The state Assessment and Accountability Working Group voted last week to recommend dropping Minnesota’s GRAD exam and replacing it with new college-ready assessments designed to hold schools accountable for making sure every student graduates well-prepared for college or career. Commissioner Cassellius announced on the Minnesota Department of Education website on Friday that she plans to forward the final draft of … Read More
State School Finance Group Finalizes Recommendations
After a year and a half of work, the state’s School Finance Task Force finalized recommendations on a broad range of education finance reform measures. Commissioner of Education Brenda Cassellius will take the recommendations to Governor Dayton who is in the process of developing his budget recommendations for 2014-15 for the incoming legislature to review. Several previous attempts have been … Read More
Teacher Evaluation Recommendations Expected Dec. 13
The Teacher Evaluation Task Force has created an extensive default model that reflects current statutes as well as an extensive road map of best practices, Curt Rock, a Foley teacher who serves on the task force told MREA. The draft could be pulled off the shelf and implemented, but Rock expects that most will choose parts beyond the statute requirements … Read More
MREA Brings Together Districts with American Indian Students
At the annual conference in November, MREA brought together representatives of 10 school districts that have more than 15 percent American Indian population, MDE, and the White Earth Nation. Dennis Olson, new director of Indian Education at MDE, introduced himself to the group. Red Lake Superintendent Steve Wymore and MREA Lobbyist Sam Walseth facilitated a discussion of multiple issues and … Read More
New Political Map – Why the DFL Takeover?
November’s election brought significant changes for the state legislature that will convene on Jan. 8. After a two-year stint in the majority, the GOP caucuses were returned to minority status by the voters. Senate DFLers will enter session with a 39-28 majority. The House DFL returns with a 73-61 majority. A number of factors contributed to the DFL takeover of the … Read More
New Leadership Announced in Legislature
Since the election, the four caucuses have chosen their leaders. Here’s a rundown: Senate Majority Leader – Senator Tom Baak (DFL – Cook) Senate Minority Leader – Senator David Hann (R – Eden Prairie) Speaker of the House – Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL – Minneapolis) House Majority Leader – Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL – St. Paul) House Minority Leader – … Read More
Board of Teaching Act on MTLE
The Board of Teaching took actions on Nov. 9 to address the issues raised by implementation of the Minnesota Teacher Licensing Examination (MTLE) and identified some areas where it will seek legislative changes to the current statute. The actions were taken in response to concerns expressed at the Standards and Rules committee meeting of October. All of the actions include: … Read More
Aune Shares Where Standards Come From
Academic standards have become prevalent and detailed in Minnesota’s public schools. So, where do standards come from and why do we have them? Beth Aune, director of academic standards for the Minnesota Department of Education , gave attendees of the 2012 MREA Conference an inside look at the evolution, process and purpose of standards. She is passionate about standards, waking up … Read More
Melcher Speaks on School Funding Shifts at MREA Conference
Tom Melcher, director of school finance at the Minnesota Department of Education, presented on shifts education funding and sought feedback on reform from teachers, school board members and administrators Nov. 12 at the MREA Annual Conference. Melcher has been working with the Education Finance Working Group and hosting community listening sessions. The Working Group has been reviewing a decade of … Read More
Finance Task Force Explores Key Options Tuesday
The MDE Education Finance Task Force meets Tuesday to further explore six key options to solidify its recommendations to the Governor on bringing stability to the state’s funding formula. The group, initially formed in 2011 and reconvened this year, is focused on making recommendations to the Governor for a school funding model that: Focuses on supporting students and results (accountable) … Read More