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Please send or call  Sen. Nelson and urge her to include the bills heard to reduce special education paperwork in her omnibus bill.
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Please mark your calendars to join us for Day at the Capitol on Monday, March 25.


2019 Legislative Session
Week Ten - March 11, 2019
House Education Policy Omnibus Bill Introduced 
Over the weekend, the Omnibus bill, a 101-page document, was released and it was a bit reminiscent of last year's vetoed bill. Much of what we have been highlighting over the past few weeks was included in the bill, including 10 new mandates.  
 
MSBA has testified on many of these provisions during the first weeks of session. The testimony provided was in support and opposition of bills and remarks on a number of requirements MSBA believes should remain under the jurisdiction of locally elected school boards or at the very least, be fully funded.
 
MSBA is very proud to share that the six bills seeking to reduce special education paperwork are included in the chair's Omnibus bill. It has been a journey. New Ulm submitted ideas in the interim. MSBA had bills drafted,  acquired authors, and provided testimony during committee hearings and to the Omnibus bill. MSBA thanks everyone who helped get the bills to this point through conversations, emails and other support. MSBA will continue to advocate for the bills in the Senate and hope the Senate E-12 Finance and Policy Omnibus bill also includes the bills. Please take a moment to email or call Sen. Carla Nelson and encourage her to include the six provisions in the bill -- it is time to make movement in this area.

Other provisions MSBA are encouraged to see:  
*    Flexibility with pre-Labor Day start date for the next two school years.
*    Initiatives to increase the teachers of color in Minnesota; however, we believe some items have costs to implement statewide. 
*    Expansion of the duties of the dyslexia specialist to better meet the needs of dyslexia students.
*    Affirmation of the ability to negotiate teacher retention and protection from unrequested leave of absence (ULA).
*    We oppose ECFE and ABE teachers subject to continuing contract.  
 
MSBA has previously provided public testimony on the provisions that we oppose in this bill: 
*   Any changes to the tiered licensure system before school boards have had the opportunity to work with the new system long enough to bring real data as to the effectiveness of the changes. MSBA has concerns that any changes made to a system that has been in place less than five months would be premature.  
*    We understand the difficulty the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) is experiencing in getting members to fulfill all of the board's responsibilities.  We would submit if the board is increased, one or more school board members should be included, as opposed to all teachers.  
*    We oppose the reduction of electives -- local school boards are designing high schools to prepare all students for career/college pathways and need the flexibility, at the local level, to continue that work. New course requirements in government and personal finance will cost school districts money. MSBA believe there will be a financial impact and suggests a local fiscal note to help determine the statewide cost. 
*    Comprehensive sex education should remain a locally determined program and curriculum.

A number of the provisions in the omnibus bill would be considered new or additional requirements: 
*    Dyslexia screening required -- cost associated with the annual screening.
*    Comprehensive sexual health education program and curriculum required.
*    Lead in water and radon testing, notification, and remediation required.
*    Non-exclusionary disciplinary policies  
*    Compulsory attendance from age 7 to age 6. One may predict more students would be attending school and districts would be responsible for .4 of the funding.  
*    New required high school courses in government and personal finance.
*    New report listing the number of teachers in a building who hold a Tier 1-4 license.  
*     A teacher with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 license cannot have the same student in their classroom a second year.  
*     A school district must adopt and post a policy for student journalism.  
Education Bill Introductions
House
House Education Bills Introduced Thursday, March 7
House Education Bills Introduced Monday, March 4
Senate
Senate Bills Introduced Thursday, March 7
Senate Bills Introduced Monday, March 4
 
Upcoming Meetings and Events
House
Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division
Tuesday, March 12  8:00 AM      
Room: Capitol 120
Agenda:
HF1590 -Early education provisions modified, five regions for the voluntary prekindergarten program established, and school readiness plus program made permanent. (Bernardy)
HF1512 - Early education teacher licensure requirements established. (Sandell)

Thursday, March 14  8:00 AM
Room: Capitol 120
Agenda:
HF1384 - Tribal organizations and Head Start programs background studies governed. (Her)
HF1382 - Charter schools authorized to provide special education deaf and hard-of-hearing services to students at early ages. (Richardson)
HF1785 - Pupil Fair Dismissal Act amended, and pupil dismissals limited. (Richardson)

Education Finance Division
Tuesday, March 12  9:45 AM      
Room: 5 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF525 - Pupil transportation adjustment calculation modified, pupil transportation working group provided, and report required. (Persell)
HF1100 - American Indian Tribal Contract school aid continued at its current level, and money appropriated. (Kunesh-Podein)
HF501 - American Indian-controlled tribal contract and grant school funding provided for Minnesota reading and math corps programs, and money appropriated. (Persell)
HF1177 -Minnesota math corps program funding provided, and money appropriated. (Wazlawik)
HF521 - School safety grant funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.(Davnie)

Wednesday, March 13 9:45 AM
Room: 5 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF2207 (Davnie) A bill for an act relating to education finance; providing funding for prekindergarten through grade 12 education including general education, education excellence, special education, facilities and technology, nutrition, libraries, early childhood and family support, community education, self-sufficiency and lifelong learning, and state agencies; appropriating money.

Presentations from Kate Lynne Synder & Dr. Tom Melcher

Education Policy Division
Monday, March 11  10:00 AM      
Room: Capitol 120
Agenda:
HF1572 - Service-learning grant program established, report required, and money appropriated. (Sandell)
HF578 - K-12 education expense credit modified.(Lien)
HF1711 - Superintendent provisions nonsubstantive style and form changes made.(Youakim)
Walk-Through of Omnibus Bill and Begin Testimony

Tuesday, March 12 2:30 PM
Room: 5 State Office Building
Agenda:
The H1711DE1 amendment for HF1711 (Youakim) will serve as the Education Policy omnibus bill.

Wednesday, March 13  2:30 PM
Room: 5 State Office Building
Begin Mark-Up of H1711DE1 (Omnibus Bill)

Thursday, March 14  9:45 AM
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Cheryl Youakim
Agenda:
Complete Mark-Up of H1711DE1 (Omnibus Bill)
(Reconvene if necessary at 6PM)

Senate  
Committee on E-12 Finance and Policy
Monday, March 11  3:00 PM
Room G-15 Capitol
Agenda:    
S.F. 1056 - Shared time pupils definition expansion. (Rosen)
S.F. 1211 - Student organizations appropriation. (Dahms)
S.F. 1212 - Agricultural educator grants appropriation. (Dahms)
S.F. 1347 - Minnesota math corps program appropriation. (Anderson, P.)
S.F. 1689 -  Civics education programs grants appropriations. (Chamberlain)
S.F. 1439 -  Education curriculum review and best practices sharing establishment and appropriation. (Nelson)
S.F. 1353 -  Teaching license revocation or denial for certain inappropriate behavior toward a student. (Relph)

Wednesday, March 13  3: 00 PM
Room 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Agenda:    
S.F. 299 -  Academic achievement rating system establishment requirement. (Chamberlain)
S.F. 1861 - School student testing provisions modifications. (Utke)
S.F. 1503 - Public schools energy use reduction data reporting requirement. (Goggin)
S.F. 1958 - Superintendents nonsubstantive style and form changes authorization.(Nelson)
S.F. 1557 -Teacher licensure requirements modifications. (Kent)

Mark Your Calendar
Deadlines for Bills Announced
(1) The first deadline, March 15, 2019, at 11:59 p.m., is for committees to act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
(2) The second deadline, March 29, 2019, at 11:59 p.m., is for committees to act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other house.
(3) The third deadline, April 12, 2019, at 11:59 p.m., is for committees to act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
 The Governor and Legislative leaders announced three new deadlines to help move bills forward after they have been heard in the House and Senate. The three new deadlines are:
  • the House and Senate will pass all major finance bills off their respective floors and leadership will appoint conference committees by May 1;
  • the governor, Senate majority leader and House speaker will provide fiscal targets to the chairs of conference committees on major finance bills by May 6; and
  • conference committee chairs shall provide completed conference committee reports to the house of origin by May 13.
Mark your calendars for MSBA's Day at the Capitol on Monday, March 25.

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