Both the House and Senate Education Committees heard bills that would give districts more flexibility in allocating their compensatory revenue accounts. The House Education Finance Committee heard two bills on Tuesday. HF567 is sponsored by Rep. Anna Wills (R-Apple Valley) and HF1222 is sponsored by Jerry Hertaus (R-Greenfield). Compensatory revenue is the second largest component of general education revenue after the basic … Read More
MREA to Testify on Concurrent Enrollment Bills
Bills have been presented in the House and Senate to improve concurrent enrollment opportunities in Minnesota. The House bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Davnie (D-Minneapolis), will be heard Tuesday in the House Education Policy Committee. Princeton Superintendent Julia Espe and several Princeton students will testify in support of the bill. A companion bill also has been presented in the Senate by Sen. … Read More
Bill to Improve IEP Process for Special Education
Key legislation has been presented to repeal a law that requires the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to contract for a single vendor for the IEP (Individualized Education Plan). HF 804 and SF 740 would instead require schools districts to contract with vendors for seamless transference of records. View issue brief. Currently 85 percent of school districts in Minnesota use the same system … Read More
March Madness Ignites with $1.9 Billion Surplus
Minnesotans received positive news about their state budget on Friday from the February budget forecast. Last December the state projected a surplus for the next two years (fiscal years 16-17) of $1.04 billion. The updated forecast now estimates a surplus of $1.87 million. The $832 million in projected growth is largely due to a expected increases in income and sales tax … Read More
Senate Debates Basic Funding Formula Increase
Two bills related to the general education funding formula and one related to compensatory revenue were all laid over for possible inclusion in the Senate E12 omnibus bill. SF163, sponsored by Sen. John Hoffman (DFL – Champlin), would increase school district basic revenue formula allowance to $6,131 starting in fiscal year 2016. SF541, sponsored by Sen. Greg Clausen (DFL – … Read More
Universal All Day Preschool Stalls at Capitol
A bill that would give school districts the opportunity to offer all-day preschool to 4-year-olds stalled last Tuesday in the House Education Innovation Policy Committee. This year, the proposal came forth in the form of HF46 sponsored by Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL – St. Paul). The bill would allow eligibility for children who are 4 years old and not enrolled … Read More
Counting Computer Science as Math Credit
HF672, sponsored by Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth), would allow students to satisfy a math credit required for high school graduation by taking a computer science course that meets state math standards. The bill was laid over Tuesday by the House Education Innovation Policy Committee for possible omnibus bill inclusion. It has no Senate companion. Officials from the Minnesota Department of Education … Read More
Tribal Leaders Testify on Behalf of American Indian Students
In front of the House and Senate Education Committees on Wednesday, Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius joined members of the Minnesota Department of Education Indian Education Working Group in requesting additional state funding for several programs that support public schools districts with a large percentage of American Indian students and each of the state’s four tribal contract schools. The presentations followed … Read More
7 Keys to Improving American Indian Student Education
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) presented to legislators today 7 recommendations for improving educational opportunities for American Indian students in Minnesota. The recommendations come from the state’s Indian Education Working Group. Minnesota is last in the nation in the graduation rate of American Indian students. Within the state, AMI students have the lowest graduation rate and the slowest growth … Read More
3 Hot Rural Issues in Senate
The Senate E-12 Committee heard legislation and testimony on three key rural education issues this past week. A brief rundown on each is provided below. Debt Service Enhanced Debt Service plans (SF 489) for consolidating districts and districts with very high debt service was heard Tuesday. Superintendent Bob Indihar of Moose Lake whose community used enhanced debt service due to natural … Read More