The newly merged Senate E-12 & Policy committee met last Thursday and took testimony from about 30 different organizations representing a wide variety of education interests. MREA Director of Legislative ActionSam Walseth was among the first to testify and asked the committee to go big on an E-12 investment this year. Walseth noted the budget forecast indicates that Health & … Read More
Rural Education Well Represented on State Work Groups
by Fred Nolan, MREA Executive Director The 2014 legislature called for two Working Groups and Task Forces to meet between legislative sessions to make reports to the legislature regarding education-specific topics. There are now four active working groups at the state level with MREA representatives from throughout Minnesota providing voice for the needs of education in rural Minnesota. Testing Advisory Work Group … Read More
Legislative Platform Adopted at Annual Meeting
By Sam Walseth, Director of Legislative Affairs After months of gathering input and feedback from member districts, MREA approved a legislative platform for 2014 and beyond at the annual meeting held at the Annual Conference on November 19. The 2014 platform includes ongoing issues and some new ones stemming from the 2013 E-12 and Tax omnibus bills. The 2013 session produced huge … Read More
What will Minnesota do to increase the teacher supply?
By Vernae Hasbargen, MREA Legislative Consultant Groups like the Business Partnership and the Chamber of Commerce have pushed hard to raise the skill level of teachers and have been successful in gaining legislative approval for tests called the “Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations” (MTLE). Starting in 2010, candidates seeking licensure in Minnesota must pass the MTLE math, reading, and writing tests, … Read More
Increasing the Teacher Supply
By Vernae Hasbargen During the two years Republicans controlled the legislature, business groups pushed hard to raise the skill level of teachers by instituting tests called the “Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations” (MTLE). Starting in 2010, candidates seeking licensure in Minnesota must pass the MTLE math, reading, and writing tests, a pedagogy test consisting of two subtests, and a test on … Read More
Teacher Development and Evaluation Workshops Planned
“Phenomenal compared to MDE’s sessions last year.” “Seeing Ed Minnesota and MSBA presenting together with a common set of materials lowers the anxiety of teachers, administrators and boards and enables everyone to come together and work on a plan.” “Helpful framework. It walks you through the statute.” “I would strongly recommend this [workshop] to other districts.” These are some of … Read More
MREA Seeks Platform Approval at Conference
Thank you to MREA members who contributed to the platform formation at the Area Meetings in August and September. The facts and situations shared shaped the drafting of MREA’s 2014 platform. Two of the key areas raised by members during the meetings and being formulated in the platform include teacher quality and availability, and expanding education opportunities and closing the … Read More
Joint Teacher Development and Evaluation Training
MREA has long advocated that school districts and teachers collaboratively develop teachers growth and evaluation plans that apply the state goals and mandates to your local context. If your district has not yet started to develop such a plan, or you feel you need a boost, teacher development and evaluation training is coming to a service cooperative close to you. … Read More
MREA’s Eleven Fall Area Meetings Point to 2014 Platform
From Preston to Thief River Falls, from Virginia to Slayton, and location in between, MREA Executive Director Fred Nolan facilitated Platform Development Meetings with MREA Contract Lobbyist Sam Walseth. The conversations provided input on opportunities and challenges facing districts as MREA prepares the 2014 Legislative Platform. Nearly all participants rated the meetings as valuable or very valuable, and were satisfied … Read More
Work of Five Education Task Forces Underway
Five of the state education task forces established by the legislature last session have begin work. The appointments announced to date reveal rural Minnesota is under represented in these task forces focused on key issues in our state. The legislature called for seven task force or councils. These task forces address complicated issues which have competing interests in how the … Read More