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
Measuring The Value of a High School Diploma
The omnibus education finance and policy bill (HF 630) is rumored to be debated on the House floor this Tuesday. In response to the MDE Assessment Work Group recommendations, the House majority has moved forward with a repeal of the GRAD exams and in their place is proposing a series of new assessments that better align with college entrance and give … 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
MREA Map Shows Tax Relief and Equalization in SF 453
MREA released map today showing the tax relief and equalization in SF 453. A thumbnail is below. View the interactive map. SF 453 replaces nearly $34 million in Operating Referendum Levies with State Equalization dollars: Raises Tier 1 Equalization Factor to $586,000, a 13% increase Lowers Tier 2 Equalization Factor to $259,000, a 4% decrease SF 453 Tax Impact on … Read More
MREA Map Shows Impact of HF 630
MREA released a map today showing the tax relief and equalization in HF 630. A thumbnail is below. View the interactive map. HF 630 replaces $28 million in Operating Referendum Levies with State Equalization dollars: Creates Referendum Market Value Equalization Factor (RMVEF) RMVEF will float with state total RMV value and state total PU’s so it maintains somewhat close to current … Read More
Omnibus E-12 Bill Rolls Out This Week
The 2013 legislative session must end six weeks from Monday. We are now entering the final phase of this budget setting session. The last phase begins with the major finance committee piecing their omnibus budget bills together. Most policy reforms will be carried in these bills as well. That is especially true in education where major reforms in assessments, teacher … Read More
Updates on the Omnibus Funding Components Coming
MREA will send out one or two supplemental e-updates this week to outline the funding components in each omnibus bill. MREA expects all day K to be a major provision in each bill. Beyond that, we have heard mixed messages about money on the formula versus special education. The House budget target of $550 million allows Chairman Marquart to do … Read More
Take Action: Education Policy Reform Debates Begin
Thank you to all who followed through with contacts to your legislators about the assessment reform and retirement of the GRAD. This will be a significant focus of debate during the omnibus bill mark-up process in the coming week. MREA will testify in support of these reforms, but it will be helpful to our cause if you continue talking to … Read More