MREA released map today showing the tax relief and equalization in SF 453. A thumbnail is below. View the interactive map. SF 453 replaces nearly $34 million in Operating Referendum Levies with State Equalization dollars: Raises Tier 1 Equalization Factor to $586,000, a 13% increase Lowers Tier 2 Equalization Factor to $259,000, a 4% decrease SF 453 Tax Impact on … Read More
MREA Map Shows Impact of HF 630
MREA released a map today showing the tax relief and equalization in HF 630. A thumbnail is below. View the interactive map. HF 630 replaces $28 million in Operating Referendum Levies with State Equalization dollars: Creates Referendum Market Value Equalization Factor (RMVEF) RMVEF will float with state total RMV value and state total PU’s so it maintains somewhat close to current … Read More
MREA Map Shows Impact of House Omnibus Bill
MREA released a map today showing the tax relief and equalization in HF 630. A thumbnail is below. View the interactive map. HF 630 replaces $28 million in Operating Referendum Levies with State Equalization dollars: Creates Referendum Market Value Equalization Factor (RMVEF) RMVEF will float with state total RMV value and state total PU’s so it maintains somewhat close to current … Read More
Omnibus E-12 Bill Rolls Out This Week
The 2013 legislative session must end six weeks from Monday. We are now entering the final phase of this budget setting session. The last phase begins with the major finance committee piecing their omnibus budget bills together. Most policy reforms will be carried in these bills as well. That is especially true in education where major reforms in assessments, teacher … Read More
Updates on the Omnibus Funding Components Coming
MREA will send out one or two supplemental e-updates this week to outline the funding components in each omnibus bill. MREA expects all day K to be a major provision in each bill. Beyond that, we have heard mixed messages about money on the formula versus special education. The House budget target of $550 million allows Chairman Marquart to do … Read More
Take Action: Education Policy Reform Debates Begin
Thank you to all who followed through with contacts to your legislators about the assessment reform and retirement of the GRAD. This will be a significant focus of debate during the omnibus bill mark-up process in the coming week. MREA will testify in support of these reforms, but it will be helpful to our cause if you continue talking to … Read More
MREA Releases Map on Tax Relief and Equalization in EAR
MREA released a map today showing the tax relief and equalization or EAR. Education Enhancement Revenue (EAR) – SF 177 as amended- provides, Tax Relief, Tax Equalization, and Closing the 5th to 95th Gap in Funding per Student. A thumbnail is provided below. View this interactive map by clicking here. What does EAR do? Provides a base $300 per student … Read More
Testing Overhaul for Students & Teachers
By Vernae Hasbargen, MREA Lobbyist After years of debating the merits of statewide tests continually redesigned to measure ever changing standards, the legislature appears ready to make significant changes. Retiring GRAD? An MDE Working Group on Assessment and Accountability, co-chaired by Fred Nolan, MREA’s executive director, has recommended replacing the high states tests in reading, math, and writing with ACT exams for all students. … Read More
Will Legislature Act on Teacher Health Insurance?
By Vernae Hasbargen, MREA Lobbyist Already this year the legislature has created the health insurance exchange MNsure required by the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). A big accomplishment. Next will be handling an issue which has been on the legislature’s plate for nearly 10 years – – teacher health insurance. Bills have made their way through many committees and how it … Read More
Open Enrollment Map: Students on Move in Minnesota
Where are the students going, where are they coming from, in Minnesota’s Open Enrollment? MREA released a map today to help answer those questions. Minnesota has had open enrollment for over two decades. The map aims to identify any patterns to the student movement. To display trends, the map shows student movement in and out of any district as a … Read More