The Weekly Advocate



In This Issue
Quick Links
Legislative Action
News on MSBA's Platform Issues
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Update on 2% General Education Formula

Thank you to everyone who reached out to legislative leadership and your representatives. Your voice is being heard.
If you haven't done so, it's not too late call or email asking for at least 2 percent on the formula.
Check it out! Social media has been a flurry with activity and posts; keep up the great work! Share and re-tweet!




Join us on Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter and help us spread the word.
 

My Legislators

Calendar Items

It's not too early to make appointments with your legislators for MSBA Day at the Capitol. We ask if you would please let us know so we can follow and arrange for a photographer. Please email [email protected] with "Meetings - DAC" in subject line.
 
To register and for hotel information, please click here.


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Committee Deadlines Announced
1st Deadline -
Friday, March 10 at midnight.
2nd Deadline -
Friday, March 17 at midnight.
3rd Deadline -
Friday, March 31 at midnight.
 

Monday Legislative Briefing
February 27, 2017 - Week 9

A Message from Kirk 
 
Special Education
Cross Subsidy
 
View our videos on YouTube

A Legislative Alert from the GR Team
Reduce the Cross Subsidy by at least 3%!
and ask to reduce the special education cross subsidy by least a 3%. 

For a sample letter,  click here!
 We are again including the special education cross subsidy runs by district for your review.  
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Looking Back   
   
House Committee Meetings 
  • Teacher Licensure Overhaul- A 52 page, "delete-all" amendment to H.F. 140 was heard in a crowded House Education Policy Committee room. Two key provisions are a new governance model and tiered licensure system.   
New Governance - The amendment  a bolishes the current Board of Teaching and establishes a new Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. 
The new board would be made up of 11 members:
    • Six teachers, including at least one Charter school teacher and one teacher licensed in a geographic or license shortage area. None of whom may be serving in an administrative function, or any position with the teacher union.
    • 2 superintendents; one from the seven-county metro area, and one from Greater Minnesota.
    • 2 principals; one elementary and one secondary.
    • 1 public member; may be a current or former school board member.
MSBA testified in support of a single entity. However, we expressed concern of the board makeup. MSBA suggested the board should include two sitting school board members and a human resource representative from a school district. 

Tiered Licensure System - establishes a four-tier licensing structure:
    • Tier 1 License: One-year duration; three automatic renewals; rules govern additional renewals.
    • Tier 2 License: One-year duration; three automatic renewals; rules govern additional renewals.
    • Tier 3 License: Three-year duration; unlimited renewals per renewal requirements.
    • Tier 4 License: Five-year duration; unlimited renewals per renewal requirements.
MSBA testified in support the authority and flexibility given to school boards in making hiring decisions for candidates.

Access more details on the governance model and tiered structure.

  Senate Committee Meetings
  • The Telecommunications Equity Aid (TEA) bill
    Testifiers on Telecommunications Equity Aid bill
    was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. MSBA's testifiers,
    • Marc Johnson - Executive Director of the East Central MN Educational Cable Cooperative (ECMECC) and Josh Sumption, Director of Technology at SWWC Service Cooperative, provided excellent testimony on the affordability and inequity in costs from school district to school district for broadband services. Denise Dittrich testified on the statewide benefits of fully funding for Internet/Broadband services.
  • School board elections are back in St. Paul. MSBA's Grace Keliher is meeting with legislators and Chair Kiffmeyer to work on bills dealing with logistics of elections. Currently there are a couple of issues regarding time frames and polling places that would prove problematic for school boards.
  • Decoding Dyslexia Minnesota held a "day at the capitol" event last week. Families filled hearing rooms and legislators offices to promote adding a specialist at the department to coordinate screening and training.
    MSBA supports having a specialist within in MDE, if funds are appropriated. 
      
  • MSBA's Teacher Shortage Act bill (H.F. 1663) was introduced. The bill is a comprehensive approach to building the teacher pipeline, especially with teachers of color, and focusing on development and retention as well.
Looking Forward

Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB)
The MMB is scheduled to release the February Budget and Economic Forecast on Tuesday , February 28th. The forecast provides the basis used to create targets for the biennial budgeting process used by legislators. Follow us on Twitter and our blog for updated information.

Senate Committee Meeting Topics
  • Bills impacting high school students will be heard Tuesday afternoon (S.F. 333)
    • The requirement of a Nationally normed college entrance exam for high school graduation requirement. MSBA supports utilizing a nationally normed college entrance exam in substitution of an existing standardized test. 
    • The mandate of a civics class for high school graduation (S.F. 1061) . MSBA opposes new graduation mandates.
House Committee Meeting Topics
  • Tuesday  morning, the House Education Innovation Committee will hear HF 1478 on unrequested leave of absence or LIFO.  MSBA supports school board discretion in retaining the highest quality teachers in our classrooms.
  • Thursday afternoon, Sen. Pratt will  offer a "delete-all" amendment (scs0004a-5) for teacher licensure. MSBA is currently evaluating this amendment.
For additional bills and topics on specific days and times, please check the Combined Calendar .

Bills of Interest & Impact
As session progresses, we will provide updates on significant bills that have been heard. When possible, we will provide links to the video so you can watch with us.

H. F. 1420, A bill modifying world's best workforce performance measures and reports .

  H. F. 1421, A bill authorizing school boards to adopt policies for certain snow days; authorizing e-learning days for school days with inclement weather.

H. F. 1426, A bill disaggregating results of teacher preparation program summaries by race.

H. F. 1428, A bill clarifying the nonresident tuition rate for certain court-placed students.

H. F. 1457, A bill increasing appropriations for advanced placement and international baccalaureate examination fees and teacher training and related costs.

H. F. 1478, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying unrequested leave of absence provisions.

H. F. 1501, A bill clarifying speech and press rights of student journalists in grades 7 through 12 and in post-secondary institutions.

  H. F. 1507, A bill creating the Student Data Privacy Act; providing penalties.

  H. F. 1549, A bill allowing school board proceedings to be posted online; modifying referendum notice requirements.

  H. F. 1558, A bill for an act relating to school district insurance; regulating coverage.

  H. F. 1593, A bill allowing public school students to attend courses at nonpublic schools.

  H. F. 1602, A bill requiring a civics class for high school graduation.

H. F. 1639 , A bill authorizing schools to create innovation zones.

H. F. 1647, A bill modifying the safe schools levy;

H. F. 1663, A bill for a comprehensive solution to teacher shortage.

S.F. No. 1230: A bill establishing a tiered teacher licensing system. 

S.F. No. 1338: A bill for special education teacher licensing.

S.F. 1346: A bill modifying academic standards; establishing child sexual abuse prevention programs.

S.F. No. 1361: A bill authorizing recall elections for school board members.

Minnesota School Boards Association | 507-934-8133 | [email protected]
   http://www.mnmsba.org
145 University Avenue West
St. Paul, MN 55103