The first of three supplemental omnibus bills has passed the House and is headed to the Senate.

An omnibus education bill with $56 million in additional funding for E-12 education and no funding for higher education passed the House Monday, 84-46. Rep. Jim Knoblach (R-St. Cloud) sponsors HF2749, which he said will also serve as the overarching supplemental budget bill for the House.

With zero budget targets for E-12 and higher education, most of the bill’s funding comes from a provision allowing school districts to repay and refinance high-interest state “maximum effort” loans. The funding targets “critical needs” of school districts, including $16.8 million to address teacher shortages, said Rep. Jenifer Loon (R-Eden Prairie), who chairs the House Education Finance Committee.

Despite the bill’s funding for teacher workforce development, rural broadband and a variety of other programs, House leadership’s zero targets for education drew strong criticism by DFLers — as did several of the bill’s policy provisions.

An amendment by Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) to provide $113 million to expand state student grants and freeze tuition at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system was ruled out of order, given the budget targets. The budget targets are the problem, Hortman said.

Rep. Isaacson (DFL-Little Canada) offered an amendment that modified the language on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs). The amendment requires the commissioner of education and chancellor to establish empirically derived benchmarks on the high school tests that reveal a trajectory toward career and college readiness. In addition, the amendment expands the provision that a state college or university must not require an individual to take a remedial, noncredit course if they receive a college ready ACT score or met a career and college-ready MCA benchmark. In addition, colleges and universities must post notices of the exemptions on their webpage. Several policy provisions that were hotly debated in committee also generated debate on the House floor, including a provision requiring additional oversight of fetal tissue research at the University of Minnesota.

The bill includes a controversial policy provision that would prohibit statewide student surveys about substance abuse, sexual activities and other behaviors, effectively ending the Minnesota Student Survey, which parents may current opt their children out of. An amendment offered by Rep. JoAnn Ward (DFL-Woodbury) to remove the provision failed 79-52.

Lawmakers stated that the data collected by data collected by the survey are crucial in identifying and addressing problems facing students. While others felt that the questions were too intrusive and "too personal in nature".

Notable amendments adopted would do the following:

  • require school boards to seek public testimony before voting on property tax increases;
  • appropriate an additional $1 million for teacher loan forgiveness programs;
  • require that one hour of suicide prevention training be included among continuing education hours required for teacher license renewal;
  • expand eligibility for a pilot program offering student loan counseling; and
  • make teacher diversity a more integral part of state education policy language.

Appropriations in the bill include:

  • $7.7 million to expand equity funding to districts outside the metro area to reduce per-pupil funding disparities;
  • $7 million for broadband expansion grants;
  • $6 million for staff training in intermediate school districts serving students with disabilities;
  • $5 million for school-linked mental health grants;
  • $4.5 million for a “future teachers” grant program for students intending to teach in high-need areas;
  • $2.75 million to implement the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program in districts to promote “positive school culture";
  • $2 million for the Collaborative Urban Educator program;
  • $1.8 million for the Parent Aware early learning quality rating system;
  • $1.5 million for the Reading Corps tutoring program;
  • $1.5 million for student mentoring partnerships through the Sanneh Foundation;
  • $1.5 million for the Girls in Action mentoring program grants;
  • $1.5 million for “grow your own” teacher residency pilot program; and
  • $2.2 million for loan forgiveness for teachers who work in shortage areas.

Policy provisions in the bill would do the following:

  • require the Education Department to develop a data security plan;
  • reallocate some University of Minnesota funds to establish a program at the Rochester campus for students recovering from addictions;
  • establish study groups to delve into student discipline and teacher licensure;
  • grant teachers the authority to remove students from their classrooms for misconduct; and
  • incorporate some teacher licensing system reforms recommended by the legislative auditor, including granting one-year professional teaching license for candidates who meet all licensure requirements except skills exams.