Legislative Update
A Communication for Parents and Education Supporters in SEE Districts		 January 23, 2009
If this is your first Legislative Update from SEE - Welcome!
 
Brad Lundell, Executive Director for SEE, writes a blog on almost a daily basis.  For up-to-date detailed information about what is happening at the capitol visit Brad's Blog.
In This Issue
The Economic Stimulus Plan
At the Capitol - More Bad News
What You Can Do
Bills and Committees
Education Bills
Education Committees
Upcoming Education Committee Meetings
Quick Links

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The Economic Stimulus Plan
It was an historic week and all eyes were focused on Washington.  The new president is moving quickly on his stimulus package. State legislative leaders hope that federal dollars from President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill will help ease the budget deficit in Minnesota.
 
The Committee of Education and Labor website has released estimates of the amount of education funding that each school district will receive from the stimulus bill if it were to pass in its current form. These dollars are for Title-1 and IDEA special education plus an undefined "construction" category.  The funding is for 2009 and 2010 and doesn't look like it will continue after that.   
 
The federal government in the 1970s initially promised to pay 40% of the additional costs to provide mandated services to special education children.  It has never paid more that 17%.  Currently almost $600 million is cross subsidized from general education to special education in Minnesota.  It is not clear if these new federal funds could be used to pay for existing services which would free up money for the general education fund.  The concern would be that the funding would come with the requirement that it all be spent on new services in special education which would not help with the cross subsidy or the budget deficit in Minnesota. 
 At the Capitol - More Bad News
Updated budget numbers in Minnesota for the months of November and December show revenue collections down another $131 million dollars.  The soaring deficit makes the likelihood of any new funding for education more remote.  Yet, decimating our schools now due to lack of funding will cripple the state's ability to prosper when the economic times are better. 
 
Governor Tim Pawlenty will release his budget proposal on Tuesday, January 27.  In his State of the State address, he had said, "Times are tough and our budget crisis is huge. But even at a time like this, we need to increase funding for K-12 schools."  We will find out on Tuesday how he intends to do that.   
 
For more details of what happened this week, check out Brad's blog.
 Bills and Committees
Despite the looming deficit, work at the capitol continues.  Bills are being introduced and committees are meeting.  Brad Lundell is posting new education bills as they come up on his blog.  They are also listed below. 
 
Committee chairs determine which bills will be heard in committee.  For a bill to be included in the final education omnibus bill it must be acted on in committee by the first committee deadline which is Friday, March 14. 
 What You Can Do 
Contact U.S. Senator Klobuchar and your U.S. representative and ask them to be sure that the education funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill be used to fulfill the nation's original obligation to fund special education and not be tied to more mandates.  Click here to find the contact information for who represents you.
Working together, we can make a difference. 
 
If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me. 
 
Deb Griffiths
Director of Communications and Community Outreach
Schools for Equity in Education
612-309-0089
Education Bills
Following are selected education bills that have been introduced in the House and Senate.  
 
In the Senate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Education Committees
Attending a education committee meeting is an excellent way to show support for education issues and is an interesting way to see how the committees work to shape law.  If you are interested in visiting the capitol and attending a committee meeting, let me know and I will be happy to meet you. 
 
To see the committee members and the committee meeting schedule, click on the links below.
 
 
 
 Upcoming Education Committee Meetings
 
In the Senate . . .
 

Wednesday, January 28, 2009
E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol

Agenda:  College and Career Readiness Presentation

 

Thursday, January 29, 2009
E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol

Agenda:  S.F. 72  Clark

 
 
In the House . . .  
 
K-12 Education Finance 

MONDAY, January 26, 2009
2:45 PM
Joint Committee: K-12 Education Finance/Taxes
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chairs: Rep. Mindy Greiling, Rep. Ann Lenczewski
Agenda: Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB)
(1) Presentation by the Office of the Legislative Auditor
(2) Presentation by Department of Education
(3) Testimony of public school officials

TUESDAY, January 27, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: Presentation of Governor's education budget proposal


WEDNESDAY, January 28, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: State education funding accounting shifts


*** Note: *** Meeting is Canceled
THURSDAY, January 29, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda:

K-12 Policy and Oversight
 
TUESDAY, January 27, 2009
8:30 AM
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: Presentation on college and career readiness with Mike Cohen, president of Achieve, Inc.

WEDNESDAY, January 28, 2009
8:30 AM
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
*** Note: *** Change in Agenda
Agenda: To be announced


THURSDAY, January 29, 2009
8:30 AM
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
*** Note: *** Change in Agenda
Agenda: To be announced