March 31, 2009
Mandatory Health Insurance Proposal Up for Vote Today
HF 866, the bill that would require that all school districts purchase health insurance for their employees through the Public Employee Insurance Program, is scheduled to be heard in the House Health Care and Human Services Policy Oversight Committee TODAY at 2:45 p.m. in room 200 of the State Office Building. We have studied this issue extensively and it is very clear that this proposal would increase premiums for metropolitan school districts and their employees – in fact, the increases would be substantial for many metro districts. If all of the members who have previously opposed the bill are present for the hearing and maintain their position, the bill could go down to defeat. However, we could really use some last minute phone calls and/or emails to shore up opposition to the bill. Here is a link to the members of the committee:
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=86139
I would encourage you to focus your attention on the following members of the committee: Bunn, Gardner, Loeffler, Norton and Ruud. Please thank them for their previous opposition to a mandatory pool and ask them to continue to do so.
Star Tribune Commentary
In case you didn’t see it, here is a link to a commentary by AMSD Chair Pat Gleason that is in this morning’s Star Tribune:
House Hearing in Farmington Tonight
The House K-12 Finance Committee will hold a public hearing tonight at Farmington High School. Here are the details:
TUESDAY, March 31, 2009
5:30 PM
Room: Farmington High School Little Theater; 800 Denmark Ave; Farmington, MN
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: Education funding in growing school districts.
Senate Moving Quickly
The Senate E-12 Budget Division is scheduled to unveil its Omnibus Education Finance Bill tomorrow morning (Wednesday) at 8:30 in room 112 of the Capitol. Committee staff will provide a summary of the bill and then the committee will recess until 3:00 when it will reconvene in Room 15 of the Capitol to consider amendments and take a take a final vote on the bill. The House is on a different timeline and will not be unveiling its Omnibus Education Finance Bill until right after the Passover/Easter recess.
March 28, 2009
Please note: There are a couple of revisions to the update sent out yesterday.
POSTPONED
Senator Amy Klobuchar’s K-12 Education Forum that was scheduled for Sunday, March 29 has been POSTPONED
As you can imagine, Senator Amy Klouchar and her staff are extremely busy dealing with the flooding in the Red River Valley and consequently, the forum has been postponed. I will let you know when the forum is re-scheduled.
Passover/Easter break
Legislative leaders have scheduled a break for the Passover/Easter holidays. There will be no committee hearings or floor sessions from Wednesday, April 8 through Monday, April 13. This would be a great time to schedule a meeting or sit down over a cup of coffee with your local legislators. Take this opportunity to update them on your budget situation and discuss other issues before the legislature.
Legislative Committee Hearing Update
Below are a couple of hearings that were scheduled after I sent out my update yesterday. If you are interested in testifying on HF 866, the bill mandating that all school districts pool their employees and purchase health insurance through the Public Employee Insurance Program (PEIP), please let me know and I can help you get on the list of testifiers.
TUESDAY, March 31, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Paul Thissen
*** Note: *** Change in Agenda
Bill(s) Added
Bill(s) Removed
Agenda: Supportive housing and managed care pilot cost study results, Hearth Connection HF1276 (Norton) County human services mandates modified HF866 (Hosch) School districts required to obtain employee health coverage through the public employees insurance program HF657 (Thissen) 24-hour customized living services modified HF249 (Thissen) Emeritus status requirements modified for licensed psychologists, inactive licensure status for licensed psychologists created, licensed psychologists authorized to provide a final determination not to certify, and licensed psychologist added to Health Care Reform Review Council
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2009
8:30 AM
K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF1198 (Davnie) Harassment, bullying, intimidation, and violence policies required in schools.
March 27, 2009
The House K-12 Education Policy Committee completed work on its omnibus policy bill last night. The bill was referred to the K-12 Finance Committee where it will be rolled into the Omnibus K-12 Education Finance Bill. Here is a brief summary of the most significant provisions in the bill:
Summary of House Policy Bill HF1179
Article 1
General Education –technical MDE provisions.
Article 2
Alternative Graduation to the GRAD for Math Only--provides an alternative to students graduating from 2009-2010 to 2013-2014, who do not pass the Math Grad test. Students must take the test twice and participate in remediation, the transcript must include whether or not the student passed the test. School districts are also allowed to establish criteria and notations for exemplary achievement. Students who do not successfully pass the basic skills test by the end of 2011-2012 must pass the new grad requirements.
Computer Adaptive Tests --establishes new requirements for computer adaptive tests including growth, diagnostic assessment. Includes technical MDE language related to national test participation.
Innovation Set Aside—establishes a 5% set a side for evidence based instruction to improve academic performance. Requires development of a comprehensive plan to eliminate the achievement gap that must be filed with the MDE. The intent is to make this a component of the New MN Miracle legislation which will go into effect in the 2014-15 school year.
Growth Model—establishes a growth model that was developed by MDE with input from a stakeholder group.
Report Cards—Requires the commissioner to report the number of students showing low, medium and high growth. Also requires reports related to student engagement, staff characteristics, demographics, district mobility, and extra-curricular activities.
Certificates of World Language –allows a district to issue a Certificates for high achievement.
Probationary and Continuing Contract Teachers—adds options for evaluating both probationary and continuing contracts teachers to including using trained observers to serve as coachers and having teachers participate in a professional learning community.
Q-Comp—modifies components of Q-Comp related to teacher evaluation. Also adopts recommendations from the Legislative Auditor related to deadlines for approval and the contents of the plan.
Alternative Programs, Area Learning Centers—makes several technical corrections to the statute, and also strikes the requirement that that a student be at least one year behind—new language says student is simply behind in work.
Temporary School Closing—allows a district to temporarily close or lease a facility for up to three years without triggering the school closing provision in law.
On-Line Learning—Adds several provisions to address the concerns related to the quality of on-line courses and that all courses meet the State content standards and demonstrate the substance of the syllabus meets nationally recognized standards.
Project Based Average Daily Membership—Further defines what a project based program for the purposes of collecting State aid.
P-20 Education Partnership—establishes an education partnership to create a seamless system of education that maximizes achievement of students from early childhood to through college. Defines membership, including legislators, and outlines duties and requires a report by January 15 of each year to the Governor and the Chairs of the Education committees.
Home School Reporting—deletes certain reporting requirements for home school students. Continues to require immunization reporting.
Work Groups and Reports—adds a work group to look at defining rigorous course work measures related to student performance, student engagement and school safety. Further requires that the commissioner look at the impact of “high stakes” math and science tests. Appropriates funding for the Office of Accountability to do the study.
Article 3, Special Programs
School Obligations to Schools with Disability— amends current law related to school district obligations for special education services, including authority for rule making, hearings and other due process provisions. Also includes agreed upon provisions to align state and federal requirements for special education services.
Care and Treatment Transportation—includes provision to improve notice and allow districts to provide reasonable transportation to care and treatment programs.
Seclusion and Restrictive Procedures—defines standards for restrictive procedures and seclusion for children, including training. The advocates have agreed to remove the reporting requirements from the current amendment. This section is still being worked on by a task force made up of representatives from MSBA and advocacy groups.
Article 4, Libraries, includes changes to Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library requirements for meetings.
Article 5, Self Sufficiency-Repeals school and community advisory team.
Article 6, State Agencies and Article 7 Technical Corrections—contains technical corrections.
Senator Amy Klobuchar K-12 Education Forum – KICK OFF
United States Senator Amy Klouchar is conducting an education forum this Sunday at 12:00 noon. Details are as follows:
Sunday, March 29
12:00pm – 1:30pm
Washburn Elementary School
Gymnasium
8401 Xerxes Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55431
Panelists
Charlie Kyte, Executive Director, Minnesota Association of School Administrators
John Millerhagen, Principal, Washburn Elementary School
Jim Meffert-Nelson, President-elect, Minnesota PTA
Paul Mueller, Vice President, Education Minnesota
Jackie Magnuson, President, Minnesota School Board’s Association
Special Education License Task Force
I am attaching an update on the work of the Special Education License Task Force. This update is provided by Wayzata Director of Special Services Lori Fildes who is representing AMSD on the task force.
Integration Proposal
The House K-12 Policy Committee heard HF 2051 and took testimony this morning. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Jerry Newton and Rep. Robin Brown and it addresses some of the recommendations developed by the Legislative Auditor. I am also attaching a copy of the district revenue run associated with this legislation. The hearing generated a great deal of discussion. Rep. Greiling commented that while the Omnibus bill may include some of the policy recommendations from the Legislative Auditor, any changes to the integration formula would NOT be included in the current biennium.
Shared Services
As you know, SF 10, the bill mandating shared purchases and services by school districts, was defeated on a 31-33 vote on the Senate floor on March 16 – see attached vote total. However, nothing is every really dead at the Capitol until final adjournment and this is no exception. Efforts are underway to revive the bill and bring it back up for a vote in the Senate next week. Continue to relay your concerns about this legislation to your local legislators, especially your senators. It would also be a good idea to thank those who opposed the bill on the last vote and urge him/her to maintain that position unless changes are made to the bill to address your concerns.
Committee Deadlines and Upcoming Hearings
Today is the first committee deadline. A bill must have passed out of all of the policy committees in either the House or the Senate to remain alive. The policy deadlines are not as relevant for education as they are for other committees as most of our issues get rolled into the omnibus funding bill. The Senate E-12 Finance Committee is expected to roll out their omnibus bill next week and likely will finish it by the end of the week. The House K-12 Finance is not expected to roll out its omnibus bill until April 14 – right after the Easter/Passover break.
Several of the committees have not yet posted their hearings for next week but here is what the schedule looks like thus far:
MONDAY, March 30, 2009
2:45 PM
Property and Local Sales Tax Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Paul Marquart
*** Note: *** Change in Agenda
Agenda: HF2129 (Bly) State general levy reduced for historic commercial buildings. HFXXX (Marquart) Homestead property tax relief reform (bill to be introduced Monday, March 30, 2009) House Research walk through of Property Tax Division Report. Delete all amendment to HF2020 (Marquart) will be available at the hearing
TUESDAY, March 31, 2009
10:30 AM
Property and Local Sales Tax Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Paul Marquart
Agenda: Public testimony and mark up of HF2020 (Marquart) Property Tax Division Report, language to be available Monday at 2:45 p.m.
TUESDAY, March 31, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF2033 (Faust) Research-based professional development funding provided for the St. Croix River Education District, "response to intervention" problem solving included, money appropriated. HF1046 (Mariani) Minnesota reading corps program established, and money appropriated. HF1177 (Garofalo) Early graduation achievement scholarship program established, money appropriated. HF1702 (Davnie) Grants authorized for the concurrent enrollment programs in the same manner as advanced placement and international baccalaureate programs, and money appropriated. HF751 (Benson) School districts authorized to create site-governed schools, and money appropriated.
TUESDAY, March 31, 2009
4:30 PM
Committee: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik
Agenda:
HF2088 (Slawik) Early childhood education funding provided relating to school readiness programs, school readiness service agreements, and prekindergarten exploratory projects, reports required, and money appropriated. HF1543 (Slawik) Family day care background checks required, and criminal history data access allowed. (pending referral from Finance) HF2202 (Bly) Early childhood education funding provided for after-school community learning programs, and money appropriated.
TUESDAY, March 31, 2009
5:30 PM
Room: Farmington High School Little Theater; 800 Denmark Ave; Farmington, MN
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: Education funding in growing school districts.
TUESDAY, March 31, 2009
7:00 PM
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Room: 107 State Capitol
Chairs: Sen. Don Betzold
Agenda: Final consideration of the 2009 omnibus retirement bill, delete-everything amendment to SF191/HF723 (Betzold/Murphy, M.) Revision/clarification of erroneous deduction/overpayment recovery provisions (PERA, first class city teachers) Commission staff technical correction/clarification amendments
WEDNESDAY, April 1, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF1127 (Eastlund) National Guard and reserve member pay differential clarified for teachers. HF214 (Bly) School boards authorized to form business entity solely for wind energy projects, and production tax exemption provided. HF1179 (Mariani) Omnibus K-12 policy bill. - pending referral.March 23, 2009
Integration Bill Introduced
HF 2051 was introduced today by Rep. Jerry Newton and Rep. Robyn Brown, the co-chairs of the House Integration Working Group. Here is a link to the bill:
https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2051.0.html&session=ls86
It still appears highly unlikely that legislators will tackle significant reform of the integration revenue program in the middle of trying to address a huge budget shortfall. An interim task force to further study the issue and bring back recommendations continues to be a likely outcome.
Draft of Science Standards Released
I am attaching a copy of a draft of the revised standards along with a FAQ document. Please let me know of any concerns you have.
Updated Committee Hearing Schedule
Please note that HF 866, the bill creating a statewide mandatory health insurance pool for school employees, has been removed from the agenda tomorrow. It has not yet been rescheduled.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - 8:30 AM
K-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda: S.F. 620-Kelash: School district health and safety revenue allowable use for elevator repair costs. S.F. 786-Metzen: School district health and safety revenue use for playground safety, accessibility, safe surfacing, play and fitness equipment and maintenance costs. S.F. 1390-Bonoff: Wind energy production tax deduction school district retention and permanent school trust fund allocation. S.F. 249-Dahle: School boards wind energy conversion systems business entity formation authorization. S.F. 971-Dibble: School harassment, bullying, intimidation and violence policy clarification. S.F. 1076-Dibble: Parent notification of student bullying requirement.
TUESDAY, March 24, 2009
8:30 AM
Meeting Time Note: If necessary, the committee will recess and reconvene in 500 North at 6:30 P.M.
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF648 (Mariani) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator instruction guidelines established. HF1667 (Mariani) Instruction of students temporarily placed outside of their district provisions modified. HF751 (Benson) School districts authorized to create site-governed schools, and money appropriated. HF981 (Bly) Charter school provisions amended, New Schools Minnesota commission established, private nonprofit corporation authorized.
TUESDAY, March 24, 2009
10:30 AM
Meeting Time Note: The committee will recess and reconvene at 6 p.m. to finish the agenda.
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Paul Marquart
*** Note: *** Change in Agenda
Agenda:
Bills to be heard at 10:30AM
HF2020 (Marquart) County local sales taxes authorized, certain existing local sales taxes eliminated, county program aid adjusted, and levy limits modified. HF1389 (Scalze) Taxation; Levy limit provisions modified HF1426 (Hilty) Fire and ambulance special taxing district established
Bills to be heard at 6:00PM
HF1676 (Morgan) Credit reimbursements protected for cities that are net contributors to fiscal disparities from unallotment and aid cuts. HF1403 (Kahn) Local government appropriation and reinstating offsets modified. HF1416 (Atkins) Class rate on certain recreational property reduced. HF1906 (Loeffler) New nonagricultural relative homesteads prohibited, and residential rental property class rates reduced. HF1975 (Marquart) Senior citizen property tax deferral program modified.
TUESDAY, March 24, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Bill(s) Added
Agenda: HF116 (Ward) Type III school bus driver qualifications modified. HF466 (Carlson) State Board of Education established. HF106 (Swails) P-20 education partnership established. HF2072 (Greiling) Education finance reference updated. HF2073 (Greiling) Education finance obsolete reference removed.
TUESDAY, March 24, 2009
2:45 PM
Meeting Time Note: The committee will recess at 4:15 p.m. and reconvene at 6:30 p.m. in 200 State Office Building
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Paul Thissen
*** Note: *** Change in Agenda
Bill(s) Added
Bill(s) Removed
Agenda: HF1728 (Loeffler) Provisions amended for child care programs, program integrity, adult supports including general assistance medical care and group residential housing and Minnesota family investment program HF1709 (Hosch) Child welfare provisions changed HF1334 (Gunther) Medical assistance treatment of life insurance policies modified, nursing facility rate modified for private paying residents, and payment authorized for long-term care employer health insurance costs HF551 (Kalin) Predatory offender risk-level assessment process amended, penalties increased, and training required regarding predatory offenders for those who care for children and vulnerable adults HF1811 (Slawik) Autism Spectrum Disorder Task force created, appointments provided, and report required HF1759 (Kahn) Hospital-acquired infections reporting required, advisory committee established HF1803 (Scalze) Travel expenses reimbursement limited for state employees HF1561 (Huntley) Hennepin County; Special transportation services pilot program established, and advisory committee established HF884 (Thissen) Medical supplies and equipment purchasing alliance created HF1322 (Thissen) Health information technology incentive requirements created for the use of federal funding, legislative approval required, and federal fund appropriation limited
HF866 (Hosch) has been removed from the agenda
TUESDAY, March 24, 2009
4:30 PM
Committee: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik
Agenda:
HF1188 (Winkler) E-16 reforms pursued to improve and expand opportunities for all students to attain educational success, and E-16 advisory subcommittees established (information only) Presentation by the Department of Human Services on the Governor's supplemental budget recommendations Presentation by Karen Effrem, Policy Analyst and Board Member, EdWatch
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 8:30 AM
Committee on Education
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda: S.F. 867-Saltzman: Charter school requirements and organization provisions modifications. S.F. 1045-Lynch: Education mandate reductions and school district flexibility provisions. S.F. 1428-Metzen: Special school district # 6, South St. Paul; South Metro fire department contract for fire inspection services.
WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Bill(s) Added
Agenda: HF1150 (Urdahl) Special education aid through base year funding reinstated. HF1174 (Kiffmeyer) Local education agency defined for special education purposes. HF895 (Eken) Rural school district grant program created to allow the sharing of services, and money appropriated. HF1665 (Swails) Education; Best practices center for shared services established. HF1222 (Abeler) Equalizing factors indexed for the debt service and referendum equalization aid programs. HF1772 (Doty) Debt service equalization aid program state support increased, and school bond agricultural credit created.
Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 8:30 AM
Committee on Education
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda: S.F. 567-Saltzman: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator instruction in health and physical education courses guidelines. S.F. 549-Dibble: Greenhouse gas reduction goals and strategies; sensible communities grant program; vehicle miles traveled reduction; appropriations transfers. S.F. 1649-Clark: Educational quality rating and improvement system; pre-kindergarten exploratory projects and appropriations.
THURSDAY, March 26, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Bill(s) Added
Agenda: HF501 (Mariani) Alternative graduation means created for students, and graduation exams studied. HF1376 (Buesgens) Education; Compensatory revenue concentration factor eliminated. HF1643 (Gardner) Referendum revenue modified. HF29 (Benson) Inflationary adjustment limitation removed. HF35 (Benson) Referendum allowance limit eliminated.
THURSDAY, March 26, 2009
4:30 PM
Committee: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik
Agenda:
HF1750 (Abeler) Human services licensing provisions modified, and data practices, disqualifications, and background study requirements modified. (pending passage in HHS policy) HF1728 (Loeffler)Provisions amended for child care programs, program integrity, adult supports including general assistance medical care and group residential housing and Minnesota family investment program. (pending passage in HHS policy)
Robbinsdale LAC Event
The Robbinsdale Legislative Action Committee is sponsoring a forum on standardized testing on March 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rockford Road Library in Crystal. Please see the attached flyer for details.
March 20, 2009
House DFL Budget Targets Released
The budget battle is officially on now that the House Democrats have released their budget targets. The House DFL plan would hold early childhood, K-12, and higher education funding at current levels by using the federal stimulus dollars and making extensive use of the education aid payment shift moving from the current 90/10 to 73/27. This compares with the Governor’s plan to go to 80/20 on the aid payment shift. The senate plan would largely avoid using the accounting shift but includes a 7 percent across the board cut to all state programs including education. The senate plan calls for raising $2 billion in new revenue while the house would raise about $1.5 billion. Neither plan specifies how the new revenue will be raised. The governor proposes to raise close to $1 billion by issuing appropriation bonds against future receipts from the tobacco settlement.
You can view the House DFL press conference and the House Republican response using the link below. You can also view previous press conferences covering the Senate plan and the Governor’s plan:
Special Education Legislation
The MSBA has led a working group effort to develop a compromise on better aligning federal and state special education mandates. Special education advocacy groups and MASE have also been extensively involved in this effort. I am attaching an amendment that has been developed by this working group for your review.
First Committee Deadline
The first committee deadline is next Friday, March 27. Next week promises to be a very busy week as you can see from the schedule below.
Legislative Hearings
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - 8:30 AM
K-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda: S.F. 620-Kelash: School district health and safety revenue allowable use for elevator repair costs. S.F. 786-Metzen: School district health and safety revenue use for playground safety, accessibility, safe surfacing, play and fitness equipment and maintenance costs. S.F. 1390-Bonoff: Wind energy production tax deduction school district retention and permanent school trust fund allocation. S.F. 249-Dahle: School boards wind energy conversion systems business entity formation authorization. S.F. 971-Dibble: School harassment, bullying, intimidation and violence policy clarification. S.F. 1076-Dibble: Parent notification of student bullying requirement.
TUESDAY, March 24, 2009
8:30 AM
Meeting Time Note: If necessary, the committee will recess and reconvene in 500 North at 6:30 P.M.
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF648 (Mariani) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator instruction guidelines established. HF1667 (Mariani) Instruction of students temporarily placed outside of their district provisions modified. HF751 (Benson) School districts authorized to create site-governed schools, and money appropriated. HF981 (Bly) Charter school provisions amended, New Schools Minnesota commission established, private nonprofit corporation authorized.
TUESDAY, March 24, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF116 (Ward) Type III school bus driver qualifications modified. HF466 (Carlson) State Board of Education established. HF106 (Swails) P-20 education partnership established.
TUESDAY, March 24, 2009
2:45 PM
Meeting Time Note: The committee will recess at 4:15 PM and reconvene at 6:30 PM in Room 200
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Paul Thissen
Agenda: HF1728 (Loeffler) Provisions amended for child care programs, program integrity, adult supports including general assistance medical care and group residential housing and Minnesota family investment program HF1709 (Hosch) Child welfare provisions changed HF866 (Hosch) School districts required to obtain employee health coverage through the public employees insurance program HF1334 (Gunther) Medical assistance treatment of life insurance policies modified, nursing facility rate modified for private paying residents, and payment authorized for long-term care employer health insurance costs HF551 (Kalin) Predatory offender risk-level assessment process amended, penalties increased, and training required regarding predatory offenders for those who care for children and vulnerable adults HF1811 (Slawik) Autism Spectrum Disorder Task force created, appointments provided, and report required HF1759 (Kahn) Hospital-acquired infections reporting required, advisory committee established HF1803 (Scalze) Travel expenses reimbursement limited for state employees HF1561 (Huntley) Hennepin County; Special transportation services pilot program established, and advisory committee established HF884 (Thissen) Medical supplies and equipment purchasing alliance created
TUESDAY, March 24, 2009
4:30 PM
Committee: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik
Agenda:
HF1188 (Winkler) E-16 reforms pursued to improve and expand opportunities for all students to attain educational success, and E-16 advisory subcommittees established (information only) Presentation by the Department of Human Services on the Governor's supplemental budget recommendations Presentation by Karen Effrem, Policy Analyst and Board Member, EdWatch
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 8:30 AM
Committee on Education
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda: S.F. 867-Saltzman: Charter school requirements and organization provisions modifications. S.F. 1045-Lynch: Education mandate reductions and school district flexibility provisions. S.F. 1428-Metzen: Special school district # 6, South St. Paul; South Metro fire department contract for fire inspection services.
WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF1150 (Urdahl) Special education aid through base year funding reinstated. HF1174 (Kiffmeyer) Local education agency defined for special education purposes. HF895 (Eken) Rural school district grant program created to allow the sharing of services, and money appropriated. HF1665 (Swails) Education; Best practices center for shared services established.
Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 8:30 AM
Committee on Education
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda: S.F. 567-Saltzman: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator instruction in health and physical education courses guidelines. S.F. 549-Dibble: Greenhouse gas reduction goals and strategies; sensible communities grant program; vehicle miles traveled reduction; appropriations transfers. S.F. 1649-Clark: Educational quality rating and improvement system; pre-kindergarten exploratory projects and appropriations.
THURSDAY, March 26, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF501 (Mariani) Alternative graduation means created for students, and graduation exams studied. HF1376 (Buesgens) Education; Compensatory revenue concentration factor eliminated.
THURSDAY, March 26, 2009
4:30 PM
Committee: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik
Agenda:
HF1750 (Abeler) Human services licensing provisions modified, and data practices, disqualifications, and background study requirements modified. (pending passage in HHS policy) HF1728 (Loeffler)Provisions amended for child care programs, program integrity, adult supports including general assistance medical care and group residential housing and Minnesota family investment program. (pending passage in HHS policy)
March 17, 2009
CALL YOUR HOUSE DFL MEMBER AND HOUSE DFL LEADERS
There are a few times during a legislative session when grassroots support is absolutely critical and can make a big difference in the outcome of the session. NOW is one of those times and we really need your help! As you know, the Governor and Senate Majority Caucus have released their respective budget plans. The Governor is proposing an increase in funding for K-12 education while the Senate plan would cut spending for all state programs, including education, across the board by seven percent. There is one plan left to be released – from the House Democratic Majority Caucus – and they intend to release their plan by Friday. House Democrats will be caucusing tomorrow afternoon and making final decisions on their budget plan.
We need your phone calls and emails to House DFL Members and Leaders urging them to adopt a budget plan that establishes K-12 education as a top priority. Urge them to at least match the Governor’s recommended funding level for K-12 education.
Once the three plans are on the table, the overall budget parameters will have been set and legislators will be operating within those parameters for the rest of the session. Please make your call or send your email by 2:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon – Wednesday, March 18. Your voices need to be heard! If your local representative is a Democrat, contact that person AND the leaders listed below. If your local representative is a Republican, focus your contacts on the leaders listed below. Here is some contact information:
Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Speaker of the House 651-296-0171 rep.margaret.kelliher@house.mn
Rep. Tony Sertich, House Majority Leader 651-296-0172 rep.tony.sertich@house.mn
Rep. Lyndon Carlson, Finance Committee Chair 651-296-4255 rep.lyndon.carlson@house.mn
Rep. Loren Solberg, Ways and Means Chair 651-296-2365 rep.loren.solberg@house.mn
List of all House Members http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/housemembers.asp
Governor’s Supplemental Recommendations
Governor Pawlenty held a press conference today to release his revised 2010-2011 budget plan. He proposes to use the federal stimulus funds to increase K-12 funding by about $30 million over his original budget recommendations. I am attaching a document with his K-12 recommendations and below is a link to information about his overall revised budget recommendations:
http://www.governor.state.mn.us/
Shared Services Bill Defeated in Senate
SF 10, the bill related to shared purchasing and services for school districts, was defeated on a 31-33 vote on the Senate floor yesterday. It was very clear that senators heard the concerns expressed by their local school officials and voted accordingly. I am attaching a copy of the roll call vote for your information.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions and please don’t forget to make your phone calls and/or send those emails to House Democrats.
March 14, 2009
AMSD 2009 Legislative Session Priorities
At yesterday’s AMSD Board of Directors meeting the attached 2009 Legislative Session Priorities document was approved. Please share the document with your local legislators and ask for their support of these important issues. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Interview with Secretary Arne Duncan
Here is a link to an interview with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The clip also includes excerpts from President Obama’s recent speech on education. It is a lengthy interview but if you have the time, it is quite interesting and offers some excellent insight about where the Obama administration will be heading on a wide range of education issues.
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10140
Roseville LAC Program
Attached is a flyer with information about a forum sponsored by the Roseville Legislative Action Coalition on the New MN Miracle legislation. Feel free to share this information with your parent advocacy groups.
March 13, 2009
Senate DFL Budget Targets Released
The Senate Democrats held a press conference yesterday to release their overall spending targets. Their plan imposes a 7 percent across the board cut to state programs. E-12 education would be cut by nearly $1 billion although that would be partially offset by the federal stimulus funds. The extent to which the state cuts would be offset by federal funds is not yet clear. The Senate DFL plan would raise about $2 billion in new revenue in yet to be determined tax increases. I am attaching a copy of the press release for your information.
It is clearly time to ramp up our advocacy efforts! Legislators need to hear how this budget proposal would impact your school district.
Federal Stimulus Funds
Staff at the Department of Education, Minnesota Management and Budget and the Legislature continue to analyze and decipher the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The MDE will continue to update its web site as they have new information:
http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/About_MDE/News_Center/Fed_Stimulus_Update/index.html
Key Votes at the Legislature
In an effort to let you know how legislators are voting on issues important to AMSD members, I am attaching a document showing the vote tally on 4 recent votes. For those of you who were at the board meeting this morning, this document has been updated to better clarify the charter school moratorium issue. AMSD has been working with MSBA, MASA, Education Minnesota, MREA and SEE to add a provision to the charter school bill that would prohibit a charter school from locating within a 1 mile radius of a school site that has been closed by a school district unless authorized by the local school board. This amendment simply said that if a school board goes through the gut wrenching process of closing a school, a charter school could not move in to reestablish that school within a one mile radius of the closed school building unless authorized by the local school board. The document also includes votes on Labor Day and the mandatory statewide health insurance pool. As you probably know, most committee votes are voice votes and we are only to provide tallies when there is a roll call vote or a division with a show of hands.
Parents United Summit on Monday
It’s not too late to register for the Parent Leadership Summit on Monday, March 16! It is possible to pre-register until Sunday and walk up registrations will also be accepted. Please encourage your parent groups to attend – we need them actively engaged! The program will include:
Click here for the full program.
Legislative Hearings Next Week
MONDAY, March 16, 2009
10:30 AM
Committee: Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda: Presentation on cooperative purchasing by the Midwestern Higher Education Compact and Commissioner Dan McElroy
Monday, March 16, 2009 - 3:00 PM
E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division - Subcommittee on Integration Aid
Chair: Sen. Terri E. Bonoff
3 p.m. Room 15 Capitol
Agenda:
Office of Legislative Auditor Report
TUESDAY, March 17, 2009
8:30 AM
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF1441 (Brynaert) State measures of student achievement growth established.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 8:30 AM
Committee on Education
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda: S.F. 1253-Wiger: Prekindergarten through grade 12 education policy provisions modifications.
TUESDAY, March 17, 2009
2:45 PM
Committee: K-12 Education Finance Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF55 (Falk) Lac qui Parle Valley; Transfer of funds authorized for ISDN 2853. HF1117 (Falk) Ortonville; ISDN 62 fund transfer authorized. HF795 (Brynaert) Mankato; ISDN 77 fund transfer authorized. HF719 (Laine) St. Anthony-New Brighton; ISDN 282 fund transfer authorized. HF322 (Nornes) Signature requirement increased for an election to revoke an operating referendum.k-
TUESDAY, March 17, 2009
4:30 PM
Committee: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik
Agenda: HF1324 (Hornstein) General Education Development test fee waiver authorized HF1430 (Peterson) Working Family Resource Center grant provided, and money appropriated
WEDNESDAY, March 18, 2009
8:30 AM
Meeting Time Note: Committee will recess at 10:00 AM and reconvene at 6:30 PM in the Basement Hearing Room.
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF1538 (Mariani) Educational innovation fostered to improve student and school performance. HF1188 (Winkler) E-16 reforms pursued to improve and expand opportunities for all students to attain educational success, and E-16 advisory subcommittees established. HF575 (Simon) Driver education requirements modified for obtaining an instruction permit. HF1186 (Mariani) Center established for legislative educational analysis research and navigation in the next generation. HF1212 (Brown) Deaf or hard of hearing resource center provisions modified. HF1359 (Peterson) School districts required to offer at least two academic years of elective high school level world languages courses.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - 8:30 AM
Committee on Education
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda: S.F. 402-Saltzman: School background check disciplinary actions modifications. S.F. 971-Dibble: School harassment, bullying, intimidation and violence policy clarification. S.F. 1076-Dibble: Parent notification of student bullying requirement.
WEDNESDAY, March 18, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF79 (Brown) Wind energy production tax removed from county apportionment deduction for school districts. HF733 (Dill) School district swimming pool levy criteria eligibility modified. HF91 (Slocum) Health and safety revenue modified to include elevator repair costs. HF777 (Shimanski) Departments defined for the pupil transportation equal treatment statute.
THURSDAY, March 19, 2009
8:30 AM
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF1665 (Swails) Education; Best practices center for shared services established. HF1630 (Kalin) Schedule established for aligning assessments to academic standards.
Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 8:30 AM
E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda: S.F. 866-Saltzman: Teachers reading instruction competence assessment licensure requirement. S.F. 851-Saltzman: Minnesota reading corps program establishment and appropriation.
THURSDAY, March 19, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF1001 (Demmer) K-12 education state grants authorized to leverage quality improvements, and money appropriated. HF1188 (Winkler) E-16 reforms pursued to improve and expand opportunities for all students to attain educational success, and E-16 advisory subcommittees established. - information only
March 9, 2009
Labor Day Bill Fails in Committee
I am sorry to report that HF 195, a bill that would have allowed school to start prior to Labor Day in 2009 and 2010, failed on a 13-11 vote in the House Finance Committee this morning. Unfortunately, a nine legislators were unable to attend the hearing this morning. In addition, several metro legislators – Rep. Phyllis Kahn, Rep. Steve Smith, Rep. Paul Thissen and Rep. Ryan Winkler – voted against the bill. While the vote doesn’t necessarily mean the issue is dead for the session, it is unlikely that we will see a positive resolution in time for school districts to adopt a calendar with school beginning before Labor Day in a timely manner.
Health Insurance Bill Scheduled
HF 866, legislation creating a mandatory statewide health insurance pool for school employees, has been scheduled to be heard in the House Commerce Committee tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building. Here is a link to contact information for the members of the committee:
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=86133
TUESDAY, March 10, 2009
4:30 PM
Room: Basement Hearing Room State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joe Atkins
Bill(s) Added
Agenda: HF 1048 (Brynaert) Eligibility for benefits under certain training programs provided. HF 841 (Juhnke) Sunset of the farmer-lender mediation law eliminated. Bill Added: HF 866 (Hosch) School districts required to obtain employee health coverage through the public employees insurance program.
Charter School Amendment Up in K-12 Finance Committee Tomorrow
The House K-12 Finance Committee will hear HF 935, legislation increasing oversight and accountability of charter schools, tomorrow afternoon. AMSD has been working with several other education organizations to include language in the bill establishing a moratorium on opening a charter school within a one mile radius of a closed school. Your assistance in contacting members of the committee would be a big help. Here is a link to contact information for the committee members:
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=86115
Here is an email I sent to members of the House K-12 Finance Committee on this issue:
Dear K-12 Finance Committee Members,
Rep. Slocum’s bill increasing charter school oversight and accountability, HF 935, will be heard in the K-12 Finance Committee tomorrow (Tuesday). The bill contains a provision that places a three year moratorium on the opening of charter schools within a 1 mile radius of a recently closed school or the boundaries of a newly dissolved or consolidated school district. Rep. Jim Davnie plans to offer an amendment in committee to decrease the length of the moratorium to 24 months in response to concerns that three years is too long.
On behalf of the Association of Metropolitan School Districts Board of Directors, I respectfully ask for your support of the Davnie amendment and encourage you to oppose any attempts to repeal the moratorium provision. As you likely know, closing a school is an incredibly painful process for a community. School Boards do not close a school building without a great deal of analysis, discussion and input from the community. Unfortunately, declining enrollment in many of our metro school districts has, and will continue to, necessitate the closing of school buildings to ensure the district is operating efficiently. A charter school moving into a neighborhood where there has been a school closing can create disruption and undermine the very emotional process the school district and the community have just gone through to “right size” their school facilities.
A twenty four month cooling off period after a school closing will allow emotions to settle down and will help parents, students and school officials make thoughtful decisions based on what is best for students. This is also sound fiscal policy for the state which is responsible for lease aid and other start up costs associated with new charter schools.
Thank you for your consideration and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about AMSD’s position on this issue.
March 6, 2009
Pace Picking Up at the Capitol
The intensity level at the Capitol picked up this week and next week promises to be even busier. With the release of the February budget forecast, legislative leaders are beginning to formulate their plans for tackling the $4.5 billion budget shortfall. In addition, the administration and legislators are still working through the federal stimulus legislation and trying to figure out how the various funding streams work and how the money can be used. There seems to be a perception that school districts have been “taken care of” in the federal stimulus bill and that a reduction in state funding for education can be absorbed. We really need to make sure legislators understand that the federal money is one-time money and that the majority of it must be spent on specific program areas, i.e. special education.
We also have two significant votes coming up early next week and we need your assistance in contacting legislators.
Labor Day Start
HF 195 is scheduled to be heard in the House Finance Committee at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 9, in Room 200 at the State Office Building. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester and would provide school districts with a two-year window to set their calendars free of the current Labor Day start mandate. School districts would be free to begin the school year on any day before Labor Day only for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years.
Here is a link to the members of the House Finance Committee along with their contact information. Your help in contacting them to urge their support for HF 195 will make a big difference.
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=86106
Charter School Bill
HF 935, sponsored by Rep. Linda Slocum, DFL Minneapolis/Richfield, is scheduled to be heard in the House K-12 Finance Committee on Tuesday, March 10 at 2:45 p.m. in room 10 of the State Office Building. This bill implements many of the recommendations included in the Legislative Auditor’s report on charter schools. It increases the oversight authority of charter school sponsors and the MDE and requires training for charter school board members. It also includes a provision we have worked on with several other education organizations including MSBA, MASA and Education Minnesota. The bill would place a 3 year moratorium on the opening of a charter school or the relocation of an existing charter school within a 1 mile radius of a recently closed school or within the boundaries of a newly dissolved or consolidated school district. With declining enrollment across most of the metro area, school closings will, unfortunately, become a rather regular occurrence in the coming years and this amendment would allow some time for emotions to subside and allow the local school board an opportunity to decide the fate of the closed school building in a thoughtful process. Please contact members of the K-12 Finance Committee and urge them to support the 3 year moratorium on a charter school moving within a 1 mile radius of a closed school building. Here is a link to the members of the committee:
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=86115
Mandate Reduction Bills
The House Education Policy Committee passed HF 920 earlier in the week. HF 920, sponsored by Rep. Tom Tillberry, eliminates several education mandates including allowing school districts to post summary budget information in a local newspaper, eliminates the Superintendent’s report, eliminates the required review and comment for alternative facilities and health and safety programs, and provided some more flexibility on the MOE for safe schools levy to either apply to the number of FTE’s or the amount spent. The bill is scheduled to be heard in the House K-12 Finance Committee next Thursday. We are still trying to make the case for repealing additional amendments such as the staff development set aside.
The Senate E-12 budget division will be hearing its mandate reduction bill, SF 657, on Tuesday.
Shared Services
SF10, the bill which includes Sen. Bonoff’s shared services mandate, was heard and approved yesterday by the Senate E-12 Budget Division. The bill (attached) continues to be problematic but is moving forward in the Senate. The House companion bill is not moving forward and has not generated support. The House has created a working group on shared services and the co-chairs of that group, Rep. Marsha Swails and Rep. Carol McFarlane, are gathering information and will be drafting a bill. The House Co-chairs have indicated that they want to draft a bill that removes barriers and provide incentives rather than creating new mandates.
Bakk and Lenczewski to Speak at Board Meeting
Senator Tom Bakk, Senate Tax Chair, and Rep. Ann Lenczewski, House Tax Chair, will be the guest speakers at the AMSD Board meeting next Friday, March 13. Feel free to invite interested board colleagues and district staff to attend and hear these two highly influential legislators.
Upcoming Committee Hearings
MONDAY, March 9, 2009
10:30 AM
Committee: Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda: HF18/SF119 (Hansen) Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council support provided.
HF195 (Norton) Labor Day school start provisions modified for two years, and repealing the Labor Day school start provision after studying its effect.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 8:30 AM
E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda:
S.F. 672-Skogen: School districts education mandates simplification and repeal.
S.F. 846-Olson, G.: Home schools mandates reduction.
TUESDAY, March 10, 2009
8:30 AM
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF501 (Mariani) Alternative graduation means created for students who have not successfully passed the Minnesota basic skills-test. HF1037 (Swails) Home school mandates reduced.
TUESDAY, March 10, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF935 (Slocum) Charter school provisions modified.
TUESDAY, March 10, 2009
4:30 PM
Committee: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik
Agenda:
HF106 (Swails) P-20 education partnership established
HF1026 (Slawik) Early childhood education provisions amended
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 8:30 AM
E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda:
S.F. 11-Saxhaug: Online learning providers requirements modification.
S.F. 33-Olseen: Type III school bus drivers qualifications modifications.
S.F. 358-Dahle: Resolution to not reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act.
WEDNESDAY, March 11, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF28 (Fritz) Wind generator at the Minnesota State Academies funding provided, bonds issued and money appropriated. HF125 (Fritz) Minnesota State Academies campus graduate housing funding provided, bonds issued and money appropriated. HF273 (Sailer) Red Lake, ISDN 38 maximum effort capital loan provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF588 (Falk) Dawson-Boyd; ISDN 378; Geothermal heating system funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 8:30 AM
E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda:
S.F. 314-Skogen: Education finance operating referendum revocation voter signature requirement modification.
S.F. 851-Saltzman: Minnesota reading corps program establishment and appropriation.
S.F. 913-Bakk: Greenhouse gas emissions reduction; land use planning, development, incorporations and minimum acreage standards restrictions; redevelopment grant program bond issue and appropriations.
THURSDAY, March 12, 2009
2:45 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF920 (Tillberry) Education; obsolete and unneeded mandates removed.
THURSDAY, March 12, 2009
4:30 PM
Committee: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik
Agenda:
HF597 (Slawik) Early childhood learning and child protection facility construction and rehabilitation funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated HF768 (Mariani) Child care assistance program modified, money appropriated
HF641(Peterson) Office of Early Learning created
March 3, 2009
February Forecast Released
The recently passed federal stimulus legislation has provided a cushion and prevented the projected budget shortfall for the 2010-11 biennium from growing. The new forecast projects a shortfall of $4.57 billion for the next biennium - - $278 million less than was projected in November. The gap would have been almost $6.4 billion were it not for the federal stimulus dollars expected to flow into the state over the next two years.
I am attaching a copy of the budget forecast summary along with a Power Point handout used at the press conference this morning.
Mandatory Statewide Health Insurance Bill Passes Senate Committee
The Senate Commerce Committee approved SF 915, legislation that mandates all school employees be pooled in the Public Employee Insurance Program, today and referred the bill to the Senate Health and Human Services Budget Division. If today’s hearing was any indication, this bill will likely move through the Senate rather quickly. Please contact your local senator to express your concerns about the bill and the impact it would have on your school district.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions.