Legislators have brought forward legislation that would infuse additional funding into the Minnesota Reading Corps program. The bills were among the legislation reviewed last Tuesday by the House Education Finance Committee for possible inclusion in Chair Jenifer Loon’s future education omnibus bill. The other bills are related to school readiness and home visiting for parent education. Rep. Anna Wills (R-Apple … Read More
MREA Supports Success for Future Expansion
MREA applauds Governor Dayton for addressing the educational achievement and opportunity gap of Minnesota’s American Indian Students (AMI) by proposing an expansion of Success for the Future. This expansion is called for in the 2015 MREA Platform. Minnesota’s AMI students have the lowest graduation rate and the slowest growth in that graduation rate of all ethnic/racial groups. Minnesota is dead … Read More
Preparing Students for ACT
In less than 12 weeks, Minnesota students will be taking the ACT. How will your school prepare them? MREA has partnered with John Baylor to provide schools with resources to equip students. Learn more about the program and discounted pricing. John Baylor has a six-week test prep program option for schools and is offering webinars on the program features. If you’re interested … Read More
Governor's Plan Budget Battle Lines Being Drawn
By Sam Walseth, MREA Director of Legislative Affairs Governor Mark Dayton’s release of his 2016-17 budget plan last Tuesday has set the stage for the budget battle that will consume the remainder of the 2015 session. The public’s role — our role — in this process is going to fade sooner than we know it. Now is the time to engage … Read More
Governor Releases Education Plan
Governor Dayton released his proposed budget for the FY 16-17 biennium that would invest $343 million in education. Here’s a look inside the Governor’s plan for education: An increase to the general education formula by 1 percent in each year of the biennium, for a total cost of $174.4 million. Providing $109 million to expand four-year old preschool across the state. The Governor’s plan … Read More
MREA Testifies to Legislature on Results of AIW Project
MREA Executive Director Fred Nolan testified today to the Minnesota House Education Finance Committee on the value of Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) and how its delivering results for Greater Minnesota schools. Kathy Belsheim, superintendent of Ogilvie Public Schools, joined MREA in outlining the outcomes seen in the district and specifically in reducing the achievement gap. AIW provides reflective professional development … Read More
Thanks for Visiting MREA at MSBA
Thanks to everyone who stopped by the MREA booth at the MSBA Leadership Conference last week. Representatives from 65 MREA member schools visited with MREA Board members Luther Heller, Todd Holthaus, Marvin Kleven, Chris Mills, Patty Stangl, and Mike Vasek at the booth and at the Regional Center Advisory Committee meeting. Members shared how much they are looking forward to the Annual Conference next … Read More
Legislative Platform Adopted at Annual Meeting
By Sam Walseth, Director of Legislative Affairs After months of gathering input and feedback from member districts, MREA approved a legislative platform for 2014 and beyond at the annual meeting held at the Annual Conference on November 19. The 2014 platform includes ongoing issues and some new ones stemming from the 2013 E-12 and Tax omnibus bills. The 2013 session produced huge … Read More
Indian Education: A “Call to Action”
By Vernae Hasbargen, MREA Legislative Consultant The crisis is indisputable: Native American students finish high school at half the rate of others, putting Minnesota dead last of the fifty states in their graduation rate. It is statistics like that, plus the fact that Native students comprise only 2 percent of the school-age population but account for 20 percent of Minnesota’s … Read More
So How Are Early Learning Scholarships Working?
By Vernae Hasbargen, MREA Legislative Consultant The legislature successfully increased funding for the state’s poorest four year old children last session by giving their parents a $5,000 scholarship for a high-quality preschool program. If their parent is a teenager, then a child is eligible from birth. It was a long time coming and required a significant change in Minnesota’s political … Read More