One Hearing Today.  The Senate E-12 Finance Committee met today and spent its committee time listening to feedback from a variety of education lobbyists providing perspectives on the Governor's budget.  The basic message is one of appreciation for:

• A target of over $600 million.
• 2% in each year on the general education basic formula.
• Assistance with the projected deficit in the teachers' retirement fund with funding coming from outside the basic formula.
• $40 million for an increase in the special education formula.
• Increase in debt service equalization that will be carried in the tax bill.

There were also floor sessions today, so here (along with Thursday's introductions) are the E-12 related bills that were introduced.

INTRODUCTIONS

House (Thursday, February 9)

HF 899-Fischer-Allowing for Digital Student Achievement Backpack

HF 905-Kresha-Modifying Student Discipline Policies

HF 928-Slocum-Providing On-going Funding for Recovery Schools

HF 946-Loon-Clarifying Operating Capital Levy

HF 947-Loon-Clarifying Calculation of General Education Aid

HF 978-Theis-Providing On-going Funding for the Support Our Students Grant Program

HF 998-Gruenhagen-Requiring Cost/Benefit Analysis of Minnesota's Special Education Program

HF 1024-Urdahl-Modifying Calculation of Small Schools Revenue

HF 1027-Christensen-Grants for Minnesota Alliance with Youth

HF 1048-Erickson-Education Innovation Zones

HF 1052-Theis-Increased Funding for Approved Recovery Schools

HF 1060-Haley-Grants for After School Community Programs

House (Monday, February 13)

HF 1072-Erickson-Modifying Gifted and Talented Program Provisions

HF 1079-Erickson-Establishes Professional Educators Licensing and Standards Board

HF 1083-Anselmo-Modifying Open Enrollment Priorities

HF 1089-Grossell-Northwest Angle Inlet School Expansion

HF 1093-Fischer-Requiring a Nationally Normed College Entrance Examination for Graduation

HF 1107-Erickson-Clarifying District Procedures for Applying for Grants

HF 1157-Bernardy-Requiring Adequate Levels of Student Counseling Services

HF 1164-Murphy-Grants for Minnesota Center of the Book Programming

HF 1171-Peterson-Grant for Girl Scouts River Valleys for the ConnectZ Program

Senate (Thursday, February 9)

SF 736-Pratt-Modifying Character Development Education Responsibilities

SF 768-Clausen-Increasing Funding for School-Linked Mental Health Clinics

SF 773-Kiffmeyer-Adding Civics Testing to Required Curriculum

SF 808-Hayden-Increases Funding for Drivers Education Programs for Low-income Students

Senate (Monday, February 13)

SF 854-Clausen-Linking Extended Time Revenue to the Basic Formula

SF 855-Torres Ray-Providing Additional Funding for Students with Limited or Interrupted Education

SF 856-Clausen-Reinstating Funding for the College-Level Examination Program

SF 857-Torres Ray-Linking Extended Time Revenue to the Basic Formula

SF 859-Senjem-Grant for Girl Scout River Valleys for ConnectZ Program

SF 862-Newton-Requiring Adequate Levels of Student Counseling Services

SF 877-Relph-Increasing Funding for Approved Recovery Programs

SF 936-Weber-Providing Full Funding for School District Telecommunications Funding

SF 944-Nelson-Clarifying the Operating Capital Levy

SF 945-Nelson-Clarifying the Calculation of General Education Aid

Before I Leave.  Here's an article from a recent web update from The Washington Monthly about home-visitation early childhood education programs.  Minnesota has had similar success to that highlighted in the article over the past decade.  The Washington Monthly is decidedly left-of-center, so take some of political rhetoric with a grain of salt.

Closing the Preschool Gap at Home