MREA has appointed Paul Schmitz, principal of Willmar Senior High School, to the Student Discipline Working Group at the Minnesota Department of Education. The 2015 Supplemental Budget bill called for this working group to review the Fair Pupil Dismissal Act, which statutorily defines student suspensions and expulsions. MREA is among the 21 organizations listed to appoint representatives. The working group is to … Read More
Farmers, Schools Await Special Session Passage of Ag2School
Farmers in 266 Minnesota school districts are waiting for a special session to pass the tax bill (HF 848) pocket vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton to receive an Ag2School 40 percent tax credit for school facility bonded debt on Ag Land starting in 2017. In 88 of those districts, the savings are projected to be $350 or more per $1 … Read More
Cuts Loom in Title I, ESSA Underfunded
Six months after the bi-partisan passage of ESSA, the proposed funding levels in the U.S. Senate Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) appropriations bill threaten effective enactment of ESSA at the local school district level. Despite a $50 million increase in Title I funding, ESSA increased the allowable state level set aside for state support and interventions for under performing … Read More
Lack of Governor’s Signature Vetoes Tax Bill
The lack of Governor Mark Dayton’s signature yesterday on the omnibus tax bill means it has been vetoed. Included in the vetoed bill was Ag2School, a new school bond property tax credit for agricultural land. This also means nearly $260 million in tax cuts for next fiscal year and $500 million in ongoing, biennial tax cuts will not move forward without it passing … Read More
MDE Releases Application for New Voluntary Pre-K Program
The application process for the new Voluntary Pre-K program has begun with a deadline of July 1. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) just released the application and details on the program that focuses on helping rural schools. MDE will notify successful applicants by Aug. 1. View the program application and Q&A. MREA and MDE also have updated the Program Impact Estimator Tool to … Read More
Governor Signs Supplemental Budget Bill
Gov. Mark Dayton on Wednesday afternoon signed the Supplemental Budget bill that contains a variety of appropriations spanning many areas of state government including E-12 education. This bill establishes a new pre-K pilot program and provides additional funding for rural school districts. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will provide applications for the PreK funding soon. View the potential on your school districts with … Read More
Two Major Bills Await Governor’s Action
Gov. Mark Dayton prepares for a 1 pm news conference on Wednesday after signing 20 bills, vetoing two and leaving two with no action, including a tax bill containing significant opportunities for Greater Minnesota schools. When the legislature adjourned session on May 22, the Governor received extra time to review legislation that’s passed in the final three days of that session. … Read More
Loan Forgiveness Available for Teachers
Minnesota invested funding in new state program to provide student loan repayment assistance to teachers working in a shortage area. The application deadline for this year is June 30. The Minnesota Teacher Shortage Student Loan Repayment Program, established through legislation in 2015, aims to attract teachers to teach in Minnesota in designated shortage areas. Shortage areas include teacher licensure fields … Read More
MREA Provides Feedback on Tested Experience
MREA identifies six key changes to draft of the Tested Experience Framework released for feedback in late May by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU). Upon thorough review, MREA recommends the MnSCU Leadership Council table the draft and engage the K-12 community to develop a more comprehensive framework. Upon sharing the draft in late May, MnSCU hosted webinars the following … Read More
Potential Federal Changes to Title Funding and Special Ed Formula
Two potential federal changes on Title I and Title IV Funding and a special education formula could come to fruition this summer and impact rural school districts in Minnesota. Here’s a look at the issues, what’s happening and action you can take. Title I and Title IV Funding NREAC estimates that Title I funding needs to increase $450 million to hold … Read More