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Update for March 5, 2010

Race to the Top, February forecast, 4-day week, Governor’s priorities

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You may have heard: Minnesota did not make the cut for Race to The Top grant dollars. 

The February forecast was released this week and this year we are looking at a $994 million deficit instead of the projected $1.2 billion. BUT future years look bleak. As far out as 2013, we have a potential $5-7 billion dollar deficit. AND economists across the country predict a high unemployment rate for years to come. ADD to this our state demographer’s information about an aging population: By 2020 those age 65+ will outpace the K-12 population for the first time in history — imagine the strain on our tax dollars then. We need to attend to these issues immediately with honest and thoughtful solutions.

It is impossible to talk about these issues without involving the upcoming election. Every seat in the state legislature as well as the five constitutional offices are up for election in November. The primary date has been changed from September to August 10.

This Week At the Capitol

House K-12 Education Finance Division; Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville)
This week the K-12 Education Finance Division heard from the Blackduck school district which cut costs by moving to a four-day school week. Blackduck’s superintendent was clear that this move is a band-aid — not a cure. But as more and more school districts are moving in this direction to save money, it is sounding a great deal like a cure.

I testified that while Blackduck is doing an admirable job — tracking student achievement as well as cost savings — we could save even more money and maybe even balance the state budget if we had all schools on a three-day week. And probably net a state surplus if we could have kids in school just two days a week. I can’t lay claim to this statement – I first heard it from gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton.

While every developed nation in the world is adding days to schools, here in Minnesota we seem to be deciding how low we can go. Remember: in 2004-05 K-12 schools accounted for 28% of the state budget and today that number is 26%, a true reduction in money for schools.

I cannot say often enough that the present financial condition for our schools is not a result of the current economic situation. While the current economy exacerbates the problem, our schools have less money today because of decisions made at the state level over the last decade and more.

Chair Greiling asked for recommendations from education organizations as to what the state could do to help schools’ budgets. Testimony from MASA, MSBA, AMSD, SEE and MREA was on point. Some of these ideas will be converted into bills in the next weeks. [Full education group names: Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA), Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA), Association of Metropolitan Schools Districts (AMSD), Schools for Equity in Education (SEE), and Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA).]

In this issue

The Governor’s Education bill:
The Division also heard testimony from MDE Assistant Commissioner Klinzing regarding provisions in the Governor’s bill. Stated by the Ass’t Commissioner: Since effective teachers are the greatest school-based factor to increase student achievement (Marzano, 2003), the proposal has a focus on the teaching profession to close the achievement gap. Provisions of the bill:

1. Funding: Moves payment and tax recognition shifts into statute.
   
   
2. Teacher Transformation Act:
   • Aligns teacher preparation standards with K-12 student standards.
   • Requires teacher candidates to pass the basic skills test prior to entry into the program.
   • Strengthens teacher preparation in elementary math and requires teaching candidate to pass a math content exam.
   • Requires online pedagogy and completion of at least one online course for all teacher licensure candidates.
   • Monitors the effectiveness of teacher and administrator programs using student performance data that is linked to the teachers and administrators who have graduated from their institutions’ teacher/administrator prep programs.
   • Incorporates national standards for effective school leadership into the licensing standards for principals.
   
   
3. Teacher Evaluation and Tenure Renewal Act: “tenure is the continuation of your job”
   • Strengthens the induction period for new teachers.
   • Provides support for all teachers’ professional growth.
   • Requires teacher employment and renewal of that employment at least every five years based on academic growth of students.
   • Recruits, retains and rewards the most highly qualified and effective teachers and encourages highly qualified teachers to undertake challenging assignments.
   
   
4. Transparency in Contract Reporting
   • School districts must report negotiated contract settlements to MDE for public consumption. Information collected would include salary, benefit, retirement costs and total package percentages for contact.
   
   
5. English Language Proficiency Standards
   • Redesign English Language Proficiency standards adopted in 2003 with minor adjustments in 2005.
   • Align assessments to new standards.
   
   
6. Minimum Number of Hours of Instruction
   • 425 hours for kindergartners without a disability.
   • 935 hours for students grades 1-6.
   • 1020 hours for students grades 7-12.
   
   
7. EPAS Data Collection (Educational Planning and Assessment System)
   • A set of assessments that provide a longitudinal, systemic approach to educational and career planning, assessment and instructional support. Goal to develop interactive, searchable data warehouse with EPAS scores and other measures—MCAs, course taking, attendance, etc.
   • ACT Explore tests for grade 8 and ACT Plan test for grade 10 are paid for by the MDE for any district that wishes to provide them.
   • Proposal is to use unexpended funds to develop an electronic system linked to EPAS data

In this issue

Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division; Chair: Leroy Stumpf (DFL-Thief River Falls)
Several of the bills from this committee are ways for individual districts to gain increased revenue. There seem to be two responses from committee members: “How can we make this happen for this one district, so as not to incur great cost to the state?” or “We can’t do this without looking at the whole funding formula!” We agree with the second sentiment: they need to deal with the entire funding formula and consider the implications of future “nibbling around the edges.”

One bill that was receiving favorable discussion was SF2769 which allows a local school board the opportunity to renew an expiring referendum levy without going to their voters. This actually is a return to prior law. Before 1990, if your district passed a voter-approved levy it did not have a sunset date. In the mid-1990s the legislature passed that voter-approved levies must have an end date no longer than10 years in duration. When testimony was being taken on SF2769, a representative of the Governor testified in opposition to the bill.

Early Childhood Finance and Policy; Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood)
A point of procedure: Whereas the House has three education committees—K-12 Policy and Oversight, K-12 Education Finance Division and Early Childhood Finance and Policy— the Senate deals with all in one E-12 Education Budget and Policy. As much as I try to keep up with activities in House Early Childhood, there is no way I can do the job that Ready4K does—I look to them for the best information!

HF3200 (Peterson) Early childhood community partnerships grant program created, and money appropriated.
HF3220 (Kulick Jackson) Child care assistance program modified.

Meeting Documents:
• PreKindergarten Allowances Project Final Evaluation
• School Readiness Connections Final Evaluation
• St. Paul Early Childhood Scholarship Evaluation

Look for March Forth on Behalf of Early Care and Education at Ready4K.

In this issue

A Look Ahead

The House K-12 Policy and Oversight will be working long into the night next week to hear potential policy provisions for an omnibus bill. I expect a great deal of activity in the next two weeks in both bodies.

Bills to Watch

S.F. 2769 (Betzold-DFL-Fridley) School board expiring referendum renewal authority.

HF3082 (Lenczewski-DFL-Bloomington) State budget balancing appropriations reduced, calculation modified for state aids and credits to cities, counties, school districts, and other local governments, and money appropriated. Just introduced, and with no companion in the Senate, this bill changes the per pupil formula from $5,124 for 2010 to $4,659 in 2011 and 12 and $4,785 from that time on.

At the Website

Find these articles — and much, much more — at our News & Events page!

The February Economic Forecast released by Minnesota Management & Budget (MMB) shows an expected $994 million deficit for the remainder of the current 2010-11 biennium. In November, a $1.203 billion deficit was forecast (Minnesota Budget Bites' response).

The bell for Round 3 of the State Budget process rang on March 2 when the February Forecast was released (above). This marks the launch of a critical moment in the legislative process when your legislators need to hear from you.

Primary Sources: America's Teachers on America's Schools – 40,000 of our nation's public school teachers share their thoughts on American Education (Full Report; Star Tribune article)

In this issue

List of Bills

House K-12 Education Finance
HF2751 (Morgan-DFL-Burnsville) Students who do not pass the reading and language arts GRAD allowed to retake the test in paper-and-pencil format. To reduce costs, the bill was amended to the opportunity to take the test in pen an pencil once in Junior year, once in senior year and once in summer.
HF2880 (Kath-DFL-Owatonna) Graduation-Required Assessment for Diploma requirement for retakes amended.
HF3123 (Morgan-DFL-Burnsville) K-12 special education third-party billing process made more cost effective.

House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
HF58 (Mullery-DFL-Minneapolis) Middle school students taught about the juvenile and criminal justice systems and the consequences of delinquent and criminal conduct. Defeated in committee.
HF2962 (Fritz-DFL-Faribault) Minnesota Academy for the Deaf and Minnesota Academy for the Blind provided trial placement. Laid over for language changes.
HF3115 (Norton-DFL-Rochester) Statewide physical education standards and report required, and a healthy kids awards program established.
HF2106 (Bly-DFL-Northfield) Alternative learning centers and charter schools five-year pilot program established to identify systemic improvement measures to best serve eligible students, and money appropriated.
HF3157 (Mahoney-DFL-St. Paul) Parent notification of child maltreatment in a school facility modified, mental health assessment required of teachers disciplined for child maltreatment, teaching license revoked of repeat child maltreatment offenders, and district policy required for educating employees about mandatory child maltreatment reporting.
HF3163 (Mariani-DFL-St.Paul) Prekindergarten through grade 12 funding provided, including general education, education excellence, special programs, and early childhood education.

Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy
S.F. 2753 (Bonoff-DFL-Minnetonka) Physical education academic standards requirement; healthy kids awards program establishment.
S.F. 2551 (Wiger-DFL-North St. Paul) Compulsory school attendance age increase.
S.F. 2785 (Saxhaug-DFL-Grand Rapids)Flexible learning year education programs pre-Labor Day start date prohibition.
S.F. 2738 (Torres Ray-DFL-Minneapolis)Special school district #1, Minneapolis; reapportionment commission appointment authority and standards.
S.F. 2177 (Rest-DFL-New Hope) School districts safe schools levy increase.
S.F. 2769 (Betzold-DFL-Fridley)School board expiring referendum renewal authority.
S.F. 511 (Rosen-R-Fairmont)School districts alternative facilities bonding and levy program and deferred maintenance revenue program qualifications modification.
S.F. 2805 (Bonoff-DFL-Minnetonka) School district referendum allowance limit increase.
S.F. 1531 (Torres Ray-DFL-Minneapolis) Mental health model curriculum creation.

In this issue