Legislative Updates
Safe Schools
Governor Dayton released his proposal regarding school safety this week. The
Safe and Secure Schools Act would equalize and increase the existing Safe Schools Levy. Both the House and Senate also heard similar bills.
Governor Dayton & MDE Policy Bill
The House Education Innovation Policy Committee heard
H.F. 3315 last week. Some highlights of the bill are:
* Modifies coursework requirements for a Tier 3 teacher license.
* Modifies requirements for lead water testing by increasing the frequency of testing and requires that if any lead is found in any water source, the school must remediate or shut off the source and provide an alternative source of water.
* Clarifies that a school district may collect unpaid meal debt, as long as "reminders" do not demean or stigmatize the child.
*Introduces criteria, processes and reporting relating to threat assessments of students.
School Trust Lands
The Permanent School Fund Commission received an update on the forestry resource management accounts, as it relates to School Trust Lands. In addition, the committee was made aware of several upcoming bills that deal with School Trust Lands. There are a few bills dealing with the authority of the School Trust Lands director and others that ask the commission to explore opportunities to authorize school districts to borrow from a permanent school fund.
School Discipline
A bill encouraging school officials to use disciplinary policies and practices before dismissal proceedings.
S.F. 2920 (Pratt) was heard in the Senate Education Policy Committee. Another large component of the bill incorporates more notification to parents.
Pensions
The Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement (LCPR) reviewed miscellaneous pension-related bills and again took up the 2018 Omnibus Retirement Bill. Numerous stakeholders spoke during the public testimony portion of the meeting.
Representatives of school boards and administrators showed up in force to support the bill, provided state pension adjustment aid is included. Grace Keliher, Director of Government Relations for MSBA, thanked the commission for working out the pension adjustment formula. She shared that schools need the aid to offset increases in the TRA employer contribution.
The pension commission intends to pass the bill at its next meeting on March 13
.
Academic Balance
This was a much debated issue at Thursday's Senate Education Policy Committee meeting.
S.F. 2487 (Nelson) seeks to require a school board to adopt and post a written academic balance policy applicable to students and all staff. The policy must include reporting procedures and disciplinary actions for policy violations.
Some countered the need for the bill saying many provisions exist in school policy or statute and would restrict local control. In addition, it could have an unintended consequence of having potential teachers pause and rethink their career path. The bill passed on a 5-3 vote and will head to the Senate Education Finance Committee.
Special Education Update
Special education resolutions are still being passed throughout Minnesota. The map now represents more than 175 districts who have passed resolutions.
The message is being heard. Both bills (H.F. 2846/S.F. 2698) passed out of Education Policy and State Government Finance committees.
Please continue to pass and share resolutions with us. We will be sharing them with education leadership at the MSBA Day at the Capitol event on March 19.
Upcoming Legislative Meetings
House
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
8:15 AM
Education Innovation Policy
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
H.F. 3370 Franke - Threat assessment and oversight committees required, access to criminal history and health records provided, and money appropriated.
H.F. 3178 Peterson - Academic achievement rating system required to track student achievement, academic growth, and achievement gap closure rates in schools and districts.
H.F. 2788 Dettmer - School counselors encouraged to receive training in armed forces career options, school counselors required to inform students of armed forces career options, and school districts encouraged to grant military recruiters access to secondary students.
H.F. 2724 Jurgens - School lunch providers prohibited from shaming students, meal policies required to be posted to school websites, and supplementary reserve fund created.
H.F. 3361 Kunesh-Podein - Substance misuse prevention instruction grant provided, report required, and money appropriated.
H.F. 2825 Gruenhagen - Nonpublic students in grade 10 authorized to participate in career and technical courses offered through the post-secondary enrollment options program.
H.F. 2768 Jessup - Child sexual abuse prevention instruction in a health curriculum modified.
H.F. 1507 Lucero - Student Data Privacy Act created, and penalties provided.
1:00 PM
Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jenifer Loon
Agenda:
HF3062 - Dean Human services commissioner required to seek federal funding to implement an opioid awareness grant program for high school and college students, and report required.
HF3085 - Loon Qualified providers of mental health services clarified for innovative mental health grants to intermediate school districts.
HF3166 - Mariani Extended time revenue for summer programs for students placed at corrections facilities authorized.
HF3180 - Mariani English learner funding increased, and money appropriated.
HF3190 - Bennett Extended time use expanded to pupils enrolled in career and technical education courses.
English Learner Funding Overview
Extended Time Revenue Overview
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Government Operations and Elections Policy
Room: Basement Hearing Room
Chair: Rep. Tim O'Driscoll
Agenda:
H.F. 3094 Lohmer - School district bond referendum information required to be available in the polling place, and ballot language for school district bond referendums amended.
1:00 PM
Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jenifer Loon
Agenda:
HF2846 - Christensen Special education working group established, and report required.
HF3013 - Runbeck Teacher training required to enable a teacher to implement instructional strategies to meet the needs of students with dyslexia.
HF2877 - O'Neill Monticello school district special education adjustment modified.
Meeting Time Note: If necessary, committee will reconvene at 5:00 pm in room 10 of the State Office Building.
Education Innovation Policy
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF2750 - Bahr Compulsory school attendance exemptions modified.
HF2859 - Erickson State assessments required to be administered in May.
HF2860 - Erickson Education commissioner required to review district and charter school curricula, and report required.
HF1580 - Erickson Charter school policy and technical changes made.
HF1420 - Erickson World's best workforce performance measures and reports modified.
HF2936 - Erickson School trust land administration transferred, school trust management account established, rulemaking authorized, and report required.
HFXXXX - (Jessup) Dyslexia screening required. The bill number will be added after its introduction on Monday. The bill language is posted on the committee website.
Committee Documents:
Senate
Monday, March 12, 2018
3:00 PM
Committee on E-12 Finance
Chair: Sen. Carla J. Nelson
Room 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Agenda:
Joe Kelly, Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Director Randy Johnson, School Safety Center, Director
Nelson SF 2754 (informational only)
SCRFA review of related programs
Education Organizations recommendations
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
3:00 PM
Committee on E-12 Policy
Chair: Sen. Eric R. Pratt
Room 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Agenda:
S.F. 2816 - Chamberlain Academic achievement rating system development requirement to track student achievement, academic growth, and achievement gap closure rates.
S.F. 3068 - Ruud Public school campuses physical security audits grants appropriation.
S.F. 1629 - Torres Ray Safe school levy modification.
S.F. 3243 - Pratt Long-term facilities maintenance revenue use for projects to increase safety and security of school facilities authorization; supplemental aid program to pay a portion of the costs for school district projects that increase the safety and security of school facilities establishment.
S.F. 2900 - Pratt Alternative fire drills for schools and educational institutions authorization.
S.F. 3017 - Pratt Safe schools levy modification to include medication disposal costs.
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
3:00 PM
Committee on E-12 Finance
Chair: Sen. Carla J. Nelson
Room 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Agenda:
Aaron Lemon-Strauss, Executive Director at College Board
Katy M. Lawrence, ACT
S.F. 2522 Anderson, B. Independent school district #882, Monticello; special education aid payment increase requirement.