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The morning session will have legislative updates. The chairs of the House and Senate education committees, and Commissioner Ricker will join us and speak to education priorities.
Use the
Who Represents Me link above to call or email your legislators today. Set up a time to meet with them the afternoon of March 25.
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House Education Policy Omnibus Bill would Change Tiered Licensure too soon
House includes changes to tiered licensure in omnibus policy bill (HF 1711) and Senate takes up SF 1557.
The Senate took up a version of the bill last week and MSBA testified in opposition on behalf of Association of Metropolitan School Districts and Minnesota Association of School Administrators as well.
All organizations share concerns tha
t are grounded in one unified message: allow the n
ew tiered licensure system sufficient time to work before
deconstructing it.
The proposed changes in the bills include:
* eliminating the Tier 2 to Tier 3 pathway for experienced educators;
* limiting renewals for Tier 1 and Tier 2 teachers;
* removing the pathway to a Tier 2 license for teachers with a Master's degree in their specific content area;
* removing some mentorship requirements for Tier 3 and 4 teachers;
* essentially "define" Tier 1 and 2 teachers as ineffective and disallows schools from placing students in their classroom for two or more consecutive years; and
* removing language stating that teachers cannot earn Tier 4 license if they are on an improvement plan based on their most recent evaluation.
MSBA's testimony stated the 2016 Office of Legislative Auditor report on the teacher licensure system in Minnesota made clear the state's teacher lice
nsure system was "broken and confusing." The OLA report only confirmed the frustration our school districts, from St. Paul to Thief River Falls, were experiencing due to growing teacher shortages and stagnant educator diversity.
The bipartisan Teacher Licensure Study Group was formed and we, as stakeholders, shared thoughts, ideas and testimony to illustrate the daily hiring challenges facing our schools. Recommendations were made for the 2017 legislative session. Dozens of meetings and thousands of hours of discussions spurred recommendations that were debated and improved throughout the session. Legislators heard input from teachers, school leaders, school board members, the Department of Education, and Gov. Dayton.
The new tiered licensure system provides the much-needed flexibility and trust school leaders were asking for, particularly in shortage areas. The new system allows school districts to place the best teacher in front of our students as we all strive to meet the goals of World's Best Workforce and the Every Student Succeeds Act. 
MSBA feels strongly that this historical reform the governor signed into law -- through a thorough, bipartisan process that created the framework -- should be allowed to work before adjusting.
Please reach out to Governor Walz, House Education Policy Chair Youakim and Senate E-12 Finance and Policy Chair Nelson and encourage them to not make any changes to the tiered licensure system before allowing it time to work. It would also be helpful to include if your district employs Tier 1 teachers and the impact changes would have on your district.
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Education Bill Introductions
House
House Education Bill Introductions, Thursday, March 14
House Education Bill Introductions, Wednesday, March 13
House Education Bill Introductions, Monday, March 11
Senate
Senate Education Bill Introductions, Thursday, March 14
Senate Education Bill Introductions, Wednesday, March 13
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Upcoming Meetings and Events
House
Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division
Monday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 19
Room: 10 SOB
A variety of child care bills will be heard
Education Finance Division
Tuesday, March 19 9:45 AM
9:45 AM
Room: 5 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF194 -Special education funding increased for school districts, tuition billbacks to resident school districts reduced, and local optional revenue and operating referendum revenue added to general education revenue for charter schools.(Murphy)
HF1162 - Special education funding increased. (Wolgamott)
HF1025 - Forecasted positive general fund balances required to be allocated to restore special education aid payment percentage. (Carlson)
HF1879 - Unreimbursed special education costs state fund created, report required, and money appropriated.
HF194 (Murphy) Special education funding increased for school districts, tuition bill backs to resident school districts reduced, and local optional revenue and operating referendum revenue added to general education revenue for charter schools. (Loeffler)
Wednesday, March 20 9:45 AM
Room: 5 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF1207 - Independent School District No. 709, Duluth; special education formulas modified, fiscal year 2016 base adjusted, and money appropriated. (Olson)
HF1559 -Paraprofessionals paid orientation required, paraprofessional training funding provided, and money appropriated. (Youakim)
HF814 - School-linked mental health grants modified, report required, and money appropriated. (Edelson)
HF732 -School-linked mental health grants funding provided, and money appropriated. (Jurgens)
Thursday, March 21 9:45 AM
Room: 5 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF692 - Pupils enrolled in career and technical education courses extended time use expanded. (Poppe)
HF73 - Pupils enrolled in career and technical education courses extended time use expanded. (Gunther)
HF246 - Vocational enrichment program established, and money appropriated. (Bennett)
Education Policy Division
Wednesday, March 13 2:30 PM
Room: 5 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF1369 -Public schools required to maintain monthly utility consumption data. (Christensen)
HF2259 -Independent School District No. 846, Breckenridge; postsecondary enrollment options with higher education institution agreement allowed. (Backer)
Senate
Committee on E-12 Finance and Policy
Monday, March 11 3:00 PM
Room 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
The committee will take testimony or written comments on the Governor's bills SF 2347 and SF 2116 . Testimony will be limited to 3 minutes per person/organization. To submit written comments or sign-up to testify, please contact gregory.marcus@senate.mn
S.F. 2347 -Prekindergarten to grade 12 education budget appropriations. (Nelson)
S.F. 1270 - Alternative teacher preparation program grant eligibility modification and appropriation. (Anderson, P.)
S.F. 1820 -Alternative teacher compensation aid increase; program waiting list and program aid proration elimination; appropriating money. (Anderson, P.)
S.F. 1625 - Independent school district #270, Hopkins; fund transfer. (Anderson, P.)
S.F. 1787 -Postsecondary enrollment options (PSEO) information availability to students deadline modification; postsecondary enrollment in online courses requirements modification; transportation aid for pupils enrolled in postsecondary enrollment options calculation modification. (Nelson)
S.F. 2116 - Prekindergarten through grade 12 education provisions modifications. (Nelson)
If the committee meeting is not completed before 5:00, we will recess and reconvene shortly after 6:00.
Wednesday, March 20 3:00 PM
Room 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Agenda:
S.F. 355 - Mental health education instruction requirements modification. (Jensen, S.)
S.F. 2139 - Education shared time aid applicable location of services modification. (Jensen, S.)
S.F. 546 -Sanneh Foundation grant. (Anderson, P.)
S.F. 1647 - Parent-child home program appropriation. (Anderson, P.)
S.F. 939 - Education partnership program modification and appropriation. (Nelson)
S.F. 1772 - Specialized instructional services program alternative delivery student participation modification. (Clausen)
S.F. 1273 -Permanent school fund compensation appropriation for certain lands based on general fund forecast. (Ruud)
Other Bills of Interest
Monday, March 18 12:45 PM Taxes
HF1391 - School building bond agricultural credit modified. (Marquart)
Monday, March 18 1:00 PM
Jobs and Economic Development Finance Division
1150 Senate Office Bldg
S.F. 947 -Building and construction contracts retainage requirements modification. (Rarick)
Tuesday, March 19 8:30 AM
Committee on Taxes
Room 15 Capitol
Agenda:
S.F. 1872 - K-12 scholarships donations income tax credit allowance creation. (Chamberlain)
Tuesday, March 19 5:30 PM
Jobs and Economic Development Finance Division
Room: TBD
Agenda:
HF11 -Earned sick and safe time provided, rulemaking authorized, civil penalties imposed, and reports required. (Lesch)
HF5 - Paid family, pregnancy, bonding, and applicant's serious medical condition benefits provided; employment leaves regulated and required; data classified; rulemaking authorized; and money appropriated. (Halverson)
Deadlines for Bills Announced
The second deadline, March 29, 2019, at 11:59 p.m., is for committees to act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other house.
The third deadline, April 12, 2019, at 11:59 p.m., is for committees to act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
The Governor and Legislative leaders announced three new deadlines to help move bills forward after they have been heard in the House and Senate. The three
new deadlines are:
- the House and Senate will pass all major finance bills off their respective floors and leadership will appoint conference committees by May 1;
- the governor, Senate majority leader and House speaker will provide fiscal targets to the chairs of conference committees on major finance bills by May 6; and
- conference committee chairs shall provide completed conference committee reports to the house of origin by May 13.
The Weekly Advocate is delivered via email each Monday and is your "go-to" for education legislation.
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