By Vernae Hasbargen It’s been 12 years, an entire generation of K-12 students, since pro wrestler Jesse Ventura became Governor and reshaped K-12 with what he called, “The Big Plan.” While well-intentioned, The Big Plan gave sole responsibility for funding schools to the state by eliminating the long-standing Minnesota Miracle, which shared education cost between the state and local property … Read More
K-12 Omnibus Bill Highlights: Taxes
MREA released today highlights of the K-12 Omnibus Bill for funding, taxes and policies. Here’s what you need to know regarding taxes: (View all the statewide levies and statewide levy changes). … Read More
K-12 Omnibus Bill Highlights: Policies
MREA released today highlights of the K-12 Omnibus Bill for funding, taxes and policies. Here’s what you need to know regarding policies: GRAD Rule repealed as recommended by Assessment and Accountability Working Group GRAD tests and required cut scores repealed Transition period for graduating class of ’14-16 with a mixture of tests Beginning with graduating class of ’17 (8th graders in ‘13-14): … Read More
K-12 Omnibus Bill Highlights: Funding
MREA released today highlights of the K-12 Omnibus Bill for funding, taxes and policies. Here’s what you need to know regarding funding: (View all the statewide totals and all statewide changes.) … Read More
Legislature Establishes New Task Forces & Working Groups
The Legislature has established seven new task forces and working groups to continue to address key issues in education. These groups include: Career Pathways and Technical Education Advisory Task Force Adult High School Diploma Task Force Teacher Licensing Advisory Task Force Online and Digital Learning Advisory Council School Facilities Financing Working Group Special Education Case Load Task Force Minnesota Youth … Read More
MREA Releases Map Showing Q Comp Districts
Where are the districts that have schools with Q Comp? MREA released a map today to show to answer this question. A thumbnail of the map is below. Click to view the interactive map. In 2012-13, 60 Minnesota school districts (shown in red on the map) and 62 charter schools (not shown) implemented programs or had been approved to implement … Read More
Last Week of Session: What to Expect
By Sam Walseth, MREA Lobbyist At midnight one week from Monday, the 2013 regular session must close. Legislative leaders worked over the weekend negotiating budget targets with each other and we expect that sometime today to see those targets. Conference committee targets are it. Once announced, there’s no going back. Whatever leadership announces is what the various conference committees have … Read More
Omnibus Education Bills Pass
By Sam Walseth, MREA Chief Lobbyist After eight hours of debate on the House floor Tuesday night and eight hours of debate on the Senate floor Thursday afternoon, the omnibus education bills passed and are headed to a conference committee. There were several contentious issues during debate in both bodies, the most significant revolving around the repeal of the Math … Read More
Omnibus Bill Comparison: Bills Approach Senate Floor
The Senate may take its Omnibus bills on to the floor as soon as Thursday.View a clear comparison of the House and Senate bills at a glance: Funding: Targets, Basic Funding, Kindergarten, Early Childhood, Equity, Special Ed, Integration Taxes: ANTC Relief and Gen Ed Levy, RMV Relief and Equalization, Safe Schools Levy, Cyrus and Morris Policies: Safe and Supportive Schools, Assessment Reform, Teacher Evaluation, Health … Read More
Quick Omnibus Bills Comparison for Educators
There is a lot of activity regarding policy and finance for K-12 education in Minnesota at the Legislature with the House and Senate omnibus bills heading to the floor. MREA provides a clear comparison of the House and Senate bills in these key areas: Funding: Targets, Basic Funding, Kindergarten, Early Childhood, Equity, Special Ed, Integration Taxes: ANTC Relief and Gen Ed … Read More