By Sam Walseth, MREA Director of Legislative Action This week the House and Senate Education committees are reviewing proposed legislation on the topics of early childhood education, school facilities and technology. Early Childhood Senate E-12 on Wednesday morning will review SF 6 calling for state reimbursement to schools providing four-year old preschool education. Later that day the House Education Finance … Read More
School Capital Levies Tax Discussion Coming
Expect a thorough discussion this session, especially in the House Property Tax Committee, on converting school capital levies tax base from Adjusted Net Tax Capacity to Referendum Market Value. Adjusted Net Tax Capacity (ANTC) includes all agricultural production land and seasonal and recreational property. Referendum Market Value (RMV) excludes agricultural land and seasonal and recreational. MREA has connected with a … Read More
MREA Releases Map on Household Income By Minnesota School Districts
MREA released a map today illustrating median household income by school district in Minnesota. The map reveals a wide rural-metro divide with the state’s wealthiest district’s median income more than five times the amount of the poorest district. Nine of the 12 districts with the lowest median household income in Minnesota serve a significant number of American Indian children. The … Read More
Scholarship Challenge Announced for Middle Schoolers
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and edX today announced a scholarship challenge for advanced middle school students. Every eligible seventh grade student who successfully completes one of the five selected edX courses will secure a semi-finalist position in the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Scholars Program. The Young Scholars Program, a selective pre-college scholarship for high-performing middle school students … Read More
MREA Map Raises Question on Calculating School District Wealth
MREA released a map today that illustrates patterns in ANTC/APU as a measure of Minnesota school district property wealth in 2014. A thumbnail is below. View the interactive map. In 2015, is ANTC/APU still the formula by which “The Legislature shall make provisions by taxation or otherwise as will secure a through and efficient system of public schools throughout the state?” (Minnesota … Read More
MREA Map Illustrates Family Income and Child Poverty by School District
MREA released a map today on family income and child poverty in Minnesota’s school districts by means of free and reduced lunch meals. Fifteen Greater Minnesota school districts have FRE percentages of 67 percent or more. A thumbnail is below. View the interactive map. Free & Reduced Meals Free and Reduced (FRE) meals are provided to families who qualify by … Read More
MREA Map of Referendum Market Value Shows Patterns in School District Wealth
MREA released a map showing patterns in Referendum Market Value by Residential Pupil Units as a measure of Minnesota school district property wealth in 2014. RMV/RPU is currently equalized in three tiers, which are shown in the thumbnail below. View the interactive map. Key Findings RMV/RPU has variation in property wealth across the state, but not as wide a variation as … Read More
Participate in NREA Foundation Essay Contest
The NREA Foundation invites you to participate in the Essay Contest. This year contestants participate in three divisions: elementary, middle/junior high, and high school. Grades 3-8 may participate in a written essay contest using the provided prompt and rubric. Grades 9-12 may participate in a video essay contest using the provided prompt and rubric. The winner in the elementary division receives … Read More
Dr. Mills Named MREA Board President
MREA welcomes Dr. Chris Mills as president of the Board of Directors. He has been elected by the board to serve a one-year term and help lead MREA’s efforts as the voice of education in Greater Minnesota. Dr. Mills currently serves as the superintendent of schools and elementary principal for Stephen/Argyle Central. We recently sat down with Dr. Mills to learn more about … Read More
Free Web Series to Address TDE Statute
The Minnesota Department of Education is offering free webinars on topics within the Teacher Development and Evaluation (TDE) process. Teacher leaders, administrators, or leadership teams can register for the topic(s) in which they are interested. These sessions will provide information, strategies and tools for TDE implementation and refinement and will last 20-40 minutes. Sessions run January and February, with the first session starting Tuesday, January 13. View … Read More