Updated Legislative Summary  

MSBA has updated the 2020 Legislative Summary with the new education policy bill. Governor Walz signed SSHF33 into law last Tuesday.  

The new law prohibits districts from suspending a pre-K student. It requires all middle school students to receive vaping prevention instruction and encourages high school students to receive vaping prevention as well. Questions about vaping and smoking prevention will now be part of the Minnesota Student Survey. The new law requires all teachers, in all tiers, to have annual training on mental health. And it modifies district reporting on dyslexia.  

 

COVID-19 Aid to Cities, Counties and Townships

Although the bill to disperse funds did not pass during the special session, Governor Walz did announce a plan last Thursday to distribute $853 million in relief to communities.

$841 million will be distributed to Minnesota's counties, cities and towns to support local government coronavirus relief efforts. Hennepin and Ramsey county funds were previously directly appropriated. $12 million will be allocated to food shelves and food banks. The Minnesota Department of Revenue will distribute funds on a rolling basis beginning the week of June 29, 2020.

Upcoming Meetings 

Tuesday, June 30 9:45 AM 

Joint meeting of House Education Policy and House Education Finance Committees

HTV1 and Facebook 

Agenda:
Joint informational hearing of the Education Policy Committee and Education Finance Division that will focus on distance learning and the 2020/2021 school year.
This hearing will highlight the voices of public school administrators, principals, school board members and the Minnesota Department of Education about their experiences with distance learning.

 

David Boone, Robbinsdale Area Schools school board chair and Katie Weise, Pipestone Area Public Schools school board director will provide a rural and suburban/urban perspective. 

 

It is very probable the Governor will call another special session prior to July 13, when the current peacetime emergency ends.     

 

Question

MSBA would like to know if your district has a legislative advocacy committee or if you are interested in forming a group.  

 

Please participate in this 2 question survey.   

 

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