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Update for March 3-7, 2008 — From Mary Cecconi, Executive Director

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What is happening at the Capitol?
It has been a fast paced week and on the policy side, two bills that I would highlight are HF3472/SF 3151 (Rep. Mariani/Sen. Torres-Ray), a bill that is aimed at closing the achievement gap, and HF 3329/SF 2882 (Rep. Brynaert/Sen. Rummel), a bill that would work to change the way we report our schools successes in academic achievement. Rep. Mariani for is looking for input on both of these bills; read his letter and respond if you can.

On the funding side, HF 2978/SF 2815 (Rep. Morgan/Sen. Saxhaug) is the emergency bill that works to put 2% on the per pupil formula and continues to close the cap gap that the state has in meeting its obligation to fund its formula for special education. It also changes the language for referendum ballots, an issue many of us have dealt with over the years.

• If you have received this email and want to learn more about us, check our website and let us know if you have questions. Click this link if you are interested in our legislative platform.
• The Minnesota School Boards Association hosts a lobby line which they update daily with legislative activity they see as pertinent to Minnesota schools. That number is 1-800-864-6722.
• If you are interested in tracking specific bills or in finding out more about the legislative education committees and when and where they meet, link to At the Capitol.
• Visit the Capitol! "Demystify the system" for yourself and others you may know. It is not as big or scary as you may think. Meet me at the Capitol for an hour or a day, visit an education hearing and stop in to see your local legislators. Just call 651-214-6565 or email Mary Cecconi.

In this issue

A Look Ahead at the Week of March 10
Committee meetings and bills scheduled to be heard change frequently! Be sure to check the daily schedule of hearings and agendas.

JUST ANNOUNCED: the Senate Education Policy Omnibus Bill has been placed on the agenda for Wednesday, March 13 during the 3 pm hearing. 

Other Bills to Watch
As the session heats up there are many bills that come forward that you may have interest in watching. On our site, we have them listed in a very convenient way. Check it out!

In this issue

Hot Topics

• The Special Education Task Force makes recommendations for change
• A chilling call to St. Paul: Superintendents speak out about Minnesota's failed funding system
• Check the Hot Topics on our website for new and updated pages and reports

"That the public understands that funding is the greatest problem facing the schools will have no practical significance unless we can find ways to translate this sentiment into better funding for schools. The day is gone when school people could concentrate on operating schools and leave others to take care of funding. School leaders, teachers, and parents have no choice but to become lobbyists for their schools. They are the best advocates for public schooling."       — from 39th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup poll

In this issue

Bills Scheduled to be Heard

Senate Education Committee
Bills scheduled to be heard:
SF 2653 (Betzold-DFL) Conflict of Interest Exception for Certain School Contracts for Professional and Other Services
SF 2754 (Betzold-DFL) School Background Checks
SF 3151 (Torres Ray) Narrowing the Achievement Gap Plans
SF 3250 (Rummel-DFL-White Bear Lake) Minnesota's Promise
SF 3001 (Wiger-DFL-North St. Paul) Minnesota Department of Education Technical and Policy Bill
SF 2815 (Saxhaug) Basic Formula Increase; Modifying Referendum Ballot Language
SF 3194 (Bonoff-DFL-Minnetonka) School Technology Initiatives
SF 2420 (Wiger-DFL-North St. Paul) High School Earth and Space, Life and Physical Sciences Assessment Requirement
S.F. 2882 (Rummel-DFL-White Bear Lake) School Report Card
S.F. 3029 (Dahle) Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs
S.F. 2940 (Carlson, J-DFL) School Year Start Repeal; Education Department Report Requirements; School Board Resolution for Primary Requirement Modification; Superintendent Report Requirements Elimination.

Senate E-12 Education Budget Division
Bills scheduled to be heard:
S.F. 3244 (Skogen-DFL) Principals leadership institute grant appropriation
S.F. 3312 (Rumme-DFL-White Bear Lake) Minnesota humanities center grant appropriation
S.F. 2964 (Torres Ray-DFL-Minneapolis) Adult basic education aid modification
S.F. 2669 (Rummel-DFL-White Bear Lake) Early childhood education developmental screening aid modification
S.F. 3436 (Doll) Minnesota Historical Society teacher professional and curriculum development appropriation
S.F. 2397 (Clark) Independent school district #750, Rocori; disability access account fund transfer
S.F. 2514 (Frederickson) Independent school district #411, Balaton; fund transfer
S.F. 2868 (Lourey, T.) Independent school district #2580, East Central; fund transfer
S.F. 2371 (Wiger-DFL-North St. Paul) Ice arena education levy authority increase
S.F. 2801 (Lynch-DFL-Rochester) Independent school district #2899, Plainview-Elgin-Millville; community education fund balance adjustment correction
S.F. 2678 (Stumpf-DFL-Thief River Falls) Independent school district #356, Lancaster; transition revenue adjustment
S.F. 3249 (Tomassoni) Independent school district #706, Virginia; funds transfer authorization
S.F. 3344 (Vickerman) Independent school district #671, Hills-Beaver Creek; permanent fund transfer.

In this issue

House E-12 Education Policy
Bills scheduled to be heard:
HF3472 (Mariani-DFL-St. Paul) Achievement gap; school district plan to reduce the achievement gap provided
HF3390 (Loeffler) Public health access fund established, BMI monitoring program for children established, statewide health improvement program established, tobacco impact fees increased, and money appropriated
HF3347 (Moe-DFL-) Adequate yearly progress designations appeals process clarified relating to education
HFXXXX (Slocum-DFL-) GRAD test appeals process established
HF3465 (Swails-DFL-Woodbury) Education assessment results reporting modified
HF3263 (Clark) American Indian tribes contributions and communities instruction integrated into teacher preparation and licensing requirements, and money appropriated.
Report from Task Force to Compare Federal and State Special Education Requirements
HF3596 (Faust) Education commissioner prohibited from enforcing unadopted rules
HF3621 (Hilstrom) Special education task force extended to allow for completion of study of state special education rules
HF3733 (Peterson, S.) Alternative teacher professional pay system clarified, and oversight established
HF3403 (Welti) Grades 10 through 12 assessment provided for earth and space, life, and physical sciences
HF3316 (Mariani) Prekindergarten through grade 12 education provided for general education, education excellence, special programs, libraries, and self-sufficiency and lifelong learning (Minnesota Department of Education policy bill)

House K-12 Finance Division
On Wednesday, March 5 the committee took testimony and heard presentations on education funding conditions from 8 districts from across the state.
Bills scheduled to be heard:
HF2860 (Olin) Independent School District No. 356, Lancaster transition revenue adjusted
HF2980 (Benson-DFL-Minnetonka) School facilities formulas modified, additional districts qualified for alternative facilities revenue, and deferred maintenance revenue and leased facilities levy increased
HF2846 (Greiling-DFL-Roseville) School district alternative facilities bonding eligibility standards modified
HF2475 (Greiling-DFL-Roseville) School district capital facilities bond repayment time period extended
HF3022 (Juhnke) Independent School District No. 347, Willmar, school site minimum acreage requirement waived
HFXXXX (Faust) School facilities
HF2978 (Morgan-DFL-Burnsville) Education finance; basic formula allowance increased, special education revenue proration eliminated, special education funding increased, referendum ballot language modified, and money appropriated
HF2982 (Bly-DFL-Northfield) Alternative learning centers and charter schools five-year pilot program established to identify systemic improvement measures to best serve eligible students, and money appropriated.

In this issue

Questions? Email Mary Cecconi

Parents United for Public Schools
1667 Snelling Avenue N., St. Paul, MN 55108
651-999-7391
www.parentsunited.org