A silent teacher crisis is at work in schools across Minnesota with rising teacher shortages in certain disciplines and subject matters. The effects are felt most in rural school districts. Principals in rural areas have found it particularly difficult to hire newly licensed teachers in subject areas like math, special education and English as a Second Language. MREA has been … Read More
Omnibus Education Policy Bills Advance
The Senate E12 Committee dug the Senate’s omnibus education bill, SF1495, last week. Along with several other items, the bill from Chairman Wiger would ease the requirement for teachers who have not passed the required basic skills test. They would be able to obtain up to four, rather than the current two, one-year temporary teaching licenses, and the bill requires a streamlined … Read More
House Reauthorization Stalls in Washington
The National Rural Education Advocacy Coalition (NREAC) in Washington reports that the House reauthorization has stalled. H.R. 5 is currently being held. Republican members are being pressured to vote against the bill, and Democrats are expected to oppose the bill as written. The Senate is still working on a bipartisan bill. The current schedule is to mark up the bill in committee the … Read More
Budget Plans Begin to Hatch
As the policy deadlines loom the discussion about respective budget plans is starting to emerge. With a $1.9 billion surplus in hand the debate about education should be a matter of how much and where to spend it. The House Ways & Means Committee meets Monday morning to take testimony on what should be the upper limits of spending by … Read More
Education Policy Shaping Up As Deadlines Loom
March madness is in full swing at the state Capitol. This Monday marks the beginning of the first bill deadline. By Friday policy bills must clear their respective policy committees in order to be viable to continue on this session. Traditionally there’s an omnibus education policy bill and that’s true this year as well. The House and Senate education policy … Read More
Out-of-State Teacher Licensure Reform
A long predicted shortage of K-12 teachers has arrived and MREA has been working to raise awareness about this quiet crisis and bring forward a solution for Minnesota. HF645, sponsored by Rep. Deb Kiel (R-Crookston), proposes to streamline the process so teachers who are licensed out-of-state can teach in Minnesota classrooms. The bill would go a long way toward helping communities … Read More
Teacher Layoffs Debate Hits Senate
The Senate Education Committee heard two days of testimony this week on bills to streamline the teacher licensing process and require districts to use teacher performance, not seniority, as the primary factor in staffing decisions. The bills overhaul how the state licenses teachers and how school leaders make staffing decisions such as teacher layoffs. Districts typically use a “last in, … Read More
MREA Testifies on Loan Forgiveness Program
MREA testified this week in support of establishing a loan forgiveness program for newly licensed teachers in identified teacher shortage areas. The program would be available for up to five years. The House Education Innovation Policy Committee on Tuesday heard HF1170 sponsored by Rep. Peggy Bennett (R-Albert Lea). SF759 is the companion bill sponsored by Sen. Vicki Jensen (DFL-Albert Lea). It appropriates … Read More
Many Education Bills in the Air
MREA has been especially busy this year advocating on behalf of Greater Minnesota schools. There are a series of bills in the air. Here’s a rundown of what they are by key issue and where they stand at the Capitol as of now. Each includes the bill authors and where possible, links to their text and status at the legislature. … Read More
Bill to Improve IEP Process for Special Education
Key legislation has been presented to repeal a law that requires the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to contract for a single vendor for the IEP (Individualized Education Plan). HF 804 and SF 740 would instead require schools districts to contract with vendors for seamless transference of records. View issue brief. Currently 85 percent of school districts in Minnesota use the same system … Read More