Auditor Report Coming on Teacher Licensure Process

mreaadmin2016 Legislative Issues, Quality Teachers, Teacher Shortages

The Office of Legislative Auditor (OLA) on March 4 will release a report on the Board of Teaching and Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) licensure process. Under current law, the BOT determines what qualifications teacher candidates need to receive a license and then applications are processed by MDE. These are the issues the OLA has been investigating and will report on: … Read More

Minnesota BOT Changes Prompts Joint Hearing

mreaadmin2016 Legislative Issues, Quality Teachers

The House Education Policy and Finance Committees met last week as a part of a joint hearing to receive an update from the Minnesota Board of Teaching on a series of proposed rule changes stemming from a Ramsey County court order and pressure to act on recently enacted legislation. The Ramsey County court ruled last month that the BOT was in … Read More

Greater Minnesota Teachers Nominated for Teacher of the Year

mreaadminOther Rural Issues, Quality Teachers

MREA congratulates the 29 Greater Minnesota teachers nominated for the 2016 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Education Minnesota announced on Wednesday the names of 114 candidates. A panel of 25 judges will review the applications, narrowing the list to a group of semifinalists and then finalists before naming the winner May 15. Read the Star Tribune article. MREA recognizes members… Becky Ylitalo, Badger … Read More

MREA Members Approve 2016 Legislative Platform

mreaadmin2016 Legislative Issues, Achievement Gap, Broadband Access, Early Learning, Facility Fallout, Quality Teachers, Teacher Development, Teacher Shortages

MREA announced today its platform of the key education issues for the 2016 Legislative session. MREA members approved the platform at the annual business meeting on Nov. 16.  The platform comes from months of grassroots input, research and reflection on how to keep us positioned to be effective in the legislative process. Anticipating that property tax reductions will be a … Read More

Get 2015 Annual Conference Resources

mreaadminAchievement Gap, Career and College Readiness, Early Learning, Opportunity Gap, Quality Teachers

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

MREA Prepares for 2016 Legislative Session

mreaadmin2016 Legislative Issues, Broadband Access, Capitol Insider Blog, Career and College Readiness, Early Learning, Facility Fallout, Opportunity Gap, Quality Teachers, Teacher Development, Teacher Shortages

MREA traveled the state through the fall and heard from Greater Minnesota schools. Now it’s time to focus our collective voice on behalf of rural students as the 2016 legislative session approaches.  The MREA Board of directors recommends the following platform for member approval at the annual meeting at the 2015 MREA Annual Conference on Nov. 17.  View the proposed platform. The proposed platform focuses … Read More

Conference Procrastinator Rates Start Sunday

mreaadminAchievement Gap, American Indian, Broadband Access, Early Learning, Opportunity Gap, Other Rural Issues, Quality Teachers, Teacher Development, Teacher Shortages

There’s still time to register for MREA’s 2015 Annual Conference, but do it soon — procrastinator rates kick in Sunday. Starting November 1, registrants will pay a late fee to register for the conference. In just three weeks, more than 350 education professionals from across Minnesota will gather  at Cragun’s Resort for Great Beginnings: When Learning Starts Early, Inspires and Applies. The event is three days of … Read More

MREA To Host Virtual Meetings on 3 Key Issues

mreaadmin2016 Legislative Issues, Early Learning, Facility Fallout, Quality Teachers, Teacher Development, Teacher Shortages

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: early learning, teacher shortages, and school bond debt. Member feedback from the meetings will form the basis to build MREA’s Legislative Platform for the 2016 legislative session. Teachers, board members, and administrators are encouraged to participate. … Read More

Conference Breakouts Promise Practical Ideas

mreaadminEarly Learning, Other Rural Issues, Quality Teachers

MREA announced today the breakout sessions for the 2015 Annual Conference. The 30 sessions feature experts from inside and outside the classroom, providing practical insight and ideas on everything from early learning and career readiness to parent engagement and professional development. Great Beginnings: When Learning Starts Early, Inspires and Applies offers plenty of networking and development opportunities for a diverse audience of teachers, administrators, … Read More

Share Voice at Area Meetings

mreaadminAmerican Indian, Assessment and Accountability, Balance Local Control, Capitol Insider Blog, Early Learning, Facility Fallout, Opportunity Gap, Other Rural Issues, Quality Teachers

MREA invites all its members to attend an Area Meeting this August and September to share their voice on issues important to their school district. Area Meetings start Tuesday in Walker and Wednesday in Virginia. Every fall MREA’s advocacy staff hits the road to gather input from MREA members. We review outcomes from the last legislative session, preview upcoming issues, and help members understand how their districts are impacted. Check out … Read More