license reciprocity policy -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF559&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 560 -- Coenen -- Increases equity revenue for all districts -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF560&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 564 -- Hoffman -- Modifies school lunch aid -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF564&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 593 -- Lourey -- Allows fund transfer for Barnum school district -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF593&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 597 -- Marty -- Service learning provisions including integration of service learning into the curriculum and grant program for evidence-based service learning programs -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF597&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 604 -- Kiffmeyer -- Establishes funding mechanism by which districts with low levels of per pupil funding can move closer to state average per pupil funding (in SEE platform) -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF604&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 606 -- Cohen -- Increases funding for Early Learning Scholarships -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF606&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 607 -- Kent -- Appropriates money for the Minnesota Reading Corps -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF607&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 608 -- Miller -- Authorizes school boards to implement flexible learning year programs without approval from Minnesota Commissioner of Education -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF608&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 553 -- Torres Ray -- Requires school districts to adopt a policy on recess for elementary school students -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF553&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 557 -- Clausen -- Appropriates money for schools to develop Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) programs -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF557&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 559 -- Clausen -- Amends alternative teacher licensure and teacher license reciprocity policy -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF559&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 560 -- Coenen -- Increases equity revenue for all districts -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF560&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 564 -- Hoffman -- Modifies school lunch aid -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF564&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 593 -- Lourey -- Allows fund transfer for Barnum school district -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF593&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 597 -- Marty -- Service learning provisions including integration of service learning into the curriculum and grant program for evidence-based service learning programs -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF597&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 604 -- Kiffmeyer -- Establishes funding mechanism by which districts with low levels of per pupil funding can move closer to state average per pupil funding (in SEE platform) -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF604&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 606 -- Cohen -- Increases funding for Early Learning Scholarships -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF606&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 607 -- Kent -- Appropriates money for the Minnesota Reading Corps -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF607&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 608 -- Miller -- Authorizes school boards to implement flexible learning year programs without approval from Minnesota Commissioner of Education -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF608&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
House
HF 567 -- Wills -- Increases school board flexibility for allocation of compensatory revenue -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF567&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 568 -- Wills -- Appropriates money for the Minnesota Reading Corps -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF568&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 569 -- Nornes -- Appropriates money for the regional library system -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF569&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 583 -- Kresha -- Appropriates money for regional library telecommunications and equity in telecommunications access -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF583&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 584 -- Kiel -- Appropriates money for a mobile manufacturing lab -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF584&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 589 -- Fenton -- Amends provisions relating to teacher licensure reciprocity -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF589&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 597 -- Slocum -- Modifies Minnesota State High School League policy relating to charter school students -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF597&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 598 -- Mariani -- Amends a requirement for generating state English learner aid -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF598&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 603 -- Kresha -- Increases funding for Early Learning Scholarships -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF603&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 605 -- Newton -- Promotes adequate levels of school counseling services -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF605&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 638 -- Whelan -- Postpones statutory review of state mathematics standards -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF638&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 642 -- Erickson -- Requires reports on principal and teacher evaluations -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF642&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 643 -- Fenton -- Modifies principals academy provisions -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF643&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 645 -- Kiel -- Clarifies requirements to issue a Minnesota teaching license to an out-of-state applicant -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF645&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 648 -- Quam -- Modifies career and technical revenue funding provisions -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF648&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 663 -- Baker -- Additional equity revenue for all school districts -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF663&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
Wednesday, February 04, 2015
Senate DFL Releases Education Priorities. It's a comprehensive list, but one cannot help but be impressed with the Senate DFL caucus' ambitious list of education priorities for the 2015 session. Senator Chuck Wiger and five of his colleagues outlined an package that would cost and estimated $500 million of education funding initiatives. SEE's top legislative priority of fair facilities funding is contained in the set of priorities and Senator Kevin Dahle's statement at the press conference was a clear indication of the caucus' support for comprehensive action in this area. The other priorities described at the press conference included:
About the only things missing from the list were anything but a brief mention of the general education basic formula and the need for on-going teacher development and evaluation revenue. It;s safe to say that the Senate package surpasses the Governor's $394 million and how the Senate will choose to alter the Governor's overall budget proposal to generate the revenue to fund its education package. The February budget forecast that is due in three weeks may provide another shot of revenue to the bottom line and that could prove helpful in making all the pieces fit together.
From this tweet, it appears the Governor is open to the Senate's priorities: https://twitter.com/GovMarkDayton/status/563031386177961985?cn=cmVjb3NfZXhwbG9yZQ%3D%3D
The House majority caucus has yet to release a list of their education funding priorities. They have set a course on several policy reforms, particularly as it relates to the use of seniority in the determination of teacher layoffs. I think the biggest problem will be reconciling the overall spending targets between the Senate and the House as it is expected that the House will do more in terms of tax cuts.
Here is an article from the StarTribune on the Senate's education proposal: http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/290803631.html
And here is MPR's take: http://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2015/02/senate-dfl-education-plan-grows-larger/
- Funding for school breakfast.
- A matching grant program to help school districts add school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and school nurses to their staffs.
- Increased revenue for technology and expansion of rural broadband.'
- Expanded opportunities for students to earn dual credit through concurrent enrollment.
About the only things missing from the list were anything but a brief mention of the general education basic formula and the need for on-going teacher development and evaluation revenue. It;s safe to say that the Senate package surpasses the Governor's $394 million and how the Senate will choose to alter the Governor's overall budget proposal to generate the revenue to fund its education package. The February budget forecast that is due in three weeks may provide another shot of revenue to the bottom line and that could prove helpful in making all the pieces fit together.
From this tweet, it appears the Governor is open to the Senate's priorities: https://twitter.com/GovMarkDayton/status/563031386177961985?cn=cmVjb3NfZXhwbG9yZQ%3D%3D
The House majority caucus has yet to release a list of their education funding priorities. They have set a course on several policy reforms, particularly as it relates to the use of seniority in the determination of teacher layoffs. I think the biggest problem will be reconciling the overall spending targets between the Senate and the House as it is expected that the House will do more in terms of tax cuts.
Here is an article from the StarTribune on the Senate's education proposal: http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/290803631.html
And here is MPR's take: http://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2015/02/senate-dfl-education-plan-grows-larger/
Tuesday, February 03, 2015
Super Busy Tuesday. There was a full slate of education hearings today. The Senate Education Finance Committee spent its time on three bills. In addition to Senator Weber's bill dealing with tuition agreement between the Hendricks school district and the state of South Dakota, the committee heard SF 96 (Senator Kiffmeyer's bill to expand the metro equity region) and SF 133 (Senator Dahle's bill that would provide Teacher Development and Evaluation Revenue to education districts and special education cooperatives).
SF 96 elicited quite a bit of conversation. A group of SEE districts that are located just outside the metropolitan area have been striving for the past few years to have their particular circumstances recognized in the equity revenue formula. For all practical purposes--except a very strict definition of geography--these districts are metropolitan districts. A considerable number of the residents in these districts work in the metropolitan area. These school districts compete against metropolitan districts for staff and their contract negotiations are complicated by the fact that their employee groups use metropolitan districts' salary schedules in their demands. The debate around the bill was spirited, with several legislators questioning why the boundaries of the metropolitan area should be altered for this formula. There is no question that these districts need revenue and that the current formula is unfair as it relates to this set of districts.
Elk River Superintendent Mark Bezek, Elk River Business Manager Greg Hein, St. Michael-Albertville Superintendent Jim Behle, and St. Michael-Albertville parent Steve Hinckemeyer all provided outstanding testimony explaining why a bill like this is justified. 27 districts--all but one below the state average in general education revenue per pupil--would receive additional revenue under this approach and 19 of these districts are SEE members. The bottom line is that these districts need--and deserve--more revenue and this little formula change is a relatively unobtrusive way to garner that revenue. The fiscal note for the bill outlines a total state net cost of $481,000 for FY 16 and $457,000 for FY 17.
SF 133 would fill a hole that was experienced by education districts and special education cooperatives due to their being excluded from the one-time teacher development and evaluation revenue passed last session. That decision wasn't an intentional slight on those education providers. It was just another oversight likely due to the speed with which the mega-budget bill of last session was constructed. The cost to this bill--which would take effect immediately to pay for costs associated with the current school year--is about $200,000 over what was originally appropriated for the rest of the state. The estimated cost when the bill was constructed was a little higher than what has actually been expended, making the cost of incorporating the education districts and special education cooperatives lower than originally thought. This is something that should happen and it will be interesting to see if this is sent through the process as an individual bill or if it is folded into the omnibus education funding bill.
The House Education Innovation Policy Committee heard three bills related to the school start date for the 2015-2016 school year. Given Minnesota's prohibition on school districts starting school before Labor Day (except in a few instances), school in Minnesota will start extremely late this coming fall because Labor Day is as late as it can possibly be. All three bills heard today--HF 466 (Kresha), HF 100 (Norton), and HF 197 (Miller)--were held over by the committee with votes expected on Thursday.
The House Education Finance Committee heard testimony from Jennifer Dugan, the Director of Assessment for the Minnesota Department of Education. There will be reforms suggested coming from a task force on assessment practices that the Minnesota Department of Education convened last fall and the committee likely wanted a complete description of what Minnesota is currently doing (and why) in the assessment area as a frame of reference for when those recommendations are heard.
First SEE Day on the Hill. SEE had its first set of visitors at the Capitol today. SEE members from the Southwest metro area visited with their legislators and made the case for reform of facilities funding programs in Minnesota. These visits are very effective and SEE staffer Deb Griffiths does an excellent job organizing these visits. Make sure you check with Deb to see when your region's visit is scheduled and make plans to participate.
SF 96 elicited quite a bit of conversation. A group of SEE districts that are located just outside the metropolitan area have been striving for the past few years to have their particular circumstances recognized in the equity revenue formula. For all practical purposes--except a very strict definition of geography--these districts are metropolitan districts. A considerable number of the residents in these districts work in the metropolitan area. These school districts compete against metropolitan districts for staff and their contract negotiations are complicated by the fact that their employee groups use metropolitan districts' salary schedules in their demands. The debate around the bill was spirited, with several legislators questioning why the boundaries of the metropolitan area should be altered for this formula. There is no question that these districts need revenue and that the current formula is unfair as it relates to this set of districts.
Elk River Superintendent Mark Bezek, Elk River Business Manager Greg Hein, St. Michael-Albertville Superintendent Jim Behle, and St. Michael-Albertville parent Steve Hinckemeyer all provided outstanding testimony explaining why a bill like this is justified. 27 districts--all but one below the state average in general education revenue per pupil--would receive additional revenue under this approach and 19 of these districts are SEE members. The bottom line is that these districts need--and deserve--more revenue and this little formula change is a relatively unobtrusive way to garner that revenue. The fiscal note for the bill outlines a total state net cost of $481,000 for FY 16 and $457,000 for FY 17.
SF 133 would fill a hole that was experienced by education districts and special education cooperatives due to their being excluded from the one-time teacher development and evaluation revenue passed last session. That decision wasn't an intentional slight on those education providers. It was just another oversight likely due to the speed with which the mega-budget bill of last session was constructed. The cost to this bill--which would take effect immediately to pay for costs associated with the current school year--is about $200,000 over what was originally appropriated for the rest of the state. The estimated cost when the bill was constructed was a little higher than what has actually been expended, making the cost of incorporating the education districts and special education cooperatives lower than originally thought. This is something that should happen and it will be interesting to see if this is sent through the process as an individual bill or if it is folded into the omnibus education funding bill.
The House Education Innovation Policy Committee heard three bills related to the school start date for the 2015-2016 school year. Given Minnesota's prohibition on school districts starting school before Labor Day (except in a few instances), school in Minnesota will start extremely late this coming fall because Labor Day is as late as it can possibly be. All three bills heard today--HF 466 (Kresha), HF 100 (Norton), and HF 197 (Miller)--were held over by the committee with votes expected on Thursday.
The House Education Finance Committee heard testimony from Jennifer Dugan, the Director of Assessment for the Minnesota Department of Education. There will be reforms suggested coming from a task force on assessment practices that the Minnesota Department of Education convened last fall and the committee likely wanted a complete description of what Minnesota is currently doing (and why) in the assessment area as a frame of reference for when those recommendations are heard.
First SEE Day on the Hill. SEE had its first set of visitors at the Capitol today. SEE members from the Southwest metro area visited with their legislators and made the case for reform of facilities funding programs in Minnesota. These visits are very effective and SEE staffer Deb Griffiths does an excellent job organizing these visits. Make sure you check with Deb to see when your region's visit is scheduled and make plans to participate.
Monday, February 02, 2015
Happy Groundhog Day. The Legislature swings into its second month starting today, but it won't be like the movie Groundhog Day because February is going to be quite a bit different than January. Most importantly, the Governor's budget is out there and people are reacting to it. Second, the bills are starting to be introduced at a more rapid pace and a lot of the bills are quite substantial. Lastly, the updated budget forecast will be released at the end of the month and it's that forecast that will likely dictate the Legislature's action until the end of the session. If there is an additional amount of revenue available in the forecast, my guess is you'll see budgets get a little bigger (and maybe tax cuts get a little bigger as well) to facilitate a smooth ending to the session. Just think of revenue as the sandpaper that can smooth down the rough political edges that can complicate the end of a legislative session. But that story is yet to be written and we'll just have to hold on tight until things take shape.
Achieve Minnesota. I had the chance to meet with a small group from the newly-founded education reform group Achieve Minnesota. The members of the small group certainly weren't strangers to me: former State Senators Amy Koch and Kathy Saltzman. Former Senator Koch will be serving as Executive Director of the organization, Kathy is also a former SEE staffer and along with Amy, who represented several SEE districts during her tenure in the State Senate, both have a firm grasp of the issues that SEE districts face. While funding is on Achieve Minnesota's radar, the primary focus of the organization will be education reform, especially issues surrounding teacher quality and the achievement gap. So welcome to the party Achieve Minnesota.
Bill Introductions.
Achieve Minnesota. I had the chance to meet with a small group from the newly-founded education reform group Achieve Minnesota. The members of the small group certainly weren't strangers to me: former State Senators Amy Koch and Kathy Saltzman. Former Senator Koch will be serving as Executive Director of the organization, Kathy is also a former SEE staffer and along with Amy, who represented several SEE districts during her tenure in the State Senate, both have a firm grasp of the issues that SEE districts face. While funding is on Achieve Minnesota's radar, the primary focus of the organization will be education reform, especially issues surrounding teacher quality and the achievement gap. So welcome to the party Achieve Minnesota.
Bill Introductions.
Senate
SF 441 (Jensen) -- Increasing funding for community education youth after-school enrichment program -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF0441&session=ls89&version=latest&session_number=0&session_year=2015
SF 442 (Wiklund) -- Authorizes a grant to The Works Museum -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF442&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 447 (Kent) -- Appropriates money for the Minnesota Children's Museum -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF447&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 467 (Stumpf) -- Creates mobile manufacturing lab -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF467&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 471 (Saxhaug) -- Provides funding to expand career and technical education in STEM fields -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF471&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 473 (Pratt) -- Revises teacher licensure and layoff policies -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF473&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 475 (Rosen) -- Expands list of offenses by which Board of Teaching can deny or revoke a teaching license -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF475&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 488 (Dahle) -- Creates new intermediate school district in Carver, Scott, and and Le Seuer counties -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF488&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 489 (Dahle) -- Provides enhanced debt service equalization for districts with certain unique situations -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF489&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
SF 490 (Dahle) -- Increases school debt service equalization -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF490&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
House
HF 500 (Bennett) -- Expands list of offenses by which Board of Teaching can deny or revoke a teaching license -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF0500&session=ls89&version=list&session_number=0&session_year=2015
HF 509 (Bly) -- Creates new intermediate school district in Carver, Scott, and and Le Seuer counties -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF509&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 548 (Lenczewski) -- Authorizes a grant to The Works Museum -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF548&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 552 (Gunther) -- Appropriates money to the commissioner of employment and economic development for career counseling services -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF552&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 554 (Christensen) -- Requires three-fifths vote to pass legislation reducing the school aid payment percentage below 90 percent -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF554&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 555 (Backer) -- Provides funding to expand career and technical education in STEM fields -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF555&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
HF 557 (Bly) -- Makes charter schools and the Crosswinds Integration Magnet School eligible for small schools revenue -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF557&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0
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