Budget Eve Report.  The big news this week will be the release of the Governor's 2015-2016 budget tomorrow at 11 AM.  The Governor has dropped a few hints of what will be in his budget (and he did unveil a substantial transportation package today), but, for the most part, it's just a set of hints.  He will propose a $100+ million enhancement of the child care tax credit along with increases in the early childhood scholarship program and unspecified (at least in his comments) school-based early childhood programs.  The Governor has given no indication of what he will do in terms of funding teacher development and evaluation or the school facilities finance and it will be unfortunate if revenue is not directed toward these purposes.  The Minnesota Department of Education conducted task forces over the past couple of years on both of these issue areas and those task forces did marvelous work.  Further, both of these areas are examples of clear funding inequities that exist between districts.  So, for lack of a better term, here's hoping there is at least a nod toward these programs in the Governor's budget.

Bill Introductions.

Senate

SF 284 (Koenen) -- Allows Willmar school district to start school before Labor Day -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF284&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 285 (Koenen) -- Allows BOLD school district to start school before Labor Day --https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF285&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 286 (Koenen) -- Allows Renville County West school district to start school before Labor Day -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF286&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 287 (Koenen) -- Allows New London-Spicer school district to start school before Labor Day -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF287&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 288 (Koenen) -- Allows Benson school district to start school before Labor Day -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF288&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 290 (Koenen) -- Allows Buffalo Lake-Hector-Strewart to start school before Labor Day -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF290&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 298 (Stumpf) -- Provides extension of temporary teacher license in instances where teacher examination requirements have not been met -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF298&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 299 (Stumpf) -- Enhances online learning opportunities -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF299&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 302 (Pratt) -- Requires 3/5 vote of both houses of the Legislature to shift state aid payment percentage below 90% -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF302&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 322 (Saxhaug -- Provides a grant for Headwaters Science Center -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF322&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 333 (Lourey) -- Provides flexibility for the expenditure of ECFE and school readiness revenue -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF333&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 334 (Johnson) -- Requires students receive comprehensive vision examination before kindergarten enrollment -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF334&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 337 (Pappas) -- Makes a technical change to conform the definition of directory information with federal law -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF337&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 341 (Rosen) -- Expands allowable use of health and safety revenue to include improvements made for student and staff security purposes -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF341&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 343 (Kent) -- Provides for physical education standards and benchmarks -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF343&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 344 (Johnson) -- Increases state aid for the school breakfast program -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF344&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

House

HF 332 (Runbeck) -- Modifies childhood literacy provisions -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF0332&session=ls89&version=list&session_number=0&session_year=2015

HF 334 (Bly) -- Provides teacher development and evaluation revenue to cooperatives and education districts -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF334&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 350 (Uglem) -- Increases general education basic formula by $300 per pupil unit -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF350&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 359 (Runbeck) -- Modifies reading tax credit -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF359&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 360 (E. Murphy) -- Allows tax credit for K-12 teachers who complete a master's degree in a content area related directly to their licensure field -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF360&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 363 (Miller) -- Permits Renville County West school district to start school before Labor Day -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF363&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 364 (Miller) -- Permits BOLD school district to start school before Labor Day -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF364&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 365 (Miller) -- Permits Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart school district to start school before Labor Day -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF365&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 366 (Miller) -- Permits Benson school district to start school before Labor Day -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF366&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 367 (Miller) -- Permits Montevideo school district to start school before Labor Day -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF367&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 369 (Gunther) -- Expands allowable use of health and safety revenue to include improvements made for student and staff security purposes -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF369&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 384 (Urdahl) -- Makes year-long student teaching programs part of teacher preparation -- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF384&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0