Association of Metropolitan School Districts Update

January 30, 2009

Governor’s Budget Proposal

Additional information has been posted on the MDE web site related to the Governor’s budget proposal including a spreadsheet projecting how much revenue each school district would receive under the Pay for Progress proposal:

http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/Accountability_Programs/Program_Finance/Forecasts_Governors_Budget/index.html

This is just an estimate as it is based on student growth from 2006-07 to 2007-08.  The actual revenue each district would receive next year under this proposal will be based on student growth from 2007-08 to 2008-09 as measured by the MCA II reading and math assessments.  Each student showing medium growth would generate a 1% increase in revenue and each student showing high growth would generate a 2% increase.  The growth score is reached by averaging the math and reading scores.  Students showing low growth would not generate any revenue under this proposal even if they were proficient on the MCA exam.  I am attaching a document outlining the growth model that shows the statewide averages for each cell.

Legislative Committee Deadlines Established

House and Senate Leadership have agreed to the following committee deadlines:

Friday, March 27 – First Deadline (policy bills must pass all relevant committees in one body or other by this date)
Tuesday, April 7 – Second Deadline (policy bills must pass all relevant committees in the other body by this date)
April 8 to April 14 (noon) – Easter and Passover break
Wednesday, April 15 – Third Deadline – finance division bills and property tax bills out of relevant committees
Wednesday, April 22 – Fourth Deadline – Tax and Finance bills to the floor

Congresswoman McCollum Town Hall Forum

AMSD is sponsoring a town hall forum featuring Congresswoman Betty McCollum on Monday, February 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon in the Grand Hall of the TIES Building.  Congresswoman McCollum will provide an overview of the economic stimulus package and gather input from education professionals.  The U.S. House has passed it version of the legislation but the Senate has yet to act.  The Senate version is certain to have differences and a compromise will have to be reached in a conference committee.  This is a great chance to have your voice heard on this major issue.  There is no charge for the forum but we would appreciate an RSVP so we know how many to plan for.  Details are on the attached flyer.

Legislative Hearings

Here are some hearings of interest next week that have been scheduled thus far:

MONDAY, February 2, 2009

10:30 AM

Joint Committee: State Property Tax System Benchmarks and Critical Indicators Working Group

Room: 400N State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Denise Dittrich

Agenda: Working to provide state policymakers with the tools to create a more accountable and efficient property tax system.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009 - 8:30 AM

E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division

Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf

8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol

Agenda:  OLA - Report on Q-Comp

TUESDAY, February 3, 2009

8:30 AM

Room: Basement State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani

Agenda: Racial disparities in education achievement in Minnesota

TUESDAY, February 3, 2009

2:45 PM

K-12 Education Finance Division

*** Note: *** Change in meeting room

Room: Basement State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling

Agenda: Office of Legislative Auditor evaluation report on Q-Comp

TUESDAY, February 3, 2009

4:30 PM

Local Government Decision-Making Flexibility and Mandate Reduction Working Group

Room: 500 North State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning

Agenda: The group is charged with empowering local decision-making and flexibility in local budgets.

TUESDAY, February 3, 2009

4:30 PM

Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division

Room: 200 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik

Agenda: Governor's budget recommendations -- Department of Human Services and Department of Education

THURSDAY, February 5, 2009

1:00 PM

Local Government Performance Measurement and Improvement Program Working Group

Room: 500 North State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Paul Marquart

Agenda: The group is charged with providing taxpayers with greater value and enhancing efficiency and performance in local governments

THURSDAY, February 5, 2009

4:30 PM

Committee: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division

Room: 200 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik

Agenda: Testimony from the public on the Governor's budget recommendations.

Please contact Committee Administrator, Sara Benzkofer at 651.296.4305 if you are interested in testifying.

Association of Metropolitan School Districts Update

January 28, 2009

Governor’s Budget Recommendations

The vast majority of the full budget document on the Management and Budget web site provides background information on existing programs.  Given the huge budget shortfall, the list of recommended changes the Governor is proposing is pretty short:  Q Comp expansion, Pay for Performance, Teacher Transformation Act, assessment policy and schedule changes, Principals’ Leadership Institute, Minnesota Virtual Education Program, Summer of Success Program, Funding for Math and Science Teacher Academies, Repeal of the January 15 contract penalty, capping integration revenue and converting the Perpich School to a charter school.  Here is a link to a summary focusing on the specific change items in the Governor’s budget:

http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/budget/narratives/gov/education.pdf

In addition, you can access information on the MDE web site including a district run showing potential new revenue resulting from the expansion of Q Comp and the performance pay proposal:

http://education.state.mn.us/mde/index.html

House K-12 Education Committee Hearings Web Cast

The hearings on the GRAD this morning and tomorrow morning are scheduled to be web cast – here is the link where you can watch the hearing on your computer: 

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/schedule.asp

Association of Metropolitan School Districts Update

January 27, 2009

Governor’s Budget Recommendations Released

Governor Pawlenty’s budget recommendations were just released and can be accessed via the Minnesota Management and Budget web site.  Here is a link to the Power Point presentation:

http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/budget/bud-op/op10/presentation.ppt#6

And here is a link to the education budget recommendations:

http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/budget/narratives/gov/education.pdf

We will be sending out more information after we have a chance to review the budget documents.

House Hearing on the GRAD test

The House E-12 Education Committee has scheduled two hearings on the GRAD test.  There will not be a bill before the committee.  Rather, the hearings are meant to provide background information and discussion time for committee members related to the issue.  Please note that the room location for the two meetings has been changed to Room 200 in the State Office Building.

Association of Metropolitan School Districts Update

Saturday, January 24, 2009

I have updated the legislative hearing schedule for next week as some additional committee meeting notices came through after I sent the last update.  I would especially draw your attention to the House E-12 Education Committee hearings on the GRAD on Wednesday and Thursday.  I am attaching a very informative document prepared by House Researcher Lisa Larson relating to the history of the GRAD and the BST.

In addition, I am attaching a document that does an excellent job of explaining education accounting shifts.  As you know, this is a tool governors and legislators have used in the past to balance the state budget and they will almost certainly do so again this session.

Legislative Hearings

Here is an updated list of hearings:

Association of Metropolitan School Districts Update

January 23, 2009

U.S. House Stimulus Proposal

I am attaching a spreadsheet prepared by AMSD Research Director Kevin Sampers showing a breakdown of the estimated revenue school districts would receive under the stimulus proposal prepared by the U.S. House.  The U.S. Senate has not yet released

Mandate Reduction Effort

Also attached is a list of mandates proposed for elimination or waiver.  This was a joint effort by AMSD, MSBA, MASA, MREA, SEE and others and was in response to a request for such a list from the Governor and legislative leaders.  I would appreciate your suggestions for additions, deletions, etc. to the list.

Legislative Hearings

Here are some hearings of interest next week.  In addition, Governor Pawlenty will be releasing his budget proposals on Tuesday.

AMSD UPDATE FOLLOW-UP:

Here are links to the language of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the related report:

http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/RecoveryBill01-15-09.pdf

http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/RecoveryReport01-15-09.pdf

Association of Metropolitan School Districts Update

January 21, 2009

 AMSD Winter Conference Pre-Registration Deadline is Today

Today is the last day to pre-register for AMSD’s winter conference.  You can still fax registration forms in today and send payment in later.  The registration form is attached for your convenience.  We will accept walk up registrations on the day of the conference.

U.S. House Stimulus Proposal

 The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor has posted information related to the education funding provisions in the House stimulus proposal.  Keep in mind that this is indeed a PROPOSAL.  The Senate has not yet released its proposal and there could be many changes to the legislation as it moves through the committee process.  In other words, don’t put this money in the bank!

I have visited with Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s legislative director, Emily Lawrence, about the proposal and encouraged her to be mindful of the maintenance of effort requirement in the current special education law.  This is a major issue that needs to be addressed if the proposed new special education funding is to provide financial relief to school districts.  Emily is going to make sure the committee staff is aware of this issue.  Here is a link where you can access the ESTIMATED revenue your school district would receive under the House proposal:

http://edlabor.house.gov/selected-allocations-for-school-districts-under-the-american-recovery-and-reinvestment-bill/index.shtml

Roseville Legislative Action Coalition Forum

I am attaching a flyer with information about a forum being sponsored by the Roseville Legislative Action Committee.  Guest speakers will be State Economist Tom Stinson and State Demographer Tom Gillaspy.  The forum is scheduled for Monday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Roseville Middle School Auditorium.  It should be a very interesting program.

Association of Metropolitan School Districts Update

January 21, 2009

AMSD Winter Conference Pre-Registration Deadline is Today

Today is the last day to pre-register for AMSD’s winter conference.  You can still fax registration forms in today and send payment in later.  The registration form is attached for your convenience.  We will accept walk up registrations on the day of the conference.

U.S. House Stimulus Proposal

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor has posted information related to the education funding provisions in the House stimulus proposal.  Keep in mind that this is indeed a PROPOSAL.  The Senate has not yet released its proposal and there could be many changes to the legislation as it moves through the committee process.  In other words, don’t put this money in the bank!

I have visited with Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s legislative director, Emily Lawrence, about the proposal and encouraged her to be mindful of the maintenance of effort requirement in the current special education law.  This is a major issue that needs to be addressed if the proposed new special education funding is to provide financial relief to school districts.  Emily is going to make sure the committee staff is aware of this issue.  Here is a link where you can access the ESTIMATED revenue your school district would receive under the House proposal:

http://edlabor.house.gov/selected-allocations-for-school-districts-under-the-american-recovery-and-reinvestment-bill/index.shtml

Roseville Legislative Action Coalition Forum

I am attaching a flyer with information about a forum being sponsored by the Roseville Legislative Action Committee.  Guest speakers will be State Economist Tom Stinson and State Demographer Tom Gillaspy.  The forum is scheduled for Monday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Roseville Middle School Auditorium.  It should be a very interesting program.

Association of Metropolitan School Districts Update

January 15, 2009

State of the State Address

I am attaching the text and a summary of Governor Pawlenty’s State of the State Address.  Pasted below is the related press release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                           Contact:    Brian McClung

January 15, 2009                                                                                        (651) 296-0001

GOVERNOR pawlenty OUTLINES PLANS TO SPUR JOB GROWTH, INVEST IN K-12 SCHOOLS IN STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

~ Governor asks legislators to keep in mind decisions made at Minnesota kitchen tables ~

Saint Paul – In his 2009 State of the State Address today, Governor Tim Pawlenty implored legislators to keep in mind the hopes and fears of Minnesotans at kitchen tables across the state as lawmakers work to balance the state’s budget and position Minnesota for future success. 

“The couple at the kitchen table begins by setting priorities,” Governor Pawlenty said in the speech.  “What’s most important?  What can we afford?  What do we give up?  How can we do things different?  We need to ask and answer the very same questions.”

Governor Pawlenty said, “The state of our state is challenged, but overcoming challenges is what Minnesota does best.  So let’s get at it.”

Among the proposals outlined in the speech, the Governor included a package of tax cuts and incentives, called the “Minnesota Jobs Recovery Act,” designed to unleash creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and job growth. 

The “Minnesota Jobs Recovery Act” includes:

• Business tax rate reduction – cutting the state’s business tax rate from 9.8 percent to 4.8 percent over six years
• Job Growth Investment Tax Credit – providing incentives for investments in regional funds, stimulating investment dollars for emerging businesses
• Small Business Investment Tax Credit – providing incentives for investments in certified capital companies that would be required to invest in Minnesota businesses with less than 100 employees each
• Reinvestment Tax Credit – providing a 25 percent refundable tax credit for small business owners that reinvest in their businesses quickly
• Capital Gains Exemption – for qualifying investments in small businesses in Minnesota
• Upfront Sales Tax Exemption – for purchases of capital equipment
• One-Year Deduction for Equipment Purchases  – currently when a business buys certain pieces of equipment, it typically writes them off over time through depreciation

“I know these tax cuts and incentives may seem aggressive in the context of our budget challenges,” Governor Pawlenty said.  “But we simply have to take dramatic measures to improve our job climate and kick-start job growth in Minnesota.”

Among the priorities Governor Pawlenty outlined in his speech:

·        Maintain our commitments to the members of the military, their families and veterans

·        Protect state public safety programs and funding

 ·        Unleash creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and job growth by reducing the costs employers bear to create and keep jobs in Minnesota. 

 ·        Enhance Minnesota’s green and renewable energy industries by creating Green JOBZ tax-free zones to encourage new renewable energy jobs across the state.

 ·        Make Minnesota the nation’s leader in teacher preparation and training by passing the “Teaching Transformation Act.”

 ·        Expand Q Comp to every school district and charter school in the state to provide additional funding to schools and continue the transition to paying for performance.

 ·        Provide additional K-12 education funding through a new program that will provide up to an additional 2 percent per student for every student meeting standards to showing reasonable growth towards achievement.

 ·        Fix the current teachers union-school district labor system that allows teachers to strike by using a fair arbitration process.  Only 13 states allow public school teachers to strike. 

 ·        Pass school district shared services legislation to save on purchases of IT, food services, textbooks and supplies and put more money into the classroom. 

 ·        Move our higher education system more aggressively toward online learning and pass a tuition cap to hold down increases in higher education costs.

·        Freeze all state government wages for the next two years and pass legislation to require a wage freeze for any Minnesota government entity that accepts state money.

·        Incentivize counties to combine their human service operations into no more than 15 regional enterprises to save money on back-office operations.

Governor Pawlenty also highlighted Minnesota National Guard Sergeant Chad Malmberg of St. Paul, who was the first Minnesota National Guard member since World War II to receive the Silver Star. 

--30--

Association of Metropolitan School Districts Update

January 14, 2009

AMSD Conference Registrations Due

Don’t forget to register for AMSD’s annual winter conference!  We have an excellent program scheduled that promises to be very informative.  We’d appreciate receiving registration forms by this Friday, January 16.  You can send payment in later but it would be very helpful to get the registration forms this week.  I am attaching the registration form in case you need it.

New Minnesota Miracle Bill Introduced

The New Minnesota Miracle legislation was introduced in the House yesterday – it is HF 2.  Here is a link to the bill:

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/schedule.asp

Here is a link showing all of the authors of the bill:

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=House&f=HF2&ssn=0&y=2009

Please send your thanks to Rep. Mindy Greiling, Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and the other authors of the bill.  In addition, contact your senators – especially Sen. Larry Pogemiller, Sen. LeRoy Stumpf and Sen. Terri Bonoff – and encourage them to introduce the bill in the Senate.  There is some reluctance to move the bill forward in the Senate given the state budget situation.  Let Senate leaders and your local Senator know that you understand we are facing a historic budget challenge but that we still need move the Minnesota Miracle Bill forward for discussion and work toward phasing in a new education funding system.  Thanks for your help!

Budget Trends Report

As you may recall, Jay Kiedrowski, co-chair of the State Budget Trends Study Commission spoke to the AMSD Board of Directors last October to provide an overview and update on the work of the Commission.  The Commission’s report has now been released and it was presented at a joint House Senate/Tax Committee hearing.  Here is a link to the report:

http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/budget/trends/report-09.pdf

State of the State

Governor Pawlenty delivers his State of the State address tomorrow at noon from the House Chamber.  You can listen live via House web cast at:

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/schedule.asp

Association of Metropolitan School Districts Update

January 9, 2009

Education Groups Meeting

 This morning I joined the executive directors of several other education organizations at a meeting with Governor Pawlenty, Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, Commissioner Seagren and other legislators and staff.  The Governor and Legislative Leaders painted a very grim picture of the state budget and the economic outlook.  The Governor said he expected the next budget forecast to show an even bigger projected budget shortfall – possibly increasing to more than $6 billion.  Senator Pogemiller reiterated the comments he made at the AMSD meeting last month stating that he does not see how education can be held harmless given the budget challenges facing the state.  Speaker Kelliher stated that she wanted to do everything she could to protect education but that she likewise could not pledge that cuts to education were absolutely off the table.

Neither the Governor nor the legislative leaders offered any specific legislative initiatives but the Governor did indicate that he expects that all public employees will see a pay freeze for the next two years.  The prospect of binding arbitration was raised but no specifics were offered and there was very little discussion on the topic.  We informed the governor and legislative leaders that the education groups were jointly working on developing a list of mandates to consider for repeal and they were very interested.  We pledged to get back to them with our list within the next few weeks.  Please continue to forward me your recommendations in this area.  There was also a brief discussion of the shared services proposal and it seemed clear that the governor and legislative leaders understand that the bill raises a number of issues that need to be addressed. 

We will start to learn more about some of the proposals we can expect to see in the coming weeks when Governor Pawlenty delivers his State of the State address next Wednesday at noon in the House Chamber.  The governor’s budget recommendations are scheduled to be released on January 27.

House Web Site

The House has established a web site to take comments or suggestions for dealing with the projected budget shortfall.  Use this link to share your ideas:

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/budgetsuggestions.asp

AMSD Conference

You should have received a registration form for AMSD’s annual winter conference which will be held on Monday, January 26 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon in the Grand Hall of the TIES Building.  Please work through your superintendent’s office to register for the conference.  A copy of the agenda is attached.

Legislative Hearings

Here is a list of some of the committee hearings of interest over the next week:

Monday, January 12, 2009 - 3:00 PM

Charter School Working Group

Chair: Sen. Kathy L. Saltzman

3 p.m. Room 15 Capitol

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - 8:30 AM

E-12 Education Budget Division

Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf

8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol

Agenda:  Education Finance Overview

TUESDAY, January 13, 2009
8:30 AM
Committee: K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: Update on interim activity:
Charter Schools Working Group
Graduation-Required Assessment for Diploma (GRAD)
Growth Model

TUESDAY, January 13, 2009

10:30 AM

Committee: Taxes

Room: 10 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Ann Lenczewski

Agenda: Report to the Legislature of State Budget Trends Study Commission

TUESDAY, January 13, 2009

2:45 PM

K-12 Education Finance Division

Room: 10 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling

Agenda: Introductions and session priorities

TUESDAY, January 13, 2009

4:30 PM

Committee: Early Childhood Policy and Finance Division

Room: 200 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik

Agenda: Introductions

Department of Education overview

Thursday, January 15, 2009 - 8:30 AM

E-12 Education Budget Division

Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf

8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol

Agenda:  Education Finance Overview

THURSDAY, January 15, 2009

2:45 PM

Committee: K-12 Finance

Room: 10 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling

Agenda: Investment in education

THURSDAY, January 15, 2009

4:30 PM

Committee: Early Childhood Policy and Finance Division

Room: 200 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik

Agenda: Department of Human Services overview

School Readiness Connections overview

TUESDAY, January 20, 2009

2:45 PM

Committee: K-12 Finance

Room: 10 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling

Agenda: Education group recommendations for education investment, reductions and reform. Parties interested in presenting to the division should contact Shannon Patrick, committee administrator, at (651) 296-5098.

Association of Metropolitan School Districts Update

January 6, 2009

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Report

 Here is a link to a report from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits that contains some interesting information about how K-12 Education funding has lost ground to inflation since 2003:

http://www.mncn.org/bp/lostdecade.htm

2009 Legislative Session Convenes

The 2009 legislative session convened at noon today.  There are a number of resources at your disposal to assist you in tracking legislative activity throughout the session:

Legislative Web site:  http://www.leg.state.mn.us/

Session Weekly – is the weekly newsletter published by the MN House of Representatives.  You can call House Information at 651-296-2146 and ask to be added to the mailing list.  There is no charge.

Session Briefly – is the weekly newsletter published by the MN Senate.  Call 651-296-0504 to be added to the mailing list.  Again, no charge to receive this newsletter.

AMSD Parent Lobbying Packet

The AMSD parent lobbying packet has been updated and is available at:

http://www.amsd.org/pdfs/Packet_09.pdf

Standing Committee Schedules

Here are the standing committee schedules for the House and Senate:

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/09comgrid.pdf

http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/2009-2010/info/schedule.pdf

Legislative Hearings

Here is a list of some of the committee hearings of interest over the next week:

WEDNESDAY, January 7, 2009

1:00 PM

Committee: Property Tax Relief and Local Sales Tax Division

Room: 10 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Paul Marquart

Agenda: Overview presentation by House Fiscal staff of property tax aids and credits budget Chair's overview of the division's scope this year Discussion by division members of member's goals and member's ideas for reform during the 2009 session. Public testimony will be taken at subsequent hearings.

WEDNESDAY, January 7, 2009

2:45 PM

Committee: K-12 Education Finance Division

Room: 10 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling

Agenda: Informational meeting on education finance background provided by House Research and Fiscal staff. This will not be an official meeting, but only an overview for interested parties.

WEDNESDAY, January 7, 2009

3:00 PM

Committee on State and Local Government Operations and Oversight

Room:  123 Capitol

Chair:  Sen. Ann H. Rest

THURSDAY, January 8, 2009

8:30 AM

K-12 Education Policy Committee

Room: Basement State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani

Agenda: Introductions and overview of committee procedures

Thursday, January 8, 2009

E-12 Education Budget Division

Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf

8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol

Agenda:  

School District - Shared services initiative

Monday, January 12, 2009 - 3:00 PM

Charter School Working Group

Chair: Sen. Kathy L. Saltzman

3 p.m. Room 15 Capitol

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - 8:30 AM

E-12 Education Budget Division

Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf

8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol

Agenda:  Education Finance Overview

TUESDAY, January 13, 2009

10:30 AM

Committee: Taxes

Room: 10 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Ann Lenczewski

Agenda: Report to the Legislature of State Budget Trends Study Commission

TUESDAY, January 13, 2009

2:45 PM

K-12 Education Finance Division

Room: 10 State Office Building

Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling

Agenda: Introductions and session priorities

Thursday, January 15, 2009 - 8:30 AM

E-12 Education Budget Division

Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf

8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol

Agenda:  Education Finance Overview