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Legislative Update A Communication for Parents and Education Supporters in SEE Districts |
February 12, 2010 |
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If this is your first Legislative Update from SEE - Welcome!
For those who have been with us through the years - Thank you!
SEE publishes this Legislative Update weekly during the legislative session.
Brad Lundell, Executive Director for SEE, writes a blog on almost a daily basis. For up-to-date information about what is happening at the capitol visit Brad's Blog. | |
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The State of the State Address
Governor Tim Pawlenty gave his eighth and final State of the State address yesterday. The full text is included here. Most of it sounded very similar to his previous addresses. The governor is focusing on job creation and believes that Minnesota's business tax structure is costing jobs. A MPR article takes an interesting look at the data the governor was using to justify this assertion. Thus, the Governor is proposing a job creation bill that has a mulitude of tax cuts and incentives for businesses. Of course, he did not outline how to pay for the tax breaks. One can only assume with his "no new tax" stance, this proposal will add to the already significant $1.2 billion deficit.
The Governor is releasing his budget recommendations on Monday. He stated, "It will include dramatic and painful spending reductions. While programs for the military, veterans, core public safety functions and K-12 classrooms will be protected, nearly all other areas will be proposed for reduction."
It will be interesting to see what he defines as K-12 classroom spending. For example, in 2005 the Governor made a proposal that 70% of district revenue must be spent in the classroom. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) released data that showed a majority of the districts already met this requirement. However, later in the day the MDE adjusted the data and most of the districts fell below the 70% benchmark. What had changed? The Governor determined that mandated services for our special education children were not a classroom expense and these dollars were removed from the calculation. The 70% proposal was not adopted but this experience clearly shows that, as they say, the devil is in the details.
Most of his remarks on education were a reiteration of past proposals that did not fare well at the Legislature. However, he did make one unexpected proposal to address low-performing schools, the Governor wants to give mayors the accountability and full control of the Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts.
Predictably, leadership from the DFL controlled House and Senate were cool to the republican governor's address and expressed concern for the deeps cuts the Governor will be recommending. After the Governor releases his budget recommendations on Monday, the DFL controlled House and Senate will spend time picking it apart. However, then the Legislature will have to get down to business and make their own recommendations. The battle is just beginning and time is of the essence. As the governor pointed out, every day the State spends more money that it does not have and the options to erase the $1.2 billion deficit will narrow as time goes by.
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Education Policy Wish List and Implications
The House Education Policy Committee met on Tuesday and invited the different education organizations to share policy initiatives they would like considered this session. Representatives were present from the Chamber of Commerce, the teacher's union, the association of school board members, the secondary and elementary principals, the Minnesota Catholic conference, the association of school administrators, and the list goes on. Issues that emerged include:
Race to the Top (RTTT) - President Obama's competitive grant program will award dollars to a small number of states based on an application that documents how the state will improve student achievement. Typically major policy reforms are openly debated at the STATE legislature, experts are brought in and sound policy can emerge through the process. The RTTT application was developed at the MDE where the commissioner is a political appointee of the governor. Very little input was solicited from the major stockholders including superintendents, teachers, and parents. Is this the next bureaucratic nightmare circumventing the political process and saddling our schools with further under-funded mandates? Or, if the state does win a grant, will valuable funding be available to reform our schools resulting in increased teacher quality, improved student achievement and the closing of the achievement gap?
Teacher quality - The debate on how to get quality teachers in the classroom continues. What skills and training shall the Board of Teaching require teacher candidates to master to obtain a license? Should alternative paths to teacher licensure be available making it easier for professionals outside of the education sector to obtain a license? Should tenure be modified to include pay-for-performance criteria?
Graduation requirements - What does a diploma mean? What assessments will be used to assure students are proficient? How do we increase rigor?
Increase student achievement - How can data collected through student assessments be used by teachers to improve student achievement? What targeted services are known to improve student achievement and how can they be implemented across the state?
This and much more was put before the House Education Policy Committee. However, probably the most poignant message to the committee was the plea to "first do no harm." Policy rarely comes without a cost. Our schools are in a financial crisis and even the best intentioned policy can become fiscally toxic to our schools. Until the State provides adequate resources for our schools, it must refrain from actions that result in more unfunded mandates. |
| What You Can Do
Stay informed. Take the time to read SEE Legislative Updates. I will work to keep you informed and will suggest ways that you can help. Be prepared to act at critical times. This is going to be a rough session and the fate of education is unknown. Action can be as simple as sending an email or making a phone call.
Pass these updates on and ask your friends to sign up to receive SEE's Legislative Updates so they too can be part of our network. Now is the time to build education support networks so that when critical times occur during the legislative session we can respond. In this political world, it is the voice of many that can make a difference. |
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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
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| Education Committees
The senate has combined the education policy and education budget committees. That seems wise particularly in these tough economic times since rarely does an education policy or mandate come without any cost to our schools.
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