The Tax Conference Committee met several times last week and reviewed topics of interest to education. They didn’t take any action on these provisions. Like all of the conference committees, they’re waiting for a leadership agreement to give them a spending target and direction before finalizing their bill. View the latest side-by-side on the issues. Agricultural Production Land Tax Relief The … Read More
Top Issues for Education Conference Committee
The Education Conference Committee met three times last week reviewing the details of the House and Senate plans. They didn’t take action on any items, as they’re waiting for a leadership deal on their spending target. They focused committee time on a handful of the more significant issues in play. MREA provides a snapshot of where each stands below. View latest side-by-side … Read More
Education Conference Committee Appointed
Legislators were appointed last week to the committee that will negotiate many of the details of the education finance and policy provisions that have survived the process thus far and provide a shared plan for a final vote. Rep. Jennifer Loon (GOP-Eden Prairie) and Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-North St. Paul) will serve as co-chairs of the Education Conference Committee. View MREA’s side-by-side … Read More
Districts Face Cuts With 1&1 Funding Proposal
From Canby and Caledonia to Fergus Falls and Breckenridge, MREA members are speaking out and asking for more regarding the Minnesota legislature’s proposed general education funding increase of 1 percent each of the next two years (commonly referred to as “1&1 on the formula”). Letters to newspaper editors and community members from rural school administrators across Minnesota indicate teacher cuts, fewer class electives, and … Read More
Big Education Issues at Play
Both the Senate and the House have approved their education plan and the Education Conference Committee has been appointed to negotiate and develop the final education plan for Minnesota. View the Committee members. Here’s a look at the big issues at play: The Formula Stuck at ‘1&1’ or less, the proposed investments in the basic formula are still too low … Read More
What's in House, Senate Education Bills?
The House passed its omnibus education bill on Saturday after heavy criticism about it falling short of what is needed for education in Minnesota. The Senate omnibus education budget bill (SF 811) is expected to be heard – and passed in some form – on the floor on Wednesday. The Senate bill includes a variety of provisions to support education. View … Read More
Commissioner Talks Issues with MREA Board
Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius talked about issues that affect Greater Minnesota schools with the MREA Board of Directors on Thursday. Commissioner Cassellius shared her hopes for the session and the challenges still ahead. During the morning discussion, the Commissioner and MREA Board members reviewed a variety of issues ranging from teacher shortages and the restrictive Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exam … Read More
Facility Fallout Fix in Senate Plan
As it left the Senate E-12 Budget Division last week, the Senate E-12 Finance bill includes a major proposal aimed at expanding long term maintenance funding to the over 300 school districts that don’t qualify for the Alternative Facilities program. The E-12 bill would allow districts to levy $200 per pupil in 2017 and $300 and $400 per pupil in … Read More
E-12 Plans Advance In House, Senate
The House and Senate Education finance committees last week unveiled their omnibus bills and passed them out of their respective committees. Each bill has a few more stops before full debate in front of the House and Senate and then onto conference committee. MREA created a side-by-side comparison of the funding and policy issues currently being debated at the Capitol related … Read More
E-12 Funding Bills To Emerge
Just as children are anxious the night before Christmas, so too are education lobbyists who have waited until this point of session to see what House and Senate education leaders have in store for education funding specifics this year. We know the various spending levels: the House is a $157 million and the Senate is now at $361 million. But … Read More