The chairs of the House and Senate education finance committees co-chair the education conference committee, and they take turns setting the agenda. Absent budget targets, the chairs took most of the committee time this week highlighting their top priorities.
In the House, the topics covered early childhood education, reducing racial disparities, non-exclusionary discipline policies, distance learning, tightening up the teacher licensing requirements, and increasing teachers of color.
The last two priorities around teachers seem a contradiction in intent. Most of the current teachers of color have Tier 1 and Tier 2 licenses. The House limits the number of times Tier 1 and 2 teachers can renew their license and eliminates pathways to the more stable Tier 3 teacher license. There is an exception for Tier 1 and 2 teachers of color and possibly other teachers in shortage areas. Still, many have concerns that the state will lose too many teachers of color and other exceptional teachers who have proven themselves in the classroom but haven’t attended traditional teacher preparation programs. With Minnesota’s severe teacher shortage, this is a problem. However, the supporters of these restrictions argue all teachers need to earn a license through an approved preparation program or via portfolio to ensure high-quality teachers throughout the state.
In the Senate, the focus this week included distance learning & innovation programming, increasing Teachers of Color, resisting barriers in the teacher licensing process, and digital well-being.
Students and families want distance learning options for next year. Some districts found over a third of their students expressed interest in distance learning. Without legislative action, schools are limited in their ability to provide opportunities for their students. The Senate gives superintendents, school boards, and educators the ability to develop their plans with the flexibility to innovate so they can meet the individual needs of their students. The House takes a more cautious approach. Districts can continue their current hybrid and distance learning plans for the 2021-22 school year only. In the meantime, a task force will examine distance learning and make recommendations to the legislature on what remote education in Minnesota should look like going into the future.
The House and the Governor want to tackle significant policy issues in every area of government. The Senate indicated that their priority is getting the budget done and seem less interested in negotiating controversial policy with the House. We will see how that all works out. Hopefully, in the ten days they have left to get their work done. Hopefully, in the ten days they have left to get their work done.
