The GOP on Friday afternoon countered Gov. Mark Dayton’s initial proposal for a K-12 education agreement for a special session. View the Governor’s priorities. The GOP’s offer includes starting with HF844 as vetoed and add: $125 million additional spending for FY 16/17 for: Formula to 2 percent increase each year (2&2) Increase School Readiness Funding by $21.5 million (for total of … Read More
Gov. Dayton Shares Priority List
Gov. Mark Dayton shared his priority list for K-12 education, totaling $250 million in funding. The list comes after Dayton vetoed the E-12 bill approved by the Minnesota Legislature in an effort to gain support for universal Pre-K. Many of the priorities listed by the governor also were included in the Conference Committee Report. Governor’s Priorities Here’s a breakdown of … Read More
Ed Organizations Agree to Special Session Priorities
MREA and five other Minnesota education organizations met last week and all agreed to four talking points to guide the special session negotiations in St. Paul. Start with the Conference Report HF 844 and add to it to HF 844 Increase the formula to at least 2% and 2% For early learning, start with School Readiness and phase in additional Pre-K Resolve … Read More
Contact Special Session Leaders
Please contact these leaders of the 2015 Special Session and urge them to support the priorities of Minnesota’s educational organizations: Majority Leader Tom Bakk (651) 296.8881 www.senate.mn/senatorbakkemail Education Chair Chuck Wiger (651) 296-6820 www.senate.mn/senatorwigeremail Speaker Kurt Daudt (651) 296.5364 rep.kurt.daudt@house.mn Education Finance Chair Jennifer Loon (651) 296-7449 rep.jennifer.loon@house.mn Governor Dayton Email your questions and comments to Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor … Read More
3 Keys as Talks Start on Vetoed Education Bill
Governor Mark Dayton and Speaker Kurt Daudt will meet Tuesday to discuss next steps given a vetoed education bill. On behalf of all Greater Minnesota students, MREA wishes them well in their conversation and respectfully makes three suggestions: Start with HF 844 and add to it the provisions needed for a signature. HF 844 closes the biggest current rural-metro funding … Read More
Pre-Labor Day Start: What Should Schools Do?
Sept. 1, 2015 School Start: Where is the legislation? As a result of the continuous pressure by school districts in the state, the vetoed education bill includes the ability of school districts to begin school Sept. 1, 2015. MREA encouraged local school boards to pass resolutions requesting this or similar legislation and sharing it with their local legislators for approval. … Read More
Federal Update on 4 Key Issues
MREA has been following federal action that affects Greater Minnesota schools and shares this update with some good news and somewhat tempered news on four key issues, including: Secure Rural Schools (SRS) ESEA Nutrition Privacy Secure Rural Schools (SRS) For MREA’s northern districts with significant U.S. Forest lands, the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Act was reauthorized by section 524 of P.L. … Read More
Governor Officially Vetoes Education Bill
Governor Dayton today officially vetoed the E-12 education bill HF844. He was presented with all the final budget bills at 6pm on Wednesday, May 20. The state’s constitution gave him three days after presentment to either sign, veto, or let the bills become law without his signature. What’s in the bill? View the issues that matter to you. Governor to Push for More … Read More
Final Day of Session: The Next Moves
Tonight at midnight, the 2015 session must end according to the state’s constitution. Legislative leaders have negotiated a two-year budget plan that, if signed into law by Governor Dayton, will spend $42 billion. The legislature’s plan leaves $1 billion on the bottom line for them to negotiate with when they come back into session on March 8, 2016. The budget plan does … Read More
Education Deal Reached with $400 Million Target
The Education Conference Committee convened early Sunday morning. The E-12 bill (HF 844) approved by the committee members spent the $400 million target that leadership gave them on the following major provisions for fiscal years 2016-17: Formula increases of 1.5% and 2%: $283.75 million (71% of $400 million) School Readiness: $30.75 million over two years Early Learning Scholarships: $30.75 million over two years Long … Read More