MREA will host 10 Area Meetings this fall to gather input on the issues that matter most to Greater Minnesota schools. Information from these meetings will be used to build MREA’s platform for the 2016 legislative session. The 2015 Area Meetings will be held in August and September at schools across the state, from Blue Earth to Thief River Falls. Teachers, … Read More
Early Bird Workshops Announced for Annual Conference
The five early bird sessions offered at the 2015 MREA Annual Conference features timely education and dialogues on everything from early learning standards and teacher job satisfaction to engaging students with technology and American Indian education. Learn more about each session below. Great Beginnings: When Learning Starts Early, Inspires and Applies kicks off Nov. 15 with 90-minute workshops that give participants a deeper understanding … Read More
MDE Releases Look Up Table on Impacts
Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) just released the FY ’16 and ’17 runs and look up table based on the results of the 2015 special session signed education bill. MREA downloaded the report and makes it easily accessible here: View the impact on your school. School districts can see the financial impact the bill has on their respective districts by putting their … Read More
Governor Signs E-12 Bill into Law
The special session of the Minnesota Legislature ended over the weekend and the Governor Dayton has signed all of the special session bills into law. The E-12 bill, now Chapter 3 of the 2015 Special Session (SS HF 1 for those who want to look it up) provides $525 million for E-12 schools over the next two years. View details by issue. Overall the … Read More
New, Improved E-12 Bill Unveiled
On Friday, a new and improved $525 million E-12 bill emerged for approval during an upcoming special session. This bill includes 2&2 on the formula, more money in existing early learning programs like scholarships and school readiness and a major expansion of American Indian Education funding. Statewide access to an equalized levy for deferred maintenance funding stayed in the final … Read More
Special Session Plans
On Friday, the House Ways & Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee held a joint hearing to review four bills that are paving the way to a special session. Included in this package of bills is the new and improved E-12 bill that contains $525 million in new spending on a variety of education initiatives over the next two years. The … Read More
Talks Continue: Universal Pre-K Dead
An agreement on the outstanding education issues is elusive after Gov. Mark Dayton and House Speaker Kurt Daudt met four days in a row last week. One thing Gov. Dayton and Speaker Daudt agreed to quickly is that the Special Session would be held in the State Office Building. Several hearing rooms are large enough to hold each body, it is … Read More
GOP Counters Dayton's K-12 Education Offer
The GOP on Friday afternoon countered Gov. Mark Dayton’s initial proposal for a K-12 education agreement for a special session. View the Governor’s priorities. The GOP’s offer includes starting with HF844 as vetoed and add: $125 million additional spending for FY 16/17 for: Formula to 2 percent increase each year (2&2) Increase School Readiness Funding by $21.5 million (for total of … Read More
Ed Organizations Agree to Special Session Priorities
MREA and five other Minnesota education organizations met last week and all agreed to four talking points to guide the special session negotiations in St. Paul. Start with the Conference Report HF 844 and add to it to HF 844 Increase the formula to at least 2% and 2% For early learning, start with School Readiness and phase in additional Pre-K Resolve … Read More
Contact Special Session Leaders
Please contact these leaders of the 2015 Special Session and urge them to support the priorities of Minnesota’s educational organizations: Majority Leader Tom Bakk (651) 296.8881 www.senate.mn/senatorbakkemail Education Chair Chuck Wiger (651) 296-6820 www.senate.mn/senatorwigeremail Speaker Kurt Daudt (651) 296.5364 rep.kurt.daudt@house.mn Education Finance Chair Jennifer Loon (651) 296-7449 rep.jennifer.loon@house.mn Governor Dayton Email your questions and comments to Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor … Read More