The House GOP released its E-12 target late last week with a focus on one-time funding. The Senate will follow with its plan this week. The House Plan The House proposal focuses on creating $53 million in one-time funding by offering favorable refinancing of facility debt for several Capital Loan districts. The plan assumes seven districts will take advantage of this … Read More
MREA, Members Advocate on Bills for Para Program, Concurrent Enrollment and Mental Health Services
MREA and its members advocated for three key bills last week that would help address the increasing teacher shortage, respond to the Higher Learning Commission’s concurrent enrollment changes and provide enhanced mental health services. On overview of each bill is below. Para to Teacher Program The Senate E-12 Committee on Thursday heard a bill that would create pathway to be licensed in … Read More
Education Omnibus Bills Introduced: How They Compare
After three packed weeks of bill introductions and testimony, both the House and Senate Omnibus Education Policy Bills passed out of committee for their first deadline. HF 3066 DE and SF 2744 A5 are designed to include policy changes that do not have state-level cost impacts. View side-by-side comparison of bills. Some of the more significant proposed policy changes include: Personal … Read More
MnSCU Reports Plan on Concurrent Enrollment
The MnSCU Chancellor’s office released information on its efforts to continue Concurrent Enrollment in the face of the HLC clarification of credentialing requirements for high school teachers. They are encouraging all MnSCU colleges and universities to continue to work with high schools to take the steps necessary to meet the concurrent enrollment instructor credentialing standards. View the MnSCU Update. Should you … Read More
Bill Introduced to Fund Costs for More College Entrance Exams
Minnesota currently reimburses school districts for exam fees for students who take the ACT. HF3013, sponsored by Rep. Drew Christensen (R-Burnsville), would allow these funds to be available to districts for students who take the SAT or another college entrance exam. “This bill clarifies the budget language to ensure other nationally recognized college entrance exams can be reimbursed, essentially to … Read More
Budget Forecast Retracts to $900 Million
The updated state budget forecast released today reveals a slight retraction in the $1.2 billion surplus initially projected as of December to $900 million, according to Minnesota Management and Budget. Legislative leaders now have to grapple with the budget news as they head into session on March 8. The competition for tax cuts, transportation spending and early learning funding just got more … Read More
Rosenstone Outlines Steps on Concurrent Enrollment
MnSCU Chancellor Steven Rosenstone responded to changes made to concurrent enrollment by the Higher Learning Commission. He spoke with Minnesota’s school superintendents during Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius’ December conference call. “I am very aware of the consternation circulating since last spring’s HLC decision regarding credentialing of concurrent enrollment teachers,” Rosenstone said. “I want to assure you of the commitment … Read More
Legislature Offers Free College Tuition in Pilot Program
The Minnesota Legislature will provide up to two years of free tuition and general fees at Minnesota two-year public colleges for students admitted to career tech programs in “high demand” fields. MREA encourages schools to share this with their high school counselors and seniors. This program is first-come, first serve and open to students from families earning up to $90,000 annually. It’s … Read More
HLC Extends Deadline Five Years; Issues Remain
Institutions offering concurrent enrollment now have until September to apply for an extension to meet the new requirement on qualified faculty. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) decided on Nov. 5 to extend the deadline up to five years on the requirement that now treats high school teachers who are teaching dual credit courses the same as college professors. A state higher education … Read More
Get 2015 Annual Conference Resources
MREA hosted the 2015 Annual Conference on Great Beginnings: When Learning Starts Early, Inspires and Applies from Nov. 15-17 at Cragun’s on the Lake in Brainerd. We share the electronic versions of the presentations and resources we received from featured speakers, general sessions and breakouts here. Featured Speakers Building Strong Foundations for Early Student Success Economics of Investing in Early … Read More