All public school children must have equal access to a high quality
education regardless of where they live in Minnesota.
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Legislative Update A Communication for Parents and Education Supporters in SEE Districts | January 14, 2011 |
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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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What's happening at the Capitol
Governor Mark Dayton announced that he will present his budget proposal to erase the deficit on February 14th. Sometime after that, the legislative leaders will set their "targets" for each committee which is the dollar amount that each committee must cut from its area, (Transportation, K-12 Education, Higher Education, Health and Human Services, Veterans, etc.) House Fiscal and House Research staff gave the members of the House Finance committee an overview of education funding. The presentation contains an incredible amount of information. They highlighted the two conflicting yet accurate ways of looking at the trend in education funding (slides 21 - 24). Some say that education funding had tripled since 1984 as per student funding went from ~$4.000 to ~$12,000 (no adjustment for inflation). Others say that education funding has remained flat over the same 25 years. This analysis looks more at the classroom by removing the funding for special education mandates and bonding for school buildings which are considered costs that school districts can't control then adjusting for inflation. Under this scenario, classroom funding has remained steady at ~$4,000 per student even as our schools are continually asked to do more. |
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Alternative Teacher Licensure
The number one indicator of a child's academic success is the social-economic status of the family. The second indicator is the quality of the teacher in the classroom which will be the emphasis on education policy this session.
As expected, the House Education Reform Committee is looking at two bills addressing alternative pathways to obtain a teacher's license, HF3(Mariani) and HF63(Garofalo). The two bills are quite similar. HF63 includes a provision to make it easier for teachers licensed in other states to get a license to teach in Minnesota.
Even though many teachers over the next two years will lose their jobs due to flat or reduced state funding, proponents identified areas where qualified teachers are still hard to find:
1. Teachers who have graduated from programs that are targeted, customized and tailored to address diversity and the achievement gap. Minnesota is failing our students of color since they lag significantly behind the progress of white students. The status quo is not working for them.
2. Teaching staff that reflects the ethnic and cultural diversity of the student population in some schools. Only four percent of Minnesota teachers are racially diverse while 25% of our students are children of color.
3. In rural areas, teachers certified to teach certain content areas such as science, math and special education.
Specifically, these bills would provide a two-year limited-term teaching license and a pathway to full licensure to eligible individuals from Teach for America or similar programs that has demonstrated effectiveness and have measured outcomes of increasing student achievement. The Teach for America program takes top college graduates prepared to commit to teach two years in low-income communities and puts them through a teacher preparatory program. Minnesota already has about 30 Teach for America teachers in our schools through a waver process which is not a good way to establish a high quality alternative teaching licensure program.
Alternative teaching licensure seems to have bi-partisan support in the legislature. The state's teachers union continues to strongly object. I expect a version of one of these bills get to the governor's desk fairly early in the session. Read more on this subject . . . . |
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Chamber of Commerce Presentation
The Senate Education Committee opened with a presentation from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce entitled: WANTED : A Prepared Workforce NEEDED: Education Reforms. The Chamber laid out three legislative priorities:
1. Effective teacher in every classroom
2. Require reading at grade level by the time a student exits 3rd grade
3. Increased high school graduation requirements
These are broad concepts that the education community has been grappling with for years. We welcome the input from the business community and hope for their support as policy leaders look into implementing reforms that are needed (and often very expensive) to meet these legislative priorities. |
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Reality Check
Since the state does not have any money, any reforms that happen this session will, theoretically, come without a price tag. This severely limits what reforms the legislature can actually enact.
For those who say money isn't everything, I say it is the base. And with inadequate funding for our schools from the state, these reforms seem a little like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Yes, they might momentarily improve the quality of the experience, but the ship is still sinking. . . . |
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What can you do?
The decisions that will most impact our children and their schools are made at the STATE Capitol. Since children can't advocate for themselves, it up to us to be their voice.
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 when I send out action alerts. 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 a education supporters 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.
Contact your state senator and representative to introduce yourself. Now is a great time to send a quick email to your legislators. Something as simple as congratulating them on their election and thanking them for taking on the responsibility of representing your community. Don't forget to let them know how important education is to you and your family. Click here to find out who represents you. |
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If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me.
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Education Committees and Schedule
Senate Education Committee Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Committee on Education
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
3 p.m.
Room 15 Capitol |
Agenda: |
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Teacher Licensure
A presentation by Karen Balmer, Executive Director of the Minnesota Board of Teaching. | |
John Melick, Director Educator Licensing Division of the Minnesota Department of Education | |
Public testimony about the teacher licensing process-as available. |
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Committee on Education
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
3 p.m.
Room 15 Capitol |
Agenda: |
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Teach for America
Testimony by Daniel Sellers, Executive Director of Teach For America, Twin Cities |
House Education Committees House Education Finance Committee No meetings scheduled at this time. Click here to see up-to-date meeting schedule. House Education Reform Committee No meetings scheduled at this time. Click here to see up-to-date scheduled meetings. |
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