MREA will host a series of On-Point virtual meetings in the next few weeks to gain feedback on specific issues currently impacting our Greater Minnesota schools: Concurrent enrollment and other post-secondary options, funding student needs, and small schools funding. Member feedback from the meetings will form the basis to build MREA’s Legislative Platform for the 2017 legislative session. Teachers, board members, and … Read More
MREA Partners To Bring Leaders Together on Dual Credit Changes
MREA announced today that it has partnered with the Center for School Change to host an event later this summer to bring together high school and post-secondary leaders to discuss recent dual credit changes and next steps. This conference, hosted in collaboration with community and parent partners, aims to engage community members, students, parents, educators and representatives of MnSCU, the University of Minnesota, … Read More
MREA Provides Feedback on Tested Experience
MREA identifies six key changes to draft of the Tested Experience Framework released for feedback in late May by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU). Upon thorough review, MREA recommends the MnSCU Leadership Council table the draft and engage the K-12 community to develop a more comprehensive framework. Upon sharing the draft in late May, MnSCU hosted webinars the following … Read More
2016 Session Closes with Help for Rural Communities
The Minnesota Legislature worked until the last allowable minute of the 2016 session. Two major pieces of legislation crossed the legislative finish line and are on their way to Governor Dayton’s desk for his signature into law. A $258 million tax cut bill and a $182 million supplemental budget bill made it just under the Sunday midnight deadline for passing bills. … Read More
Funding Approved: Early Learning, Concurrent Enrollment, Support Services
The Legislature passed a $182 million supplemental budget before the midnight deadline that included funding for early learning and several provisions requested by rural education interests. Early Learning The biggest piece of the E-12 pie is inclusion of a general education pre-K program with $25 million awarded in fiscal year ’17 to districts who apply and and meet certain criteria. A … Read More
MnSCU’s New Tuition Rate for Dual Credit Soars
The Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system (MnSCU) decided a month ago to adopt a uniform tuition for concurrent enrollment courses that for some high schools doubles their cost per dual credit course. MnSCU described this increase in a memo to the campus concurrent enrollment coordinators with general instructions to pass this along to the high schools. Read the memo. The decision … Read More
MnSCU Webinars on Dual Credit Begin Today
The Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system (MnSCU) will host a series of webinars this week to gain feedback from school leaders on the framework for “Tested Experience” for the new guidelines on those teaching concurrent enrollments classes to high school students. High school teachers, principals and counselors are encouraged to review and provide feedback during the webinars: Monday, May 23: 1-2:30 pm … Read More
Concurrent Enrollment Tested Experience Drafts Need Feedback
Both MnSCU and the University of Minnesota released for stakeholder comment draft frameworks for “Tested Experience” for the new guidelines on those teaching concurrent enrollments classes to high school students. High school teachers, principals and counselors are encouraged to review and provide feedback on these drafts to MnSCU and the U. MnSCU has scheduled three webinars to collect feedback and set a … Read More
Amendments of Interest Made in House, Senate Debates
Before the House and Senate approved their supplemental budget bills last week, a series of key amendments were made that impact P-12 education. MREA provided a brief overview of amendments of immediate interest below. View MREA’s complete side-by-side comparison of the legislative proposals. House Amendments Education Finance Chair Jennifer Loon (GOP Eden Prairie) added an amendment to increase the loan forgiveness program … Read More
Technology, Teacher Recruitment Top Priorities in Omnibus Bill
The House and Senate Education Committees passed their education finance bills on schedule last week. They neatly bracket the Governor’s target of $60.77 million. The Senate’s budget tops $100.5 million, while the House spends $52 million. Both bodies assume that several districts with Capital loans will repay their loans thus providing the state with an infusion of $52 million. Even … Read More