The Governor’s Supplemental Budget focuses 95 percent of the $39 million in ongoing appropriations on early learning and teacher recruitment. The centerpiece is a $25-million voluntary, formula funded at .6 APU, 350 hours per year PreK program for four year olds. Next in line is a $12 million for teacher recruitment programs for teacher candidates from under-represented populations and para-professionals in … Read More
Senate Education Committees Review 3 Key Bills
The Senate E-12 and Higher Education Committees heard bills last week on loan forgiveness, debt service, and additional funding for intermediate school districts and other school cooperatives serving certain children with disabilities. Loan Forgiveness Senate’s Higher Education Chair Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka) on Tuesday heard a bill that would fund the state’s newly created loan forgiveness program for teachers that was established … Read More
MREA, Members Advocate on Bills for Para Program, Concurrent Enrollment and Mental Health Services
MREA and its members advocated for three key bills last week that would help address the increasing teacher shortage, respond to the Higher Learning Commission’s concurrent enrollment changes and provide enhanced mental health services. On overview of each bill is below. Para to Teacher Program The Senate E-12 Committee on Thursday heard a bill that would create pathway to be licensed in … Read More
Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School Gets Money for Repairs
Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig High School on Leech Lake Indian Reservation in Bena, Minnesota will receive nearly $12 million for repairs and improvements. The support will help the school make critical repairs and create a safer learning environment for students on the reservation. Not originally designed or constructed to house a high school, the school funded by the Bureau of Indian Education serves as an example of … Read More
Vacancies Announced for State Boards
The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State has released new vacancies for state boards, councils and committees. Citizens in Greater Minnesota are encouraged to apply and serve. Current education-related vacancies are: Advisory Committee: Blind and Visually Impaired Vacancies: Three seats including- one special education director, one non-profit agency member, and one parent representative. Board of Trustee of the MN State Colleges … Read More
Education Omnibus Bills Introduced: How They Compare
After three packed weeks of bill introductions and testimony, both the House and Senate Omnibus Education Policy Bills passed out of committee for their first deadline. HF 3066 DE and SF 2744 A5 are designed to include policy changes that do not have state-level cost impacts. View side-by-side comparison of bills. Some of the more significant proposed policy changes include: Personal … Read More
Bills of Interest Moving Through Legislature
MREA, together with its members, has been working to address a series of education issues via several smaller requests during this short session. Here’s a look at the key issues and their progress as the Legislature faces bill deadlines: Concurrent Enrollment The Higher Learning Commission announced last fall it would require concurrent enrollment teachers to have at least 18 graduate credits in their content … Read More
Final Rush for Policy Bills: What’s Next?
This week is the second bill deadline at the Capitol. This is the final rush of policy bills and most individual finance bill hearings. Committee agendas this week are packed with many bills scheduled for hearings. It’s possible that by the end of the week we’ll see House and Senate supplemental budget plans emerge, at least at the “10,000-foot” level. … Read More
Final Rush for Policy Bills: What's Next?
This week is the second bill deadline at the Capitol. This is the final rush of policy bills and most individual finance bill hearings. Committee agendas this week are packed with many bills scheduled for hearings. It’s possible that by the end of the week we’ll see House and Senate supplemental budget plans emerge, at least at the “10,000-foot” level. … Read More
Bill Presented to Help Paras Receive Special Ed Licensure
The House Education Finance Committee on Wednesday heard a bill that would create pathway to be licensed in special education teaching for current paraprofessionals. HF3427 authored by Rep. Chris Swedzinski (R-Ghent), would establish a pilot project in partnership with Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota, the surrounding school districts, and the Southwest-West Central Service Cooperative. This program would be available online, on evenings, … Read More