MREA released a map today illustrating where the projected Early Learning Scholarships discussed at the Legislature would go in the coming school year. A thumbnail is below. Click to view the interactive map. Minnesota is poised to begin an Early Learning Scholarship program for children whose family income is less than 185% of federal poverty level. MREA anticipates that about 6,000 … Read More
Closing the 5th-95th Gap through Equity, Equalization & Education Advancement
By Sam Walseth, MREA Lobbyist On the equity front, there are two really good proposals in play right now. House Education Chair Paul Marquart spends $30 million on an ‘enhanced equity’ formula for districts with less than $300/pupil in operating referendum authority. This would be an aid/levy revenue program. Combined with another $30 million in new referendum equalization aid, the … Read More
Omnibus Bill Comparison: Bills Approach Senate Floor
The Senate may take its Omnibus bills on to the floor as soon as Thursday.View a clear comparison of the House and Senate bills at a glance: Funding: Targets, Basic Funding, Kindergarten, Early Childhood, Equity, Special Ed, Integration Taxes: ANTC Relief and Gen Ed Levy, RMV Relief and Equalization, Safe Schools Levy, Cyrus and Morris Policies: Safe and Supportive Schools, Assessment Reform, Teacher Evaluation, Health … Read More
Districts Face Tough Choices as K-12 Bills Reach Floor
By Vernae Hasbargen, MREA Lobbyist As the K-12 bills head to the floor, it is now clear where the similarities and differences are and for school districts, a tough choice – do you want dollars now or stability in the state’s funding system later? As you can see from the graphs, both bills reflect similar spending priorities when it comes to ADK … Read More
Quick Omnibus Bills Comparison for Educators
There is a lot of activity regarding policy and finance for K-12 education in Minnesota at the Legislature with the House and Senate omnibus bills heading to the floor. MREA provides a clear comparison of the House and Senate bills in these key areas: Funding: Targets, Basic Funding, Kindergarten, Early Childhood, Equity, Special Ed, Integration Taxes: ANTC Relief and Gen Ed … Read More
MREA's Work with Schools on AIW Featured in News
MREA’s extensive project with five northern Minnesota school district on Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) was featured this week in the Park Rapids Enterprise. A rigorous revamping of the way teachers teach and the way students learn has been quietly taking place in a small conference room at the Laporte School. Five teachers and two administrators have delved into an educational concept … Read More
MREA Responds to House Omnibus Bill 630
Note: These responses were crafted in response to the HF 630 delete all omnibus bills moved by Committee Chairs Representative Marquart. MREA made every attempt to track all the amendments, but this may not be all inclusive. You can track this bill online, but ignore the introductory version from February. MREA supports the direction and the implementation particulars of the following … Read More
Omnibus Education Bills Advance
At 11 pm on Thursday, the Senate E-12 committee put a close to what felt like a ramshackle day of unveiling, discussing, amending and finalizing their omnibus education bills. And yes, that was “bills” – plural. In the Senate The Senate has decided to move the policy reforms forward in a separate policy bill (SF 978) and a separate finance … Read More
MREA Responds to Senate Omnibus Bills
Note: These responses were crafted in response to the SF 453 and SF 978 delete all omnibus bills moved by Committee Chairs Senator Wiger and Senator Torres Ray. MREA made every attempt to track all the amendments, but this may not be all inclusive. Click here to track this bill, but ignore the introductory version from February. MREA supports the direction … Read More
Major Education Policy Reforms Survive First Bill Deadline
Last Thursday the House and Senate Education Policy committees put together omnibus education policy bills. Several major reforms made it into those House and Senate policy bills. There are always differences between House and Senate policy positions, but this year those differences are more nuance than substance. Here’s a look at what the current bills would mean: Grad Tests High-stakes … Read More