Gov. Mark Dayton prepares for a 1 pm news conference on Wednesday after signing 20 bills, vetoing two and leaving two with no action, including a tax bill containing significant opportunities for Greater Minnesota schools. When the legislature adjourned session on May 22, the Governor received extra time to review legislation that’s passed in the final three days of that session. … Read More
Loan Forgiveness Available for Teachers
Minnesota invested funding in new state program to provide student loan repayment assistance to teachers working in a shortage area. The application deadline for this year is June 30. The Minnesota Teacher Shortage Student Loan Repayment Program, established through legislation in 2015, aims to attract teachers to teach in Minnesota in designated shortage areas. Shortage areas include teacher licensure fields … Read More
MREA Provides Feedback on Tested Experience
MREA identifies six key changes to draft of the Tested Experience Framework released for feedback in late May by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU). Upon thorough review, MREA recommends the MnSCU Leadership Council table the draft and engage the K-12 community to develop a more comprehensive framework. Upon sharing the draft in late May, MnSCU hosted webinars the following … Read More
Award Nominations Due Starting June 3
MREA each year recognizes exemplary leaders and programs which deliver results for schools in Greater Minnesota through its Educators of Excellence, Profiles of Excellence and Distinguished Service awards. The Educator of Excellence Awards are for educators from MREA member organizations who strive to achieve the highest outcomes for Greater Minnesota students. This is the first year for these awards, and nominations … Read More
Conference Proposal Deadline Extended to June 3
To meet the requests of members, MREA has extended the deadline for submitting breakout session presentation proposals for its 2016 Annual Conference, Making Teaching Matter to Friday, June 3. While research continues to demonstrate that great teaching is more important than ever to student achievement, expectations for today’s professional teachers have redesigned teaching and made it a more demanding profession. Teachers, administrators, school board members, and others involved … Read More
Potential Federal Changes to Title Funding and Special Ed Formula
Two potential federal changes on Title I and Title IV Funding and a special education formula could come to fruition this summer and impact rural school districts in Minnesota. Here’s a look at the issues, what’s happening and action you can take. Title I and Title IV Funding NREAC estimates that Title I funding needs to increase $450 million to hold … Read More
2016 Session Closes with Help for Rural Communities
The Minnesota Legislature worked until the last allowable minute of the 2016 session. Two major pieces of legislation crossed the legislative finish line and are on their way to Governor Dayton’s desk for his signature into law. A $258 million tax cut bill and a $182 million supplemental budget bill made it just under the Sunday midnight deadline for passing bills. … Read More
Funding Approved: Early Learning, Concurrent Enrollment, Support Services
The Legislature passed a $182 million supplemental budget before the midnight deadline that included funding for early learning and several provisions requested by rural education interests. Early Learning The biggest piece of the E-12 pie is inclusion of a general education pre-K program with $25 million awarded in fiscal year ’17 to districts who apply and and meet certain criteria. A … Read More
Legislature Passes Ag2School Tax Credit
Legislature passed a major provision aimed at reducing farm taxes owed for school bond payments. This targeted bond credit for agricultural land is a major win for farmers and school districts struggling to pass building bonds. Here are the specifics and mechanics of how this credit will work: Who’s eligible: Eligible property for the credit includes all class 2a, 2b, and … Read More
MnSCU’s New Tuition Rate for Dual Credit Soars
The Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system (MnSCU) decided a month ago to adopt a uniform tuition for concurrent enrollment courses that for some high schools doubles their cost per dual credit course. MnSCU described this increase in a memo to the campus concurrent enrollment coordinators with general instructions to pass this along to the high schools. Read the memo. The decision … Read More