Teacher Evaluation Articles.  There's already been a  lot of discussion of Minnesota's teacher evaluation system, especially as it relates to the unrequested leave of absence (last in/first out) issue, this session.  The news media has picked up on the discussion and two articles showed up recently that I've posted below.

StarTribune article from Sunday, February 22:  http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/293296211.html

MinnPost article from Friday, February 20:  http://www.minnpost.com/learning-curve/2015/02/why-legislature-trying-fix-teacher-licensing-problem-it-fixed-four-years-ago

Bill Introductions:

Senate

SF 1001--Hoffman--Modifies student discipline procedures--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1001&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 1002--Hoffman--Modifies certain students' IEPs--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1002&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 1018--Dahle--Establishes after-school community learning grant program--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1018&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 1031--Weber--Modifies certain instructor provisions--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1031&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 1042--Bonoff--Increases funding for Area Learning Centers--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1031&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 1044--Wiklund--Amends English language eligibility standards--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1044&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 1048--Nienow--Requires release of teacher and principal evaluation results--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1048&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 1067--Wiger--Requires policy on grade promotion and retention to be part of districts' strategic plans--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1067&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 1068--Wiger--Creates task force of preventing child sexual abuse--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1068&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 1084--Jensen--Provides loan forgiveness to agricultural education teaching candidates--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1084&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 1089--Nienow--Clarifies teacher examination skill requirements--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1089&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 1090--Nienow--Requires school districts to unseal expunged criminal records for prospective teachers--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1090&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

SF 1093--Nienow--Establishes new revenue stream for low-funded school districts--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1093&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

House

HF 1110--Fischer--Authorizes grants for water conservation programming--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF1110&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 1129--Lohmer--Makes public complaint or charge data on teacher who has resigned--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF1129&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 1134--Newton--Grants teacher license to public post-secondary faculty for teaching concurrent enrollment courses--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF1134&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 1146--Uglem--Makes compensatory pilot program permanent--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF1146&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 1147--Norton--Amends enhanced debt service equalization program--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF1147&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 1153--Mullery--Includes brain development as required service for family home visiting program--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF1153&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 1163--Zerwas--Changes school bus driver endorsement requirements--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF1163&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 1169--Schomaker--Permits Tracy, Pipestone, and Heron Lake-Okabena school districts to start school prior to Labor Day for the 2015-2016 school year--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF1169&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0

HF 1170--Bennett--Establishes teacher loan forgiveness program for teaching candidates in subject areas where a shortage of candidates exists--https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF1170&version=0&session=ls89&session_year=2015&session_number=0