The release of Governor Mark Dayton’s budget plan calls for $373 million for E-12 education. While that represents 56 percent of the projected ongoing surplus revenue, it is closer to 15 percent of all new state revenue when considering state revenues are projected to grow 6.4 percent or $2.5 billion over the next biennium. Learn more about the Governor’s Budget Plan. … 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
Making Sense of Early Learning Spending
Three competing early learning proposals are emerging for this session. In the Senate… The Senate’s universal four-year-old preschool bill (SF 6, Sen. John Hoffman, DFL Anoka) would cost almost $500 million in the next biennium and almost $600 million the two years after that. This kind of middle class entitlement is simply unaffordable and defies all of the research that shows that … Read More
What Proposed Phy Ed Legislation Means for Schools
A bill on increasing physical education requirements, introduced by Sen. Susan Kent, DFL Woodbury, caught some media attention last week. MREA raised a series of concerns about SF 343 in its testimony to Senate E-12 Committee last Thursday. Nobody doubts the importance of physical education — and promoting healthy lifestyles with students. MREA questions the wisdom of the mandates contained … 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
Senate Bill to Fix Facility Fallout in 2015
By Sam Walseth, MREA Director of Legislative Action A bill presented at the Senate E-12 Committee meeting on Thursday would fix the facility fallout by phasing in the Alternative Facilities levy authority for the more than 300 districts currently not eligible for it. Existing deferred maintenance and Health and Safety programs and revenues would be phased out as the new … Read More
Governor Previews Budget Plans
By Sam Walseth, MREA Director of Legislative Action Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton on Friday gave a preview of his budget plan at the annual Children & Youth Issues Briefing, an event put on by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, the United Way and others. He told the large audience gathered that his budget plan (released Tuesday) will include $600 million for children … Read More
Gaining School Calendar Flexibility in 2015
Recently, there has been considerable discussion about school district flexibility in creating school year calendars given the late Labor Day holiday and start dates for 2015, 2016 and 2017. If this is a concern in your district, MREA recommends your school board to adopt a resolution to start school before September 8, 2015, and to request legislators to enter a bill on behalf of the school … Read More
Legislature Takes on Education Hot Topics
By Sam Walseth, MREA Director of Legislative Action This week the House and Senate Education committees are reviewing proposed legislation on the topics of early childhood education, school facilities and technology. Early Childhood Senate E-12 on Wednesday morning will review SF 6 calling for state reimbursement to schools providing four-year old preschool education. Later that day the House Education Finance … Read More