Minnesota Awards $11 Million for Broadband Projects

mreaadmin2016 Legislative Issues, Broadband Access

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded $11 million in grants to projects to expand broadband access in 15 Greater Minnesota communities. The announcement came Nov. 20 at the Blandin Foundation’s annual “Border to Border Broadband: Better Together” Conference. The latest round of broadband grants will improve access to high-speed broadband for 3,222 households, 786 businesses and … Read More

MREA Members Approve 2016 Legislative Platform

mreaadmin2016 Legislative Issues, Achievement Gap, Broadband Access, Early Learning, Facility Fallout, Quality Teachers, Teacher Development, Teacher Shortages

MREA announced today its platform of the key education issues for the 2016 Legislative session. MREA members approved the platform at the annual business meeting on Nov. 16.  The platform comes from months of grassroots input, research and reflection on how to keep us positioned to be effective in the legislative process. Anticipating that property tax reductions will be a … Read More

MREA Prepares for 2016 Legislative Session

mreaadmin2016 Legislative Issues, Broadband Access, Capitol Insider Blog, Career and College Readiness, Early Learning, Facility Fallout, Opportunity Gap, Quality Teachers, Teacher Development, Teacher Shortages

MREA traveled the state through the fall and heard from Greater Minnesota schools. Now it’s time to focus our collective voice on behalf of rural students as the 2016 legislative session approaches.  The MREA Board of directors recommends the following platform for member approval at the annual meeting at the 2015 MREA Annual Conference on Nov. 17.  View the proposed platform. The proposed platform focuses … Read More

Conference Procrastinator Rates Start Sunday

mreaadminAchievement Gap, American Indian, Broadband Access, Early Learning, Opportunity Gap, Other Rural Issues, Quality Teachers, Teacher Development, Teacher Shortages

There’s still time to register for MREA’s 2015 Annual Conference, but do it soon — procrastinator rates kick in Sunday. Starting November 1, registrants will pay a late fee to register for the conference. In just three weeks, more than 350 education professionals from across Minnesota will gather  at Cragun’s Resort for Great Beginnings: When Learning Starts Early, Inspires and Applies. The event is three days of … Read More

Broadband Task Force Seeks New Member

mreaadminBroadband Access, Opportunity Gap, Other Rural Issues

The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon this week released the September 2015 notice of vacancies for various state boards, councils and committees. A new education-related vacancy has been posted: Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Appointing: Governor Compensation: None Vacancies: One Member To develop, implement and promote state broadband policy, planning and initiatives to achieve State broadband needs and goals.  Inventory, … Read More

Broadband Access

mreaadmin2016 Legislative Issues, Broadband Access

Technology has become a key component in educating today’s students. Yet, in rural Minnesota broadband access remains sparse. View printer-friendly brief on this issue. Where We Stand Here are the current facts on broadband access: Currently 72 rural counties have less than 90% household access to the former standard of broadband: 10 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload speeds. Thirteen … Read More