Latest Update:
INFORMATION: MDE LETTER REGARDING SPECIAL EDUCATION LICENSURE NONCOMPLIANCE (JULY 21, 2023)
As many of you know, MDE received a notice of noncompliance from the United States Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) regarding our state's alternative pathway options for licensing special education teachers. Linked you will find a letter from MDE to the OSEP outlining corrective action steps.
Please note that PELSB has not yet officially signed off on MDE's plan, nor voted to support the legislative proposal mentioned in the letter. It is also not known as of this writing if the OSEP will approve the corrective action plan. Still, given the concerns raised when the OSEP letter was received along with the severe special education teacher shortage we are facing, I thought it important for you to have this communication.
As many of you know, MDE received a notice of noncompliance from the United States Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) regarding our state's alternative pathway options for licensing special education teachers. Linked you will find a letter from MDE to the OSEP outlining corrective action steps.
Please note that PELSB has not yet officially signed off on MDE's plan, nor voted to support the legislative proposal mentioned in the letter. It is also not known as of this writing if the OSEP will approve the corrective action plan. Still, given the concerns raised when the OSEP letter was received along with the severe special education teacher shortage we are facing, I thought it important for you to have this communication.
Coalition letter re: Special Session & Speaker Hortman's response: August 8, 2022
➤ Information: Coalition letter re: Special Session & Speaker Hortman's response
Deb Henton
8/18/22
In recent meetings I have shared that MASA was approached to join a coalition of organizations requesting Governor Walz call a special session of the legislature. The MASA Executive Officers and I reviewed a draft letter and agreed to be a signatory. Please note the broad array of signatories on the attached final coalition letter.
Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman provided a response which is also attached to this email. I will keep you apprised of additional responses and any possible activity that may lead to the calling of a special session.
Please feel free to share these letters and to urge Governor Walz and your Representatives in both Houses who also received the coalition letter to agree to a special session. The letter provides sound rationale for our request.
Coalition Letter
Rep. Hortman Response
Deb Henton
8/18/22
In recent meetings I have shared that MASA was approached to join a coalition of organizations requesting Governor Walz call a special session of the legislature. The MASA Executive Officers and I reviewed a draft letter and agreed to be a signatory. Please note the broad array of signatories on the attached final coalition letter.
Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman provided a response which is also attached to this email. I will keep you apprised of additional responses and any possible activity that may lead to the calling of a special session.
Please feel free to share these letters and to urge Governor Walz and your Representatives in both Houses who also received the coalition letter to agree to a special session. The letter provides sound rationale for our request.
Coalition Letter
Rep. Hortman Response
Post-Election Advocacy: November 11, 2022
➤ Information: Post-election advocacy
Deb Henton
11/15/22
Many of you have asked about the election and how you should reach out to those newly elected to state offices. Please see the linked message below from MASA Lobbyist Valerie Dosland for suggestions that may be helpful.
Post-elect advocacy [PDF]
Deb Henton
11/15/22
Many of you have asked about the election and how you should reach out to those newly elected to state offices. Please see the linked message below from MASA Lobbyist Valerie Dosland for suggestions that may be helpful.
Post-elect advocacy [PDF]
Session Update: January 2, 2023
➤ Information: Session update - week of January 2, 2023
The 2023 Legislative Session Begins
The 2023 legislative session began this week with in-person floor sessions in both bodies after almost three years of virtual legislating at the Minnesota Capitol. While the floor sessions in the House were sleepy this week, the Senate spent hours Wednesday determining a proposal to allow remote voting and other administrative matters. Committees held their first committee hearings and focused on member introductions and overviews.
Democrats lay out session priorities
This week the Governor and the DFL majorities laid out their priorities for the 2023 session. All three highlighted investments in education, including special education and universal school meals as a top priority. In addition, Governor Walz indicated a high priority for him is to tie the per-pupil formula will to inflation.
Committee structure for the 23-24 biennium
Senate Education Finance chair, Sen. Mary Kunesh
Click here to see committee details
House Education Finance chair, Rep. Cheryl Youakim
Click here to see committee details
Senate Education Policy chair, Sen. Steve Cwodzinski
Click here to see committee details
House Education Policy chair, Rep. Laurie Pryor
Click here to see committee details
The Children and Families Committee chair, Rep. Dave Pinto
Click here to see committee details
Dates to remember
January 23: Governor’s budget recommendations released
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session
Call to action coming next week
Watch for an email in the days ahead with information about connecting with legislators from your school district using MASA’s advocacy platform.
Bill Introductions of Interest
H. F. 5, Universal school lunch and breakfast for all students
H. F. 8, Establishing student support personnel aid; appropriating money
H. F. 18, Fully funding school district special education services
H. F. 21, Appropriating money for full-service community schools
H. F. 20, A bill for an act relating to unemployment insurance; modifying wage credits and providing reimbursement; authorizing transfers from the general fund
H. F. 22, Increasing funding for English learner programming
H. F. 44, Requiring school districts to provide access to menstrual products for students; increasing operating capital aid to fund school district purchases of menstrual products
H. F. 58, Prohibiting dismissals of students in kindergarten through grade 3; appropriating money
H. F. 105, Expanding the use of extended time to pupils enrolled in career and technical education courses
H. F. 112, Delaying review of physical education standards
S.F. No. 8: Providing supplemental aid for transportation, nutrition, English learners, and special education; appropriating money
Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the legislative session- valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-3052.
The 2023 Legislative Session Begins
The 2023 legislative session began this week with in-person floor sessions in both bodies after almost three years of virtual legislating at the Minnesota Capitol. While the floor sessions in the House were sleepy this week, the Senate spent hours Wednesday determining a proposal to allow remote voting and other administrative matters. Committees held their first committee hearings and focused on member introductions and overviews.
Democrats lay out session priorities
This week the Governor and the DFL majorities laid out their priorities for the 2023 session. All three highlighted investments in education, including special education and universal school meals as a top priority. In addition, Governor Walz indicated a high priority for him is to tie the per-pupil formula will to inflation.
Committee structure for the 23-24 biennium
Senate Education Finance chair, Sen. Mary Kunesh
Click here to see committee details
House Education Finance chair, Rep. Cheryl Youakim
Click here to see committee details
Senate Education Policy chair, Sen. Steve Cwodzinski
Click here to see committee details
House Education Policy chair, Rep. Laurie Pryor
Click here to see committee details
The Children and Families Committee chair, Rep. Dave Pinto
Click here to see committee details
Dates to remember
January 23: Governor’s budget recommendations released
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session
Call to action coming next week
Watch for an email in the days ahead with information about connecting with legislators from your school district using MASA’s advocacy platform.
Bill Introductions of Interest
H. F. 5, Universal school lunch and breakfast for all students
H. F. 8, Establishing student support personnel aid; appropriating money
H. F. 18, Fully funding school district special education services
H. F. 21, Appropriating money for full-service community schools
H. F. 20, A bill for an act relating to unemployment insurance; modifying wage credits and providing reimbursement; authorizing transfers from the general fund
H. F. 22, Increasing funding for English learner programming
H. F. 44, Requiring school districts to provide access to menstrual products for students; increasing operating capital aid to fund school district purchases of menstrual products
H. F. 58, Prohibiting dismissals of students in kindergarten through grade 3; appropriating money
H. F. 105, Expanding the use of extended time to pupils enrolled in career and technical education courses
H. F. 112, Delaying review of physical education standards
S.F. No. 8: Providing supplemental aid for transportation, nutrition, English learners, and special education; appropriating money
Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the legislative session- valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-3052.
Session Update: Week of January 9, 2023
➤ Session update - week of 1/9/23
While some high-profile issues have started to advance in the House and Senate, it was a quiet week of hearings in the education committees. Both the House and Senate education committees held more overviews and were also introduced to new Commissioner of Education, Willie Jett.
Leaders announce committee deadlines
On Thursday legislative leaders announced deadlines which bills must meet to advance through the legislative process. They also announced a short spring break.
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 5- 10: Legislative break
Committee hearings – week of 1/9/23
This week the various education-related committees were introduced to the new Commissioner of Education, Willie Jett, heard overviews on education funding, the role of MDE and PELSB.
The House Education Policy Committee heard two bills, HF5 to provide universal meals, and HF44, to provide access to menstrual products for students. Both bills were sent to the House Education Finance committee. That committee will delve more deeply into the fiscal impact of these proposals.
Bills introductions of interest
H. F. 271, A bill for an act relating to education; providing for non-exclusionary discipline
H. F. 320, A bill for an act relating to education; strengthening the Teachers of Color Act; increasing the percentage of teachers of color and American Indian teachers in Minnesota; amending the world's best workforce requirements; requiring reports; appropriating money
H. F. 321, A bill for an act relating to government data practices; limiting the educational data that may be designated as publicly available directory information; allowing private educational data to be shared with government entities having a legitimate education interest in the data
S.F. No. 163: A bill for an act relating to education finance; promoting digital well-being education and training for the health, mental well-being, and learning of all Minnesota students as it relates to the use of digital media; appropriating money for a Minnesota-based organization that collaborates with communities to promote digital well-being.
Dates to remember
January 24: Governor’s budget recommendations released
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 5- 10: Legislative break
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session
While some high-profile issues have started to advance in the House and Senate, it was a quiet week of hearings in the education committees. Both the House and Senate education committees held more overviews and were also introduced to new Commissioner of Education, Willie Jett.
Leaders announce committee deadlines
On Thursday legislative leaders announced deadlines which bills must meet to advance through the legislative process. They also announced a short spring break.
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 5- 10: Legislative break
Committee hearings – week of 1/9/23
This week the various education-related committees were introduced to the new Commissioner of Education, Willie Jett, heard overviews on education funding, the role of MDE and PELSB.
The House Education Policy Committee heard two bills, HF5 to provide universal meals, and HF44, to provide access to menstrual products for students. Both bills were sent to the House Education Finance committee. That committee will delve more deeply into the fiscal impact of these proposals.
Bills introductions of interest
H. F. 271, A bill for an act relating to education; providing for non-exclusionary discipline
H. F. 320, A bill for an act relating to education; strengthening the Teachers of Color Act; increasing the percentage of teachers of color and American Indian teachers in Minnesota; amending the world's best workforce requirements; requiring reports; appropriating money
H. F. 321, A bill for an act relating to government data practices; limiting the educational data that may be designated as publicly available directory information; allowing private educational data to be shared with government entities having a legitimate education interest in the data
S.F. No. 163: A bill for an act relating to education finance; promoting digital well-being education and training for the health, mental well-being, and learning of all Minnesota students as it relates to the use of digital media; appropriating money for a Minnesota-based organization that collaborates with communities to promote digital well-being.
Dates to remember
January 24: Governor’s budget recommendations released
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 5- 10: Legislative break
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session
CALL TO ACTION REQUESTED: LEGISLATIVE INTRODUCTIONS: JANUARY 16, 2023
CALL TO ACTION REQUESTED: LEGISLATIVE INTRODUCTIONS: JANUARY 16, 2023
As MASA President Dr. Hillman noted in a recent message, much is at stake this session and connecting with legislators is an important part of our advocacy work. With a $17 billion budget surplus, there is a lot of opportunity to support public education, but legislators need to hear from you.
If you have not already reached out to your state legislators, we have created a simple message for you to send and share MASA’s legislative priorities.
Note that a few senators do not have a public email address so if you do not see them on your list, you will have to go directly to their website and fill out the email form provided. Also, if you
are a cooperative school district, you can send a message by inputting each school district that is a member of your cooperative.
As MASA President Dr. Hillman noted in a recent message, much is at stake this session and connecting with legislators is an important part of our advocacy work. With a $17 billion budget surplus, there is a lot of opportunity to support public education, but legislators need to hear from you.
If you have not already reached out to your state legislators, we have created a simple message for you to send and share MASA’s legislative priorities.
Note that a few senators do not have a public email address so if you do not see them on your list, you will have to go directly to their website and fill out the email form provided. Also, if you
are a cooperative school district, you can send a message by inputting each school district that is a member of your cooperative.
Information: Governor Walz E-12 2023 budget proposal: January 17, 2023
As you may be aware, Governor Walz announced his "One Minnesota Budget for Making Minnesota the Best State in the Country for Kids." A summary provided by MDE is attached. You will note that areas such as linking the the basic formula to inflation and the cross subsidies for Special Education and English Learners are addressed among other concerns like mental health support that we have all been advocating for over the years.
More information will be provided as it becomes available. We have been informed that budgets for other departments have funding proposed that will assist our public schools. Those announcements should come later this week and in the upcoming days prior to January 24 when Governor Walz must present his full budget to the legislature.
Your feedback is welcome as Valerie Dosland and I continue to meet with legislators, Commissioner Jett and other members of the MDE staff to convey the MASA platform and our response to proposed legislation and the governor's budget.
More information will be provided as it becomes available. We have been informed that budgets for other departments have funding proposed that will assist our public schools. Those announcements should come later this week and in the upcoming days prior to January 24 when Governor Walz must present his full budget to the legislature.
Your feedback is welcome as Valerie Dosland and I continue to meet with legislators, Commissioner Jett and other members of the MDE staff to convey the MASA platform and our response to proposed legislation and the governor's budget.
Session update - week of January 16, 2023
Session update - week of January 16, 2023It's hard to believe we've only finished the third week of the legislative session. With the speed and intensity with which things are moving it feels like we should be much closer to the bill deadline time. Both the House and Senate have introduced bills at a record pace and many high-profile bills are advancing quickly.
Budget and revenue update
The $17.6 billion budget surplus, the largest in state history, continues to grow. The Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) office found that net general fund receipts for November and December of 2022 were $217 million more than forecast in November. In February, MMB will release an updated forecast which lawmakers will rely on to create the two-year budget.
Governor’s “One Minnesota Budget Plan”
This week, Governor Walz unveiled the first two parts of his four-part budget plan. The first piece proposes to allocate $12 billion over the next four years for increased investments in education, children, and families. The second part of the budget unveiled this week focuses on the economy. The entirety of the budget plan will be released on January 24. The Governor’s education priorities include:
More details will be available once his budget recommendations are released on January 24. Please remember that this is the first step in the budget process and the Governor is one of three entities that will weigh in on the budget. The House and Senate will have their education funding priorities and we have time to influence their decisions regarding the funding levels to support public education.
Committee hearings – week of January 16, 2023
The Senate Education Finance Committee heard legislation to fully-fund the special education cross-subsidy and a bill to phase in full funding for the EL cross-subsidy over the next four years. The committee also heard a bill to provide one-time supplemental funding to school districts for nutrition, transportation, and special education costs.
The Senate Education Policy Committee heard legislation to establish June 19 as an official state holiday recognizing Juneteenth as well as the bill, commonly referred to as the "period poverty bill," which requires school districts, and provides funding, to place feminine hygiene products in school bathrooms. Last, the committee also heard a bill to fund universal meals.
The House Education Policy Committee heard HF58 which prohibits the dismissal of kindergarten through grade 3 students. The bill also appropriates funding for staff development on non-exclusionary disciplinary practices. The committee also heard a bill making changes to the Teachers of Color Act and legislation to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a recognized state holiday, and require a school district to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day if it conducts school on this day.
The House Children and Families Committee heard legislation to make the voluntary prekindergarten and school readiness plus seats permanent.
Dates to remember
January 24: Governor’s budget recommendations released
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 5- 10: Legislative break
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session
Bills introductions of interest
SF319: Updating the transportation sparsity revenue percent.
SF366: Prohibiting malicious and sadistic conduct involving race, gender, religion, sexual harassment, sexual orientation, and sexual exploitation.
SF401: Increasing developmental screening aid; appropriating money.
SF438: Requiring affirmative consent instruction.
SF448: Increasing the general education basic formula allowance by five percent per year for fiscal years 2024 and 2025; linking future formula increases to the rate of inflation.
SF476: Requiring school districts and charter schools to provide climate justice instruction; requiring a report.
HF347: Modifying lead testing and remediation requirements in schools; requiring a report; appropriating money.
HF358: Modifying social studies requirements; requiring school districts to offer a course in government and citizenship.
HF381: Making permanent a pilot scholarship program for aspiring teachers of color; establishing a special revenue fund account; modifying provisions of the teacher shortage loan repayment program.
HF456: Making permanent the expansion of the voluntary prekindergarten and school readiness plus program; appropriating money.
HF535: Authorizing a school board to renew an expiring referendum.
HF562: Creating due process special education aid for school districts; appropriating money.
HF613: Allowing high school students to earn elective credits through employment with certain health care providers.
HF620: Requiring paid orientation for paraprofessionals; appropriating money for paraprofessional training.
HF629: Requiring schools to use approved literacy curriculum; requiring literacy specialists; requiring a report; appropriating money.
Questions?
Please contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-3052 with any questions.
Budget and revenue update
The $17.6 billion budget surplus, the largest in state history, continues to grow. The Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) office found that net general fund receipts for November and December of 2022 were $217 million more than forecast in November. In February, MMB will release an updated forecast which lawmakers will rely on to create the two-year budget.
Governor’s “One Minnesota Budget Plan”
This week, Governor Walz unveiled the first two parts of his four-part budget plan. The first piece proposes to allocate $12 billion over the next four years for increased investments in education, children, and families. The second part of the budget unveiled this week focuses on the economy. The entirety of the budget plan will be released on January 24. The Governor’s education priorities include:
- Increasing the per-pupil formula by 4% next year, 2% the following year, and tying future increases to inflation
- Reducing the special education cross-subsidy by 50%
- Reducing the English learner cross-subsidy by 25%
- Providing universal free meals to students
- Increased funding for career and technical education
- Increased funding for school-linked behavioral health grants and intermediate school-linked behavioral health grants, early childhood mental health programs
- Funding for multi-tiered systems of support
- Literacy achievement
- Adding school support personnel
- Reducing discipline disparities
More details will be available once his budget recommendations are released on January 24. Please remember that this is the first step in the budget process and the Governor is one of three entities that will weigh in on the budget. The House and Senate will have their education funding priorities and we have time to influence their decisions regarding the funding levels to support public education.
Committee hearings – week of January 16, 2023
The Senate Education Finance Committee heard legislation to fully-fund the special education cross-subsidy and a bill to phase in full funding for the EL cross-subsidy over the next four years. The committee also heard a bill to provide one-time supplemental funding to school districts for nutrition, transportation, and special education costs.
The Senate Education Policy Committee heard legislation to establish June 19 as an official state holiday recognizing Juneteenth as well as the bill, commonly referred to as the "period poverty bill," which requires school districts, and provides funding, to place feminine hygiene products in school bathrooms. Last, the committee also heard a bill to fund universal meals.
The House Education Policy Committee heard HF58 which prohibits the dismissal of kindergarten through grade 3 students. The bill also appropriates funding for staff development on non-exclusionary disciplinary practices. The committee also heard a bill making changes to the Teachers of Color Act and legislation to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a recognized state holiday, and require a school district to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day if it conducts school on this day.
The House Children and Families Committee heard legislation to make the voluntary prekindergarten and school readiness plus seats permanent.
Dates to remember
January 24: Governor’s budget recommendations released
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 5- 10: Legislative break
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session
Bills introductions of interest
SF319: Updating the transportation sparsity revenue percent.
SF366: Prohibiting malicious and sadistic conduct involving race, gender, religion, sexual harassment, sexual orientation, and sexual exploitation.
SF401: Increasing developmental screening aid; appropriating money.
SF438: Requiring affirmative consent instruction.
SF448: Increasing the general education basic formula allowance by five percent per year for fiscal years 2024 and 2025; linking future formula increases to the rate of inflation.
SF476: Requiring school districts and charter schools to provide climate justice instruction; requiring a report.
HF347: Modifying lead testing and remediation requirements in schools; requiring a report; appropriating money.
HF358: Modifying social studies requirements; requiring school districts to offer a course in government and citizenship.
HF381: Making permanent a pilot scholarship program for aspiring teachers of color; establishing a special revenue fund account; modifying provisions of the teacher shortage loan repayment program.
HF456: Making permanent the expansion of the voluntary prekindergarten and school readiness plus program; appropriating money.
HF535: Authorizing a school board to renew an expiring referendum.
HF562: Creating due process special education aid for school districts; appropriating money.
HF613: Allowing high school students to earn elective credits through employment with certain health care providers.
HF620: Requiring paid orientation for paraprofessionals; appropriating money for paraprofessional training.
HF629: Requiring schools to use approved literacy curriculum; requiring literacy specialists; requiring a report; appropriating money.
Questions?
Please contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-3052 with any questions.
Information: Session update - week of January 23, 2023
Information: Session update - week of January 23, 2023
The pace of the session is picking up rapidly. A record number of bills have been introduced so far, many bills are already headed to their respective bodies for passage, and committees are increasing the number of bills on their calendars.
The Senate is also taking up confirmation hearings of Governor Walz's cabinet members much earlier than usual. Monday the Senate Education Committee will take up MDE Commissioner Will Jett's confirmation. His confirmation will then advance to the Senate floor for a vote by the full Senate.
Walz Budget details unveiled
Governor Walz unveiled the details of his budget recommendations for the 2023-2024 biennium on January 24. The total budget expenditures is $65.2 billion, with an additional $8 billion in tax cuts. Most of the record-shattering $17.6 billion budget surplus will be spent with these proposals, but the recommendations also include leaving $1.3 billion on the bottom line.
Regarding the E-12 education budget, the governor recommends an additional $13 billion over the biennium for education. Highlights include a 4% and 2% per-pupil formula increase, tying the formula to inflation (capped at 3%), reducing the special education and ELL cross-subsidies, universal free meals, funding for student support personnel, expansion of public PreK programs, and the creation of a new Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
Attached is a summary of the E-12 education budget recommendations. More details will be available when the recommendations are introduced as legislation in the coming weeks. Detailed spreadsheets and district runs will also be available soon.
Committee hearings – week of January 23, 2023
The Senate Education Policy Committee heard bills addressing student discipline, adding civics as a graduation requirement, and expanding extended time revenue for career and technical education programs offered outside of the regular school day.
The Senate Education Finance Committee heard bills to provide funding for student support personnel (amended to allow districts to use funds to retain staff hired with federal funds during the pandemic), another student discipline bill (which also provides funding staff training), a bill to provide universal meals, and the bill to fund access to menstrual products in school buildings.
The House Education Policy Committee heard the Teacher of Color Act, legislation addressing student discipline, and a bill prohibiting malicious and sadistic conduct.
The House Education Finance Committee heard bills to provide universal meals and the bill to fund access to menstrual products in school buildings.
The House Property Tax Division received an overview of school district levies and equalization.
Bills introductions of interest
SF662: Requiring the commissioner of education to develop a model program for sexual health education.
SF666: Increasing funding for the community education revenue program; appropriating money.
SF680: Modifying provisions for teacher preparation time.
SF681: Requiring reasonable accommodations for parents of children with disabilities.
SF502: Requiring paid orientation for paraprofessionals; appropriating money for paraprofessional training.
SF505: Creating a new source of state aid for school districts with low general education revenue and low property wealth per pupil.
SF525: Appropriating money for supplemental aid for school facility construction.
SF584: Prohibiting the use of American Indian mascots and logos.
SF613: Authorizing a school board to renew an expiring referendum.
SF615: Making permanent the expansion of the voluntary prekindergarten and school readiness plus program.
SF618: Requiring a civics course as a graduation requirement.
HF877, Updating the transportation sparsity revenue percent.
HF879, Increasing local optional revenue; linking future increases in local optional revenue to the growth in the general education basic formula allowance; appropriating money.
HF651, Requiring a personal finance class for high school graduation.
HF652, Modifying teacher shortage reporting requirements.
HF741, Requiring literacy data reporting.
HF748, Allowing American Indian regalia or objects of cultural significance at graduation ceremonies.
Dates to remember
January 24: Governor’s budget recommendations released.
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session
Questions?
Please contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com with any questions.
The pace of the session is picking up rapidly. A record number of bills have been introduced so far, many bills are already headed to their respective bodies for passage, and committees are increasing the number of bills on their calendars.
The Senate is also taking up confirmation hearings of Governor Walz's cabinet members much earlier than usual. Monday the Senate Education Committee will take up MDE Commissioner Will Jett's confirmation. His confirmation will then advance to the Senate floor for a vote by the full Senate.
Walz Budget details unveiled
Governor Walz unveiled the details of his budget recommendations for the 2023-2024 biennium on January 24. The total budget expenditures is $65.2 billion, with an additional $8 billion in tax cuts. Most of the record-shattering $17.6 billion budget surplus will be spent with these proposals, but the recommendations also include leaving $1.3 billion on the bottom line.
Regarding the E-12 education budget, the governor recommends an additional $13 billion over the biennium for education. Highlights include a 4% and 2% per-pupil formula increase, tying the formula to inflation (capped at 3%), reducing the special education and ELL cross-subsidies, universal free meals, funding for student support personnel, expansion of public PreK programs, and the creation of a new Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
Attached is a summary of the E-12 education budget recommendations. More details will be available when the recommendations are introduced as legislation in the coming weeks. Detailed spreadsheets and district runs will also be available soon.
Committee hearings – week of January 23, 2023
The Senate Education Policy Committee heard bills addressing student discipline, adding civics as a graduation requirement, and expanding extended time revenue for career and technical education programs offered outside of the regular school day.
The Senate Education Finance Committee heard bills to provide funding for student support personnel (amended to allow districts to use funds to retain staff hired with federal funds during the pandemic), another student discipline bill (which also provides funding staff training), a bill to provide universal meals, and the bill to fund access to menstrual products in school buildings.
The House Education Policy Committee heard the Teacher of Color Act, legislation addressing student discipline, and a bill prohibiting malicious and sadistic conduct.
The House Education Finance Committee heard bills to provide universal meals and the bill to fund access to menstrual products in school buildings.
The House Property Tax Division received an overview of school district levies and equalization.
Bills introductions of interest
SF662: Requiring the commissioner of education to develop a model program for sexual health education.
SF666: Increasing funding for the community education revenue program; appropriating money.
SF680: Modifying provisions for teacher preparation time.
SF681: Requiring reasonable accommodations for parents of children with disabilities.
SF502: Requiring paid orientation for paraprofessionals; appropriating money for paraprofessional training.
SF505: Creating a new source of state aid for school districts with low general education revenue and low property wealth per pupil.
SF525: Appropriating money for supplemental aid for school facility construction.
SF584: Prohibiting the use of American Indian mascots and logos.
SF613: Authorizing a school board to renew an expiring referendum.
SF615: Making permanent the expansion of the voluntary prekindergarten and school readiness plus program.
SF618: Requiring a civics course as a graduation requirement.
HF877, Updating the transportation sparsity revenue percent.
HF879, Increasing local optional revenue; linking future increases in local optional revenue to the growth in the general education basic formula allowance; appropriating money.
HF651, Requiring a personal finance class for high school graduation.
HF652, Modifying teacher shortage reporting requirements.
HF741, Requiring literacy data reporting.
HF748, Allowing American Indian regalia or objects of cultural significance at graduation ceremonies.
Dates to remember
January 24: Governor’s budget recommendations released.
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session
Questions?
Please contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com with any questions.
Session update - week of January 31, 2023
In my last update, I mentioned that the pace was picking up rapidly with the session. That was an understatement. This week proved to move at an even faster pace with more high-profile bills advancing to the House and Senate floors for final passage and the Governor's signature, packed committee schedules, and a record number of bill introductions. The pace of bill introductions picked up so much that leadership is cautioning their members to slow down the number of bill introductions. As of this week, House members introduced 1,270 bills, and Senate members introduced 1,202 bills, far surpassing the number of bill introductions for this period in the last budget-setting session.
On Monday, the Senate Education Policy Committee unanimously approved the confirmation of MDE Commissioner Willie Jett - the first step in the confirmation process. The full Senate will next have to take up his confirmation.
Committee hearings – week of January 31, 2023
Pension Commission
On Monday, the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement received an update from the state pension plans. PERA and TRA provided a general update and outlined their legislative proposals.
TRA Presentation
2023 TRA Benefit Proposal Funding
PERA Presentation
House Workforce Committee
The House Workforce Committee heard the bill proposing to extend unemployment insurance to hourly school employees. The committee adopted an amendment to align the funding with the Governor’s recommendations ($161 million) with one big difference. The House proposes funding for one year only while the Governor proposed ongoing funding. MSBA testified about the need to fully fund the costs to school districts and the impact this might have for districts trying to fill summer positions. The private school bus operators testified about the need to provide funding for the increased costs that could pass onto school districts. The bill was sent to the House Education Finance Committee.
Senate Education Finance
The Senate Education Finance Committee received an overview of the Governor’s budget recommendations and an overview of the importance of early learning.
The committee heard legislation to allow school boards to renew a referendum by board vote. An amendment was adopted requiring board members to take a recorded roll call vote, and then the bill was passed and sent to the Senate Elections committee. The committee also heard a bill to increase reimbursement for developmental screening and a bill to permanently fund the childcare stabilization grants.
Senate Education Policy
The committee heard numerous bills relating to American Indian regalia or objects of cultural significance at graduation ceremonies, lead testing requirements, and the Teachers of Color Act.
House Education Finance
The House Education Finance Committee heard bills to fully fund the special education and the English learner cross-subsidies. The committee also heard legislation to allow school boards to renew a referendum by board vote. This bill passed the committee and was sent to the House Elections committee. Additionally, bills to expand full-service community schools, provide funding for student support personnel aid (an amendment to allow this funding to retain staff was adopted), and make the VPK/SR+ slots permanent were also heard.
House Education Policy
The House Education Policy committee heard an overview of graduation standards and held an informational hearing on barriers to providing educational options and flexibility for student learning. The committee also heard bills to delay the physical education standards, allow high school students to earn elective credits through employment with health care providers, and require paraprofessional paid orientation.
Bills introductions of interest
HF994, Funding transportation for area learning center students.
HF995, Modifying student admission provisions.
HF1082, Increasing career and technical revenue.
HF1102, Including elementary counseling services for nonpublic pupils in nonpublic pupil aid.
HF1138, Establishing a pilot program for a teacher residency grant.
HF1151, Providing for including suicide prevention information on student identification cards.
HF1195, Requiring high school students to complete the FAFSA or state financial aid application; requiring the commissioners of the Office of Higher Education and Department of Education to establish a FAFSA working group.
HF1175, Modifying medical assistance coverage for special education school social work services.
HF1178, Repealing requirement to retire type III vehicles after 12 years.
HF1203, Modifying membership of the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board; appropriating money.
HF1220, Modifying the world's best workforce performance measures.
HF1224, Making changes to tiered licensure.
HF1257, Removing barriers to teacher licensure.
HF1267, Modifying hours of instruction requirements and e-learning requirements; allowing districts to offer full-time online instruction.
HF1268, Making changes to teacher licensure and teacher preparation programs.
HF1269, MDE policy bill
SF920: Creating due process special education aid for school districts.
SF1090: Delaying review of physical education standards.
SF1200: Amending standards for restrictive procedures and seclusion.
Dates to remember
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session
Questions?
Contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com with any questions.
On Monday, the Senate Education Policy Committee unanimously approved the confirmation of MDE Commissioner Willie Jett - the first step in the confirmation process. The full Senate will next have to take up his confirmation.
Committee hearings – week of January 31, 2023
Pension Commission
On Monday, the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement received an update from the state pension plans. PERA and TRA provided a general update and outlined their legislative proposals.
TRA Presentation
2023 TRA Benefit Proposal Funding
PERA Presentation
House Workforce Committee
The House Workforce Committee heard the bill proposing to extend unemployment insurance to hourly school employees. The committee adopted an amendment to align the funding with the Governor’s recommendations ($161 million) with one big difference. The House proposes funding for one year only while the Governor proposed ongoing funding. MSBA testified about the need to fully fund the costs to school districts and the impact this might have for districts trying to fill summer positions. The private school bus operators testified about the need to provide funding for the increased costs that could pass onto school districts. The bill was sent to the House Education Finance Committee.
Senate Education Finance
The Senate Education Finance Committee received an overview of the Governor’s budget recommendations and an overview of the importance of early learning.
The committee heard legislation to allow school boards to renew a referendum by board vote. An amendment was adopted requiring board members to take a recorded roll call vote, and then the bill was passed and sent to the Senate Elections committee. The committee also heard a bill to increase reimbursement for developmental screening and a bill to permanently fund the childcare stabilization grants.
Senate Education Policy
The committee heard numerous bills relating to American Indian regalia or objects of cultural significance at graduation ceremonies, lead testing requirements, and the Teachers of Color Act.
House Education Finance
The House Education Finance Committee heard bills to fully fund the special education and the English learner cross-subsidies. The committee also heard legislation to allow school boards to renew a referendum by board vote. This bill passed the committee and was sent to the House Elections committee. Additionally, bills to expand full-service community schools, provide funding for student support personnel aid (an amendment to allow this funding to retain staff was adopted), and make the VPK/SR+ slots permanent were also heard.
House Education Policy
The House Education Policy committee heard an overview of graduation standards and held an informational hearing on barriers to providing educational options and flexibility for student learning. The committee also heard bills to delay the physical education standards, allow high school students to earn elective credits through employment with health care providers, and require paraprofessional paid orientation.
Bills introductions of interest
HF994, Funding transportation for area learning center students.
HF995, Modifying student admission provisions.
HF1082, Increasing career and technical revenue.
HF1102, Including elementary counseling services for nonpublic pupils in nonpublic pupil aid.
HF1138, Establishing a pilot program for a teacher residency grant.
HF1151, Providing for including suicide prevention information on student identification cards.
HF1195, Requiring high school students to complete the FAFSA or state financial aid application; requiring the commissioners of the Office of Higher Education and Department of Education to establish a FAFSA working group.
HF1175, Modifying medical assistance coverage for special education school social work services.
HF1178, Repealing requirement to retire type III vehicles after 12 years.
HF1203, Modifying membership of the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board; appropriating money.
HF1220, Modifying the world's best workforce performance measures.
HF1224, Making changes to tiered licensure.
HF1257, Removing barriers to teacher licensure.
HF1267, Modifying hours of instruction requirements and e-learning requirements; allowing districts to offer full-time online instruction.
HF1268, Making changes to teacher licensure and teacher preparation programs.
HF1269, MDE policy bill
SF920: Creating due process special education aid for school districts.
SF1090: Delaying review of physical education standards.
SF1200: Amending standards for restrictive procedures and seclusion.
Dates to remember
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session
Questions?
Contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com with any questions.
Information: Session update - week of February 6, 2023
INFORMATION: SESSION UPDATE - WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6, 2023
The fast pace of the session does not show any signs of slowing down. The record number of bill introductions continues, and a closer examination of the numbers tells the full story. By the end of the fourth week of the session, the House and Senate outpaced the average number of bill introductions three-fold. As of Thursday, the House has introduced 1,582 bills, and the Senate has introduced 1,526 bills.
This has been accompanied by late-night/early-morning floor sessions and Friday Committee hearings usually reserved for the end of the session. The unseasonably early push to pass high-priority items through the legislative process contrasts with the typical end-of-session push. Lawmakers are not procrastinating, but time will tell if they maintain this momentum throughout the session.
Thursday evening, the House passed HF4, legislation to fund universal school meals for all students attending school districts participating in the free school meals program. The Senate companion is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee and then a vote by the full Senate.
Committee hearings – week of February 6, 2023
Senate Education Finance
The Senate Education Finance Committee had a light schedule this week. The committee heard two bills providing increases to community education programs (general community education and adults with disabilities), received an update on school trust lands, and heard bills to fund the BARR program (Building Assets, Reducing Risks) and MN Math Corps.
Senate Education Policy
The Senate Education Policy also had a light schedule this week. The committee heard a bill to delay the physical education standards, a bill for paid orientation for paraprofessionals, and a bill to increase the number of heritage language and culture teachers.
House Education Finance
The House Education Finance Committee had a packed agenda this week. First, the committee heard the bill to extend unemployment insurance to hourly school employees. The committee adopted an amendment to provide $161 million annually in ongoing funding. The bill is still silent on how school districts cover contract costs for contractors that pass on their additional UI costs in their contracts. We are working on getting these costs covered. The bill has several more stops before it goes to the full House for a vote. The Senate companion has yet to receive a committee hearing.
The committee also heard bills to increase transportation sparsity revenue, provide funding to districts that transport students to area learning centers, and two bills related to career and technical education – one to increase career and technical education revenue and another to allow extended time revenue for pupils enrolled in career and technical education courses.
House Education Policy
The House Education Policy committee heard a bill to fund the Building Assets, Reducing Risks program, and one to increase the number of heritage language teachers. The committee also heard a bill to fund year-long residency programs for student teachers. Lastly, the committee received an overview of the PELSB legislative priorities, and MDE provided an overview of the education policy bill.
Bills introductions of interest
SF1247: Clarifying allowed uses of long-term facilities maintenance revenue and capital levies.
SF1275: Requiring high school students to complete the FAFSA or state financial aid application; requiring the commissioners of the Office of Higher Education and Department of Education to establish a FAFSA working group.
SF1318: Providing for employee health insurance; increasing the minimum starting salary for non-licensed school personnel; providing for paid orientation and professional development for paraprofessionals; appropriating money.
SF1330: Authorizing certain cost-efficient projects; including certain remodeling costs in the long-term facilities maintenance revenue program; appropriating money.
SF1363: Permitting patriotic and national organizations informational access to schools.
SF1414: Modifying hours of instruction requirements and e-learning requirements; allowing districts to offer full-time online instruction.
SF1468: Requiring mental health screening for students; creating student mental health supports revenue; appropriating money
HF1271, Increasing equalization aid for the operating referendum program; decreasing property tax levies; appropriating money.
HF1360, Increasing safe schools revenue; providing state aid; expanding revenue uses to include cyber security measures; appropriating money.
HF1396, Increasing equalization aid for the debt service equalization program; decreasing property tax levies; appropriating money.
HF1502, Creating an ethnic studies requirement; creating an Ethnic Studies Working Group; authorizing rulemaking; requiring a report; appropriating money.
HF1547, Modifying compensatory revenue; changing the revenue uses; encouraging best practices; increasing the percentage of compensatory revenue that must stay at each school site; requiring a report on eliminating paper forms; appropriating money.
Dates to remember
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break .
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Questions?
Contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com with any questions.
The fast pace of the session does not show any signs of slowing down. The record number of bill introductions continues, and a closer examination of the numbers tells the full story. By the end of the fourth week of the session, the House and Senate outpaced the average number of bill introductions three-fold. As of Thursday, the House has introduced 1,582 bills, and the Senate has introduced 1,526 bills.
This has been accompanied by late-night/early-morning floor sessions and Friday Committee hearings usually reserved for the end of the session. The unseasonably early push to pass high-priority items through the legislative process contrasts with the typical end-of-session push. Lawmakers are not procrastinating, but time will tell if they maintain this momentum throughout the session.
Thursday evening, the House passed HF4, legislation to fund universal school meals for all students attending school districts participating in the free school meals program. The Senate companion is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee and then a vote by the full Senate.
Committee hearings – week of February 6, 2023
Senate Education Finance
The Senate Education Finance Committee had a light schedule this week. The committee heard two bills providing increases to community education programs (general community education and adults with disabilities), received an update on school trust lands, and heard bills to fund the BARR program (Building Assets, Reducing Risks) and MN Math Corps.
Senate Education Policy
The Senate Education Policy also had a light schedule this week. The committee heard a bill to delay the physical education standards, a bill for paid orientation for paraprofessionals, and a bill to increase the number of heritage language and culture teachers.
House Education Finance
The House Education Finance Committee had a packed agenda this week. First, the committee heard the bill to extend unemployment insurance to hourly school employees. The committee adopted an amendment to provide $161 million annually in ongoing funding. The bill is still silent on how school districts cover contract costs for contractors that pass on their additional UI costs in their contracts. We are working on getting these costs covered. The bill has several more stops before it goes to the full House for a vote. The Senate companion has yet to receive a committee hearing.
The committee also heard bills to increase transportation sparsity revenue, provide funding to districts that transport students to area learning centers, and two bills related to career and technical education – one to increase career and technical education revenue and another to allow extended time revenue for pupils enrolled in career and technical education courses.
House Education Policy
The House Education Policy committee heard a bill to fund the Building Assets, Reducing Risks program, and one to increase the number of heritage language teachers. The committee also heard a bill to fund year-long residency programs for student teachers. Lastly, the committee received an overview of the PELSB legislative priorities, and MDE provided an overview of the education policy bill.
Bills introductions of interest
SF1247: Clarifying allowed uses of long-term facilities maintenance revenue and capital levies.
SF1275: Requiring high school students to complete the FAFSA or state financial aid application; requiring the commissioners of the Office of Higher Education and Department of Education to establish a FAFSA working group.
SF1318: Providing for employee health insurance; increasing the minimum starting salary for non-licensed school personnel; providing for paid orientation and professional development for paraprofessionals; appropriating money.
SF1330: Authorizing certain cost-efficient projects; including certain remodeling costs in the long-term facilities maintenance revenue program; appropriating money.
SF1363: Permitting patriotic and national organizations informational access to schools.
SF1414: Modifying hours of instruction requirements and e-learning requirements; allowing districts to offer full-time online instruction.
SF1468: Requiring mental health screening for students; creating student mental health supports revenue; appropriating money
HF1271, Increasing equalization aid for the operating referendum program; decreasing property tax levies; appropriating money.
HF1360, Increasing safe schools revenue; providing state aid; expanding revenue uses to include cyber security measures; appropriating money.
HF1396, Increasing equalization aid for the debt service equalization program; decreasing property tax levies; appropriating money.
HF1502, Creating an ethnic studies requirement; creating an Ethnic Studies Working Group; authorizing rulemaking; requiring a report; appropriating money.
HF1547, Modifying compensatory revenue; changing the revenue uses; encouraging best practices; increasing the percentage of compensatory revenue that must stay at each school site; requiring a report on eliminating paper forms; appropriating money.
Dates to remember
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break .
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Questions?
Contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com with any questions.
Information: Session update - week of February 13, 2023
Information: Session update - week of February 13, 2023
On Thursday, the full Senate took up the confirmation of Willie Jett II to serve as Commissioner of Education. The Senate Education Policy committee had unanimously endorsed his confirmation, but there was more debate on the Senate floor. Some Republican senators expressed frustration over policy provisions the governor is advancing and more discussion on the Feeding our Future investigation. The Senate ultimately voted to confirm him 51-13.
The Department of Minnesota Management and Budget will release an updated budget forecast on February 27. This forecast will provide the most up-to-date budget outlook that legislative leaders and the governor will use to craft the two-year state budget. Notably, the January monthly budget update showed revenue exceeded expectations by $270 million.
Committee hearings – week of February 6, 2023
Senate Education Finance
The committee had a quiet week and heard mostly bills requesting small grants. The committee heard two bills of note. The first was the Teacher of Color Act. The proposal includes a few policy items of concern (also included in the education policy bill). The education organizations are working with the authors to address those concerns.
The second was the bill to expand unemployment insurance to hourly school employees. The committee adopted an amendment to align the Senate bill with the House bill to provide $161 million annually in ongoing funding. Testimony was provided by both MSBA and MASBO outlining concerns. The bill is still silent on how school districts cover contract costs for contractors that pass on their additional UI costs in their contracts. We are working on getting these costs covered.
Senate Education Policy
This week the Senate Education Policy Committee heard an overview from MDE on the education policy bill. The proposal includes several policy items of concern that we will outline with legislators as the bill advances.
House Education Finance
The committee heard the bill to increase the per-pupil formula by 5% each year and tie the formula to inflation. Excellent testimony was provided by organizations representing school boards, superintendents, school finance directors, and teachers. To see how your district fares, under this proposal, click here.
The committee also heard a bill to provide funding for the Building Assets, Reducing Risks Center (BARR) and received an overview of the provisions related to education included in the bill to legalize recreational marijuana.
The committee also heard the Teacher of Color Act, the bill to expand funding to increase the number of teachers of color. The proposal includes a few policy items of concern (also included in the education policy bill). The education organizations are working with the authors to address those concerns.
House Education Policy
The committee heard the bill making changes to the compensatory revenue program. This bill attempts to address the impact universal meals will have on free and reduced-priced lunch applications, changes the eligible uses, and increases the building allocation percentage. The author indicated she hopes the proposal catches all the lost revenue due to lower free and reduced-price lunch applications and will continue to work to ensure the goal is reached. The committee passed the bill and sent it to the House Education Finance committee.
The committee also heard the bill, known as the Read Act, which proposes changes to curriculum and professional development for teachers in evidence-based reading instruction. The bill also provides grants to school districts and charter schools for literacy support based on the science of reading.
The committee heard several bills related to teacher licensure. The first bill, HF1257, attempts to remove barriers to entering the teaching workforce. Provisions include changes to testing requirements, additional exemptions to receive a Tier I license, and implementing a short-call substitute pilot project. The second bill makes changes to the PELSB board and makes changes to the portfolio process. The last bill, which was the most controversial, removes the option that allows Tier 2 teachers who have taught for three years and had positive evaluations to obtain a Tier 3 license. The committee adopted an amendment to allow Tier 2 teachers to use their Tier 2 experience to obtain a Tier 3 license until December 31, 2026.
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
The commission heard a bill to reduce the rate of return assumptions from 7.5 to 7 percent for the various state retirement systems, including PERA and TRA. No action was taken on the bill, and it was laid over for further discussion.
Bills introductions of interest
HF1628: Fully funding pupil transportation services for homeless students; modifying special education aid; appropriating money.
SF1601: Increasing equalization aid for the operating referendum program.
SF1606: Establishing grants to recruit school nurses; expanding eligibility for loan forgiveness to include school nurses; requiring a report; appropriating money.
SF1632: Modifying public labor relations; modifying teacher probationary period requirements.
SF1633: Modifying public labor relations; modifying teacher probationary period requirements.
SF1777: Establishing a pilot program for a teacher residency grant.
HF1773: Requiring indexing of English learner programs revenue to basic education revenue; establishing micro-credentials for teachers and administrators of English learners; authorizing rulemaking; appropriating money.
HF1774: Modifying extended time revenue; expanding the graduation incentives program to include all English learners with an interrupted formal education; allowing postsecondary enrollment in summer courses.
HF1806: Requiring assessment of school readiness for children entering kindergarten.
HF1807: Providing comprehensive services to a school identified as in need of comprehensive support under the Every Student Succeeds Act; appropriating money.
HF1875: Providing for American Indian education for all students; requiring a report; appropriating money.
Dates to remember
February 27: February forecast released.
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break.
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Questions?
Contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com with any questions.
On Thursday, the full Senate took up the confirmation of Willie Jett II to serve as Commissioner of Education. The Senate Education Policy committee had unanimously endorsed his confirmation, but there was more debate on the Senate floor. Some Republican senators expressed frustration over policy provisions the governor is advancing and more discussion on the Feeding our Future investigation. The Senate ultimately voted to confirm him 51-13.
The Department of Minnesota Management and Budget will release an updated budget forecast on February 27. This forecast will provide the most up-to-date budget outlook that legislative leaders and the governor will use to craft the two-year state budget. Notably, the January monthly budget update showed revenue exceeded expectations by $270 million.
Committee hearings – week of February 6, 2023
Senate Education Finance
The committee had a quiet week and heard mostly bills requesting small grants. The committee heard two bills of note. The first was the Teacher of Color Act. The proposal includes a few policy items of concern (also included in the education policy bill). The education organizations are working with the authors to address those concerns.
The second was the bill to expand unemployment insurance to hourly school employees. The committee adopted an amendment to align the Senate bill with the House bill to provide $161 million annually in ongoing funding. Testimony was provided by both MSBA and MASBO outlining concerns. The bill is still silent on how school districts cover contract costs for contractors that pass on their additional UI costs in their contracts. We are working on getting these costs covered.
Senate Education Policy
This week the Senate Education Policy Committee heard an overview from MDE on the education policy bill. The proposal includes several policy items of concern that we will outline with legislators as the bill advances.
House Education Finance
The committee heard the bill to increase the per-pupil formula by 5% each year and tie the formula to inflation. Excellent testimony was provided by organizations representing school boards, superintendents, school finance directors, and teachers. To see how your district fares, under this proposal, click here.
The committee also heard a bill to provide funding for the Building Assets, Reducing Risks Center (BARR) and received an overview of the provisions related to education included in the bill to legalize recreational marijuana.
The committee also heard the Teacher of Color Act, the bill to expand funding to increase the number of teachers of color. The proposal includes a few policy items of concern (also included in the education policy bill). The education organizations are working with the authors to address those concerns.
House Education Policy
The committee heard the bill making changes to the compensatory revenue program. This bill attempts to address the impact universal meals will have on free and reduced-priced lunch applications, changes the eligible uses, and increases the building allocation percentage. The author indicated she hopes the proposal catches all the lost revenue due to lower free and reduced-price lunch applications and will continue to work to ensure the goal is reached. The committee passed the bill and sent it to the House Education Finance committee.
The committee also heard the bill, known as the Read Act, which proposes changes to curriculum and professional development for teachers in evidence-based reading instruction. The bill also provides grants to school districts and charter schools for literacy support based on the science of reading.
The committee heard several bills related to teacher licensure. The first bill, HF1257, attempts to remove barriers to entering the teaching workforce. Provisions include changes to testing requirements, additional exemptions to receive a Tier I license, and implementing a short-call substitute pilot project. The second bill makes changes to the PELSB board and makes changes to the portfolio process. The last bill, which was the most controversial, removes the option that allows Tier 2 teachers who have taught for three years and had positive evaluations to obtain a Tier 3 license. The committee adopted an amendment to allow Tier 2 teachers to use their Tier 2 experience to obtain a Tier 3 license until December 31, 2026.
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
The commission heard a bill to reduce the rate of return assumptions from 7.5 to 7 percent for the various state retirement systems, including PERA and TRA. No action was taken on the bill, and it was laid over for further discussion.
Bills introductions of interest
HF1628: Fully funding pupil transportation services for homeless students; modifying special education aid; appropriating money.
SF1601: Increasing equalization aid for the operating referendum program.
SF1606: Establishing grants to recruit school nurses; expanding eligibility for loan forgiveness to include school nurses; requiring a report; appropriating money.
SF1632: Modifying public labor relations; modifying teacher probationary period requirements.
SF1633: Modifying public labor relations; modifying teacher probationary period requirements.
SF1777: Establishing a pilot program for a teacher residency grant.
HF1773: Requiring indexing of English learner programs revenue to basic education revenue; establishing micro-credentials for teachers and administrators of English learners; authorizing rulemaking; appropriating money.
HF1774: Modifying extended time revenue; expanding the graduation incentives program to include all English learners with an interrupted formal education; allowing postsecondary enrollment in summer courses.
HF1806: Requiring assessment of school readiness for children entering kindergarten.
HF1807: Providing comprehensive services to a school identified as in need of comprehensive support under the Every Student Succeeds Act; appropriating money.
HF1875: Providing for American Indian education for all students; requiring a report; appropriating money.
Dates to remember
February 27: February forecast released.
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break.
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Questions?
Contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com with any questions.
Session update - week of February 27 with district runs
Session update - week of February 27 with district runs
Greetings!
Last week was another important week at the capitol as the February Forecast took center stage-at least for a little while! As the subject line indicates, there is specific information attached to this email that enables school districts to see changes to compensatory education funding discussed in the House Education Finance Committee.
As always, MASA's Lobbyist Valerie Dosland provides excellent information in her weekly updates. We both encourage you to continue to advocate for 5% and 5% with future increases linked to inflation and fully funding the special education cross subsidy.
Have a great week and keep the snow shovels at the ready!
Valerie & Deb
From Valerie...
February budget forecast released
On Monday, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released the February forecast, providing legislators with information on how much money will be available when crafting the next two-year budget. This forecast showed the $17.6 billion surplus predicted in November shrunk slightly to $17.5 billion. Remember, this new forecast includes inflation on the spending side of the budget. Without inflation, the surplus would been $19 billion.
First committee deadline
The number of bill introductions, hearings, and passage of bills continues at an unprecedented pace, more than double the average for the past ten years. Things will slow down a bit after the March 10 committee deadline, where committees must act favorably on bills in their house of origin. These deadlines, determined by the House and Senate leadership, help narrow what bills advance through the session. If legislation with policy implications has not received a hearing by next Friday, it will be difficult for bills to move forward if they did not meet the first deadline.
Committee hearings – week of February 27, 2023
This week the education policy committees had full agendas. Notably, they heard several controversial bills that garnered a lot of testimony with concerns from stakeholders, including our organization.
Both the policy committees have mostly wrapped up hearing individual bills and will shift to moving their respective omnibus policy bills out of committee next week.
Senate Education Policy
The committee heard three PELSB bills – changes to the PELSB board, removing barriers to licensure, and removing a pathway from Tier 2 to Tier 3. The committee also heard legislation to create a teacher residency pilot program and two bills (SF901 and SF242) to add personal finance as a graduation requirement.
The committee also heard a bill proposing changes to PELRA. Provisions include adding class size, staff ratios, and student testing calendars to the terms and conditions of employment, requiring districts to negotiate the number of e-learning days, changes to the number of days for teaching service to count for probationary status, and new requirements to provide detailed personnel data to the union.
House Education Policy
The committee heard “Education Support Professionals Bill of Rights," which requires paraprofessionals who work with students with disabilities to receive paid time or time during the day to review students' IEP, cost sharing for health insurance benefits, requires schools using e-learning days to pay hourly employees their wages during e-learning days, and raises unlicensed staff wages to at least $25 per hour. The bill includes a blank appropriation for these proposals.
The committee also heard bills to make changes to PELRA (also heard in the House Labor Committee), increase teacher preparation time, add due process special education aid, and create a pipeline program for special education teachers.
Lastly, the committee heard several bills to add new graduation requirements -- civics (the committee adopted an amendment to allow students to take the course in grades 10, 11, or 12), personal finance, and ethnic studies.
Senate Education Finance
The committee heard the bill to increase the per-pupil formula by 5% per year and tie future increases to inflation (see how your district fares here), one to make the VPK/SR+ slots permanent, and the bill to increase funding for full-service community schools.
House Education Finance
The committee heard bills to increase funding for safe schools, changes to compensatory funding, and require lead testing and remediation. Attached is a district run of how the compensatory proposal would impact districts.
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
This week the commission took public testimony on the TRA proposal, which has not yet been introduced as a bill, to provide a benefit improvement for teachers.
Bills introductions of interest
SF2058: Appropriating money for career and technical education consortium grants.
SF2358: Requiring a school district to grant secondary credit for postsecondary courses outside the school year.
SF2368: Appropriating money for teacher licensure application fees and background checks.
SF2442: Requiring Holocaust and genocide education in social studies curriculum for middle and high school students; creating a Holocaust and Genocide Education Task Force; requiring a report; appropriating money.
SF2480: Requiring student and staff safety measures to be included in each school district's long-term facilities maintenance school facility plan; increasing safe schools funding; creating school security systems grants; appropriating money.
HF2398: Requiring schools to maintain a supply of opiate antagonists; modifying provisions for opiate antagonist administration in schools; appropriating money.
HF2456: Modifying the building lease levy for geographically isolated school districts.
HF2497: Governor’s budget recommendations.
Dates to remember
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break.
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Questions?
Contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com with any questions.
Greetings!
Last week was another important week at the capitol as the February Forecast took center stage-at least for a little while! As the subject line indicates, there is specific information attached to this email that enables school districts to see changes to compensatory education funding discussed in the House Education Finance Committee.
As always, MASA's Lobbyist Valerie Dosland provides excellent information in her weekly updates. We both encourage you to continue to advocate for 5% and 5% with future increases linked to inflation and fully funding the special education cross subsidy.
Have a great week and keep the snow shovels at the ready!
Valerie & Deb
From Valerie...
February budget forecast released
On Monday, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released the February forecast, providing legislators with information on how much money will be available when crafting the next two-year budget. This forecast showed the $17.6 billion surplus predicted in November shrunk slightly to $17.5 billion. Remember, this new forecast includes inflation on the spending side of the budget. Without inflation, the surplus would been $19 billion.
First committee deadline
The number of bill introductions, hearings, and passage of bills continues at an unprecedented pace, more than double the average for the past ten years. Things will slow down a bit after the March 10 committee deadline, where committees must act favorably on bills in their house of origin. These deadlines, determined by the House and Senate leadership, help narrow what bills advance through the session. If legislation with policy implications has not received a hearing by next Friday, it will be difficult for bills to move forward if they did not meet the first deadline.
Committee hearings – week of February 27, 2023
This week the education policy committees had full agendas. Notably, they heard several controversial bills that garnered a lot of testimony with concerns from stakeholders, including our organization.
Both the policy committees have mostly wrapped up hearing individual bills and will shift to moving their respective omnibus policy bills out of committee next week.
Senate Education Policy
The committee heard three PELSB bills – changes to the PELSB board, removing barriers to licensure, and removing a pathway from Tier 2 to Tier 3. The committee also heard legislation to create a teacher residency pilot program and two bills (SF901 and SF242) to add personal finance as a graduation requirement.
The committee also heard a bill proposing changes to PELRA. Provisions include adding class size, staff ratios, and student testing calendars to the terms and conditions of employment, requiring districts to negotiate the number of e-learning days, changes to the number of days for teaching service to count for probationary status, and new requirements to provide detailed personnel data to the union.
House Education Policy
The committee heard “Education Support Professionals Bill of Rights," which requires paraprofessionals who work with students with disabilities to receive paid time or time during the day to review students' IEP, cost sharing for health insurance benefits, requires schools using e-learning days to pay hourly employees their wages during e-learning days, and raises unlicensed staff wages to at least $25 per hour. The bill includes a blank appropriation for these proposals.
The committee also heard bills to make changes to PELRA (also heard in the House Labor Committee), increase teacher preparation time, add due process special education aid, and create a pipeline program for special education teachers.
Lastly, the committee heard several bills to add new graduation requirements -- civics (the committee adopted an amendment to allow students to take the course in grades 10, 11, or 12), personal finance, and ethnic studies.
Senate Education Finance
The committee heard the bill to increase the per-pupil formula by 5% per year and tie future increases to inflation (see how your district fares here), one to make the VPK/SR+ slots permanent, and the bill to increase funding for full-service community schools.
House Education Finance
The committee heard bills to increase funding for safe schools, changes to compensatory funding, and require lead testing and remediation. Attached is a district run of how the compensatory proposal would impact districts.
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
This week the commission took public testimony on the TRA proposal, which has not yet been introduced as a bill, to provide a benefit improvement for teachers.
Bills introductions of interest
SF2058: Appropriating money for career and technical education consortium grants.
SF2358: Requiring a school district to grant secondary credit for postsecondary courses outside the school year.
SF2368: Appropriating money for teacher licensure application fees and background checks.
SF2442: Requiring Holocaust and genocide education in social studies curriculum for middle and high school students; creating a Holocaust and Genocide Education Task Force; requiring a report; appropriating money.
SF2480: Requiring student and staff safety measures to be included in each school district's long-term facilities maintenance school facility plan; increasing safe schools funding; creating school security systems grants; appropriating money.
HF2398: Requiring schools to maintain a supply of opiate antagonists; modifying provisions for opiate antagonist administration in schools; appropriating money.
HF2456: Modifying the building lease levy for geographically isolated school districts.
HF2497: Governor’s budget recommendations.
Dates to remember
March 10: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break.
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Questions?
Contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com with any questions.
Session update - week of March 13, 2023
SESSION UPDATE - WEEK OF MARCH 13, 2023
The budget-setting process will begin to unfold
With the release of the February budget forecast, the legislature must now decide how to allocate the funds toward a two-year state budget. The first step in this process is for the House and Senate leaders to determine committee budget targets, which break down how much finance committees can expect to appropriate for their budget bills. We expect the leaders to announce these targets soon. Once the committee chairs have their targets, they will work quickly to meet that April 4 finance bill deadline.
Universal meals bill signed into law Friday
The bill to provide universal free meals became law Friday, March 17. Last Tuesday, the Senate passed the bill, which included language to hold compensatory pupil counts at the FY24 level for one year, on a bipartisan vote of 38-26. The House quickly agreed to the Senate changes, repassed the bill, and sent it to the Governor for his signature.
Governor's revised budget plan
With the release of the updated budget forecast, Governor Walz announced the revised "One Minnesota Budget" this week. The Governor announced some changes to the E12 education funding recommendations, most notably on compensatory and the timeline to begin eligibility for unemployment insurance for hourly school employees. Here is a link to his updated education recommendations.
The proposal to change the compensatory formula includes the following:
The Governor also revised the implementation timeline for his proposal to extend unemployment insurance to hourly school employees to begin this summer rather than FY25.
In last week's update, I provided information on legislation advancing to make changes to PELRA. Linked is a letter outlining concerns the education organizations sent to the authors of the bill and House and Senate leadership
Committee hearings – week of March 13, 2023
Senate Education Policy
The committee heard legislation allowing students to earn elective credits through employment with healthcare providers. The committee also heard bills to increase teacher preparation time and provide funding to school districts for literacy instruction, also known as the Read Act.
Senate Education Finance
The committee heard a slate of bills to address school district property taxes – one to increase local optional revenue, and two others to increase equalization for operating and debt service referendum. The committee also heard bills outlining standards if a district performs active shooter drills, require an hour of personal safety instruction, and establish a new Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
The committee also reviewed the Governor’s E12 budget bill. Here is a link to district runs showing the aid and levy impact on individual school districts.
House Education Finance
The committee reviewed the Governor’s E12 budget bill and bills to provide funding for teacher time to fill out due process forms, American Indian education, create a special education teacher pipeline and establish a new Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The committee also heard the bill to increase the per-pupil formula by 20%, require districts to negotiate class size with its teachers and establish class size ratios for each grade if no other collective bargaining agreement is reached.
House Education Policy
The committee heard bills to outline standards if a district performs active shooter drills, require climate justice instruction, more discussion on civics, and add a requirement to state statute for schools to offer education on the Holocaust and other genocides in the middle and high school curriculum.
Dates to remember
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills that met the first deadline in the other body.
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break.
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
The budget-setting process will begin to unfold
With the release of the February budget forecast, the legislature must now decide how to allocate the funds toward a two-year state budget. The first step in this process is for the House and Senate leaders to determine committee budget targets, which break down how much finance committees can expect to appropriate for their budget bills. We expect the leaders to announce these targets soon. Once the committee chairs have their targets, they will work quickly to meet that April 4 finance bill deadline.
Universal meals bill signed into law Friday
The bill to provide universal free meals became law Friday, March 17. Last Tuesday, the Senate passed the bill, which included language to hold compensatory pupil counts at the FY24 level for one year, on a bipartisan vote of 38-26. The House quickly agreed to the Senate changes, repassed the bill, and sent it to the Governor for his signature.
Governor's revised budget plan
With the release of the updated budget forecast, Governor Walz announced the revised "One Minnesota Budget" this week. The Governor announced some changes to the E12 education funding recommendations, most notably on compensatory and the timeline to begin eligibility for unemployment insurance for hourly school employees. Here is a link to his updated education recommendations.
The proposal to change the compensatory formula includes the following:
- Simplifies the funding formula by using pupils identified as eligible for free or reduced-price meals via direction certification as the new count to calculate the revenue per building.
- Creates a building concentration factor comparing pupils eligible for free or reduced-price meals via direct certification to total fall enrollment.
- Establishes a building compensatory allowance calculated by multiplying the building concentration factor by a statewide compensatory allowance.
- Establishes a statewide compensatory allowance in FY25 that creates stability in transitioning to the new formula compared to FY24 statewide compensatory revenue; this allowance increases annually by the same percentage as the general education basic formula allowance.
- Allows for the allocation of additional compensatory revenue in FY25 through FY27 if the statewide sum of the building formulas does not reach a minimum allocation.
The Governor also revised the implementation timeline for his proposal to extend unemployment insurance to hourly school employees to begin this summer rather than FY25.
In last week's update, I provided information on legislation advancing to make changes to PELRA. Linked is a letter outlining concerns the education organizations sent to the authors of the bill and House and Senate leadership
Committee hearings – week of March 13, 2023
Senate Education Policy
The committee heard legislation allowing students to earn elective credits through employment with healthcare providers. The committee also heard bills to increase teacher preparation time and provide funding to school districts for literacy instruction, also known as the Read Act.
Senate Education Finance
The committee heard a slate of bills to address school district property taxes – one to increase local optional revenue, and two others to increase equalization for operating and debt service referendum. The committee also heard bills outlining standards if a district performs active shooter drills, require an hour of personal safety instruction, and establish a new Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
The committee also reviewed the Governor’s E12 budget bill. Here is a link to district runs showing the aid and levy impact on individual school districts.
House Education Finance
The committee reviewed the Governor’s E12 budget bill and bills to provide funding for teacher time to fill out due process forms, American Indian education, create a special education teacher pipeline and establish a new Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The committee also heard the bill to increase the per-pupil formula by 20%, require districts to negotiate class size with its teachers and establish class size ratios for each grade if no other collective bargaining agreement is reached.
House Education Policy
The committee heard bills to outline standards if a district performs active shooter drills, require climate justice instruction, more discussion on civics, and add a requirement to state statute for schools to offer education on the Holocaust and other genocides in the middle and high school curriculum.
Dates to remember
March 24: Committees must act favorably on bills that met the first deadline in the other body.
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break.
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Information: Joint budget targets announced - March 21, 2023
INFORMATION: JOINT BUDGET TARGETS ANNOUNCED - MARCH 21, 2023
Today the House, Senate, and Governor agreed to joint budget targets, which allocate how much each budget committees can appropriate for their budget areas. The budget targets for K-12 education are set at $2.214 billion.
We do not yet know the breakdown for each fiscal year (FY24-25) or how much is allocated in the outyears (FY26-27, commonly referred to as “tails”), nor how much is on-going vs one-time spending. And, please keep in mind, despite the joint targets, the House and Senate are likely to still have differences in how the respective education finance committees choose to allocate the funding. We will get the clearest picture once the House and Senate education finance bills come out, which is expected early the week of March 27.
For those that are curious, linked is a cost comparison of the Governor’s formula and special education proposals to the bills to increase the formula by 5% and fully fund the special education cross-subsidy.
Today the House, Senate, and Governor agreed to joint budget targets, which allocate how much each budget committees can appropriate for their budget areas. The budget targets for K-12 education are set at $2.214 billion.
We do not yet know the breakdown for each fiscal year (FY24-25) or how much is allocated in the outyears (FY26-27, commonly referred to as “tails”), nor how much is on-going vs one-time spending. And, please keep in mind, despite the joint targets, the House and Senate are likely to still have differences in how the respective education finance committees choose to allocate the funding. We will get the clearest picture once the House and Senate education finance bills come out, which is expected early the week of March 27.
For those that are curious, linked is a cost comparison of the Governor’s formula and special education proposals to the bills to increase the formula by 5% and fully fund the special education cross-subsidy.
Information: Session update - week of March 20, 2023
INFORMATION: SESSION UPDATE - WEEK OF MARCH 20, 2023
Joint budget targets
This week, Governor Walz, Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic, and House Speaker Melissa Hortman reached an agreement on overall budget targets. These targets provide details to finance committees on how much money is available to spend in their respective omnibus budget bills. These budget targets are an outline. It is up to the committee chairs to finalize details of how to allocate their slice of the budget.
The budget target for K-12 education is set at $2.514 billion for the FY24-25 biennium, $300 million of this is allocated for early education. $3.3 billion is the target for the FY26-27 biennium. Based on information shared at the press conference, tying the formula to inflation is also part of this agreement.
We expect to see the details of the House and Senate budget bills sometime Monday.
Bill making various changes to PELRA advances
Legislation continues to advance to make changes to PELRA. The provisions included in HF1690/SF1633 are now included in the House and Senate Omnibus Labor policy bills (HF1522/SF1384). Key provisions include:
The House and Senate Labor committees passed these bills Thursday. The next stop will be a vote by the full House and Senate in the coming weeks. A conference committee will then also have to work out the differences between the bills in the coming weeks.
Look for an action alert next week to contact your legislators outlining concerns about the PELRA provisions.
School district budget survey results
Linked is an updated summary of the budget survey. Thanks to everyone who completed this survey. This information is helping us provide information and context to legislators as they begin to determine their education finance bills.
Committee hearings – week of March 20, 2023
Senate Education Finance
The committee heard a few remaining bills. The first provides for school health services, another allows for third-party billing for school social work services, and one to provide funding for special education teacher due process time.
House Education Finance
The committee reviewed the Omnibus Education Policy Bill. The provisions of this bill will be rolled into the education appropriations bill next week.
The committee heard several other notable bills including bills to allow for third-party billing for school social work services, the Read Act, require schools to maintain a supply of opiate antagonists at each school site, fully fund homeless student transportation, and a bill to use LTFM revenue to transition to gender-neutral bathrooms. Lastly, the committee heard bills addressing course and credit requirements (personal finance, ethnic studies, holocaust studies).
House Education Policy
The committee heard one remaining bill heading into the March 24 policy bill deadline relating to school health services.
House Taxes
The committee heard legislation to modify the contents of the proposed property tax statement and improve what information needs to be included in the TNT notifications.
Dates to remember
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break.
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Questions?
Contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com with any questions.
Joint budget targets
This week, Governor Walz, Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic, and House Speaker Melissa Hortman reached an agreement on overall budget targets. These targets provide details to finance committees on how much money is available to spend in their respective omnibus budget bills. These budget targets are an outline. It is up to the committee chairs to finalize details of how to allocate their slice of the budget.
The budget target for K-12 education is set at $2.514 billion for the FY24-25 biennium, $300 million of this is allocated for early education. $3.3 billion is the target for the FY26-27 biennium. Based on information shared at the press conference, tying the formula to inflation is also part of this agreement.
We expect to see the details of the House and Senate budget bills sometime Monday.
Bill making various changes to PELRA advances
Legislation continues to advance to make changes to PELRA. The provisions included in HF1690/SF1633 are now included in the House and Senate Omnibus Labor policy bills (HF1522/SF1384). Key provisions include:
- Changing the terms and conditions of employment to include negotiating class size, staff ratios, and testing calendars.
- Reducing the probationary period from 120 to 90 days in a 170-day period.
- Requiring districts to negotiate with the union on e-learning days
- Requiring access to the union for employees, buildings, and data.
- Adding part-time, seasonal staff to the definition of “teacher” to allow for union membership.
The House and Senate Labor committees passed these bills Thursday. The next stop will be a vote by the full House and Senate in the coming weeks. A conference committee will then also have to work out the differences between the bills in the coming weeks.
Look for an action alert next week to contact your legislators outlining concerns about the PELRA provisions.
School district budget survey results
Linked is an updated summary of the budget survey. Thanks to everyone who completed this survey. This information is helping us provide information and context to legislators as they begin to determine their education finance bills.
Committee hearings – week of March 20, 2023
Senate Education Finance
The committee heard a few remaining bills. The first provides for school health services, another allows for third-party billing for school social work services, and one to provide funding for special education teacher due process time.
House Education Finance
The committee reviewed the Omnibus Education Policy Bill. The provisions of this bill will be rolled into the education appropriations bill next week.
The committee heard several other notable bills including bills to allow for third-party billing for school social work services, the Read Act, require schools to maintain a supply of opiate antagonists at each school site, fully fund homeless student transportation, and a bill to use LTFM revenue to transition to gender-neutral bathrooms. Lastly, the committee heard bills addressing course and credit requirements (personal finance, ethnic studies, holocaust studies).
House Education Policy
The committee heard one remaining bill heading into the March 24 policy bill deadline relating to school health services.
House Taxes
The committee heard legislation to modify the contents of the proposed property tax statement and improve what information needs to be included in the TNT notifications.
Dates to remember
April 4: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
April 5- 10: Legislative break.
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Questions?
Contact Valerie Dosland at valeried@ewald.com with any questions.
Session update - week of March 27, 2023
Session update - week of March 27, 2023
Linked is a summary that includes links to resources of interest such as district runs.
This week both the House and Senate advanced their respective education omnibus appropriations bills – SF2683 and HF2497.
Overall, the House and Senate increased E-12 education funding by $2.514 billion for the FY24-25 biennium, $300 million of which is allocated for early education. While the budget targets are the same, there are significant differences between the two bills, most notably in the per-pupil formula amounts and tying the formula to inflation.
The House incorporated the policy provisions from its education policy bill into the appropriations bill. The Senate continues to have two bills – a finance bill and a policy bill.
Attached is a summary of the significant funding and policy provisions.
Several of the provisions we were watching, such as increases to prep time, mandating specific class size ratios, a minimum salary for hourly school employees, and cost-sharing for health insurance, are not included in the bill. There are, however, provisions we are concerned about. Those include changing collective bargaining to include mandated negotiation on class size ratios, student-to-staff personnel ratios, and student testing time. Additionally, the bills extend unemployment insurance to hourly school employees with no corresponding funding.
The Senate bill will now head to the Senate Tax Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. The House bill will follow a similar path, heading to the House Tax Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. Each bill will then travel to their respective body for a vote. After that, the conference committee process will begin. This process will take a few weeks to unfold, so we do not expect the House and Senate to begin working out the differences until the end of April/beginning of May.
Thank you for your advocacy to date. It has made a difference! However, our work is not done. We will reach out soon regarding advocacy on the funding and policy issues!
Dates to remember
April 5- 10: Legislative break.
April 19: State of the State address.
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Linked is a summary that includes links to resources of interest such as district runs.
This week both the House and Senate advanced their respective education omnibus appropriations bills – SF2683 and HF2497.
Overall, the House and Senate increased E-12 education funding by $2.514 billion for the FY24-25 biennium, $300 million of which is allocated for early education. While the budget targets are the same, there are significant differences between the two bills, most notably in the per-pupil formula amounts and tying the formula to inflation.
The House incorporated the policy provisions from its education policy bill into the appropriations bill. The Senate continues to have two bills – a finance bill and a policy bill.
Attached is a summary of the significant funding and policy provisions.
Several of the provisions we were watching, such as increases to prep time, mandating specific class size ratios, a minimum salary for hourly school employees, and cost-sharing for health insurance, are not included in the bill. There are, however, provisions we are concerned about. Those include changing collective bargaining to include mandated negotiation on class size ratios, student-to-staff personnel ratios, and student testing time. Additionally, the bills extend unemployment insurance to hourly school employees with no corresponding funding.
The Senate bill will now head to the Senate Tax Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. The House bill will follow a similar path, heading to the House Tax Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. Each bill will then travel to their respective body for a vote. After that, the conference committee process will begin. This process will take a few weeks to unfold, so we do not expect the House and Senate to begin working out the differences until the end of April/beginning of May.
Thank you for your advocacy to date. It has made a difference! However, our work is not done. We will reach out soon regarding advocacy on the funding and policy issues!
Dates to remember
April 5- 10: Legislative break.
April 19: State of the State address.
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Action Alert: Please contact your representatives! - April 17, 2023
ACTION ALERT: PLEASE CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES! - APRIL 17, 2023
Dear MASA members,
Several concerning provisions are advancing this legislative session and your action is needed.
First, the House and Senate education finance bills propose to make hourly school workers eligible for unemployment compensation in the summer months. The legislature does not provide state aid or allow school districts to use the unemployment levy to cover these additional costs. Their failure to provide funding creates another cross-subsidy as school districts will be forced to use general fund dollars to cover these new costs.
Secondly, labor provisions are advancing of concern, most notably adding to collective bargaining a requirement to negotiate class size, staff ratios, e-learning days, and student testing calendars.
We oppose these provisions and believe the decision to include these items as part of negotiations should be made locally between a local school board and their local teachers union.
Click here to be directed to our advocacy system. There you will enter your contact information and your school district information. A crafted message will populate to send to each member in your legislative area. You can send the message as is or personalize it to suit your needs.
* Note: Some senators require an electronic email form, so we cannot use this system. If you do not see a senator listed, that is why.
** Note: This advocacy system is not set up so cooperative school districts can enter their specific district or charter school name. We have found a solution, but it will take time to program the system to include these districts.
Thank you for reaching out!
Valerie & Deb
Dear MASA members,
Several concerning provisions are advancing this legislative session and your action is needed.
First, the House and Senate education finance bills propose to make hourly school workers eligible for unemployment compensation in the summer months. The legislature does not provide state aid or allow school districts to use the unemployment levy to cover these additional costs. Their failure to provide funding creates another cross-subsidy as school districts will be forced to use general fund dollars to cover these new costs.
Secondly, labor provisions are advancing of concern, most notably adding to collective bargaining a requirement to negotiate class size, staff ratios, e-learning days, and student testing calendars.
We oppose these provisions and believe the decision to include these items as part of negotiations should be made locally between a local school board and their local teachers union.
Click here to be directed to our advocacy system. There you will enter your contact information and your school district information. A crafted message will populate to send to each member in your legislative area. You can send the message as is or personalize it to suit your needs.
* Note: Some senators require an electronic email form, so we cannot use this system. If you do not see a senator listed, that is why.
** Note: This advocacy system is not set up so cooperative school districts can enter their specific district or charter school name. We have found a solution, but it will take time to program the system to include these districts.
Thank you for reaching out!
Valerie & Deb
Session update - week of April 17, 2023
It has been another active week at the capitol! Please see the latest update that follows from MASA Lobbyist Valerie Dosland. Also linked are PERA talking points for your use and two letters from education organizations sent to both Chairs of the House and Senate Finance Committees.
There is still time to influence legislation. Please continue your advocacy efforts.
Best regards,
Valerie & Deb
State of the State
Governor Tim Walz presented his annual State of the State address on Wednesday evening, the first of his second term. The 30-minute speech reflected on bills that had already made their way to his desk, including federal tax conformity, universal school meals, unemployment benefits for the iron ore industry, establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday, and the commitment to carbon-free energy by 2040. Walz also touched on priorities he hopes will be included in the next two-year budget, including paid family and medical leave, "Walz Checks," gun safety measures, a child tax credit, tying education funding to inflation, and establishing a department of children and families.
House passes Omnibus Education Bill
On a vote of 70-60, the House passed the Omnibus Education Finance bill. Several amendments were offered and while most were not adopted, one of interest passed. An amendment by Rep. Urdahl was adopted that made changes to the provision requiring students to complete a course for credit in government. The bill now requires that students complete the course for credit in grades 11 or 12.
The Senate will take up the Omnibus Education Finance and Omnibus Education Policy bills on Monday, April 24.
Once the Senate passes these bills, the next step will be for conferees to be appointed so then the House and Senate can work out the differences between the two bills in a conference committee.
Attached are letters from the education organizations outlining areas of support and concern. Also attached is a document outlining talking points on the PELRA changes advancing in various bills.
Dates to remember
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
There is still time to influence legislation. Please continue your advocacy efforts.
Best regards,
Valerie & Deb
State of the State
Governor Tim Walz presented his annual State of the State address on Wednesday evening, the first of his second term. The 30-minute speech reflected on bills that had already made their way to his desk, including federal tax conformity, universal school meals, unemployment benefits for the iron ore industry, establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday, and the commitment to carbon-free energy by 2040. Walz also touched on priorities he hopes will be included in the next two-year budget, including paid family and medical leave, "Walz Checks," gun safety measures, a child tax credit, tying education funding to inflation, and establishing a department of children and families.
House passes Omnibus Education Bill
On a vote of 70-60, the House passed the Omnibus Education Finance bill. Several amendments were offered and while most were not adopted, one of interest passed. An amendment by Rep. Urdahl was adopted that made changes to the provision requiring students to complete a course for credit in government. The bill now requires that students complete the course for credit in grades 11 or 12.
The Senate will take up the Omnibus Education Finance and Omnibus Education Policy bills on Monday, April 24.
Once the Senate passes these bills, the next step will be for conferees to be appointed so then the House and Senate can work out the differences between the two bills in a conference committee.
Attached are letters from the education organizations outlining areas of support and concern. Also attached is a document outlining talking points on the PELRA changes advancing in various bills.
Dates to remember
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Information: Senate amendment passes! - April 25, 2023
INFORMATION: SENATE AMENDMENT PASSES! - APRIL 25, 2023
Dear Colleagues,
It is with great pleasure that I write to let you know how impactful your advocacy has been today and everyday during this session. The Senate met this evening and passed an amendment to the Omnibus Labor Policy that removed language changes to the terms and conditions of employment. Without the passage of the amendment all school districts would have been required to negotiate class size, staff ratios, student testing calendars, and e-learning days.
We must remember that the bill will be heard in the House and if it passes there a conference committee will then take it under consideration. Please continue your advocacy with House members until we know who will serve on the conference committees. We are not done yet.
All republicans along with Democratic Senators Judy Seeberger and Rob Kupac voted for the amendment authored by Senator Jason Rarick. A thank you note to them is appropriate.
Your leadership in answering MASA's call to action along with that of the other education organizations made the difference. During the floor session your deep concern with the proposed changes to PELRA was noted by the senators. Your leadership matters.
With gratitude,
Valerie & Deb
Dear Colleagues,
It is with great pleasure that I write to let you know how impactful your advocacy has been today and everyday during this session. The Senate met this evening and passed an amendment to the Omnibus Labor Policy that removed language changes to the terms and conditions of employment. Without the passage of the amendment all school districts would have been required to negotiate class size, staff ratios, student testing calendars, and e-learning days.
We must remember that the bill will be heard in the House and if it passes there a conference committee will then take it under consideration. Please continue your advocacy with House members until we know who will serve on the conference committees. We are not done yet.
All republicans along with Democratic Senators Judy Seeberger and Rob Kupac voted for the amendment authored by Senator Jason Rarick. A thank you note to them is appropriate.
Your leadership in answering MASA's call to action along with that of the other education organizations made the difference. During the floor session your deep concern with the proposed changes to PELRA was noted by the senators. Your leadership matters.
With gratitude,
Valerie & Deb
Information: Session update - week of April 24, 2023
INFORMATION: SESSION UPDATE - WEEK OF APRIL 24, 2023
Senate advances Omnibus labor policy bill
This week the Senate passed an Omnibus labor policy bill. This bill makes changes to the Public Employee Labor Relations Act. Before the debate, the bill included two provisions of great concern - adding to collective bargaining a requirement to negotiate class size, staff ratios, e-learning days, and student testing calendars and changing the inherent managerial right to make decisions about the number of personnel. The amendment passed on a vote of 35-32, with two Democrats joining all Republicans to remove this provision.
Senate passes Omnibus education finance and policy bills
On Monday, the Senate passed the Omnibus Education Finance on a vote of 35-32. Every Democrat, along with one Republican, voted for the bill. One amendment by Senator Lucero created a new aid component called "general education disparity aid." The intent is to give additional aid to school districts with revenue at or below the 20th percentile of districts. Similar language is not in the House bill.
The Senate also passed the Omnibus Education Policy on a vote of 36-31. Every Democrat, along with two Republicans, voted for the bill. One amendment was adopted to reinstate the Tier 2 to Tier 3 pathway for three years of teaching experience.
Except for the amendments noted, the House and Senate bills remain the same as when they advanced out of their respective committees.
As a reminder, several of the provisions we were watching, such as increases to prep time, mandating specific class size ratio in statute, a minimum salary for hourly school employees, and cost-sharing for health insurance, have not advanced.
We continue to be concerned about provisions in the House labor policy bill relating to collective bargaining, inherent managerial rights, and the fiscal and policy impacts of extending unemployment insurance to hourly school employees. We continue to advocate our concerns on these provisions.
Advocacy next steps
Thank you for your advocacy so far on the budget and policy issues that have advanced to date. We are not done yet! We will send another action alert on budget and policy items, so stay tuned!
Conference committee members appointed
With the passage of the omnibus bills, the next step is for the House and Senate to appoint conference committees. A conference committee is a committee made up of members from each body with the responsibility of reconciling the differences between two versions of a bill that has been passed by both bodies. Below are the members assigned to the education conference committee:
Representative Cheryl Youakim
Representative Josiah Hill
Representative Laurie Pryor
Representative Mary Frances Clardy
Representative Ron Kresha
Senator Mary Kunesh
Senator Steve Cwodzinski
Senator Heather Gustafson
Senator Erin Maye Quade
Senator Zach Duckworth
The conference committee is expected to begin the week of May 1.
Dates to remember
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Senate advances Omnibus labor policy bill
This week the Senate passed an Omnibus labor policy bill. This bill makes changes to the Public Employee Labor Relations Act. Before the debate, the bill included two provisions of great concern - adding to collective bargaining a requirement to negotiate class size, staff ratios, e-learning days, and student testing calendars and changing the inherent managerial right to make decisions about the number of personnel. The amendment passed on a vote of 35-32, with two Democrats joining all Republicans to remove this provision.
Senate passes Omnibus education finance and policy bills
On Monday, the Senate passed the Omnibus Education Finance on a vote of 35-32. Every Democrat, along with one Republican, voted for the bill. One amendment by Senator Lucero created a new aid component called "general education disparity aid." The intent is to give additional aid to school districts with revenue at or below the 20th percentile of districts. Similar language is not in the House bill.
The Senate also passed the Omnibus Education Policy on a vote of 36-31. Every Democrat, along with two Republicans, voted for the bill. One amendment was adopted to reinstate the Tier 2 to Tier 3 pathway for three years of teaching experience.
Except for the amendments noted, the House and Senate bills remain the same as when they advanced out of their respective committees.
As a reminder, several of the provisions we were watching, such as increases to prep time, mandating specific class size ratio in statute, a minimum salary for hourly school employees, and cost-sharing for health insurance, have not advanced.
We continue to be concerned about provisions in the House labor policy bill relating to collective bargaining, inherent managerial rights, and the fiscal and policy impacts of extending unemployment insurance to hourly school employees. We continue to advocate our concerns on these provisions.
Advocacy next steps
Thank you for your advocacy so far on the budget and policy issues that have advanced to date. We are not done yet! We will send another action alert on budget and policy items, so stay tuned!
Conference committee members appointed
With the passage of the omnibus bills, the next step is for the House and Senate to appoint conference committees. A conference committee is a committee made up of members from each body with the responsibility of reconciling the differences between two versions of a bill that has been passed by both bodies. Below are the members assigned to the education conference committee:
Representative Cheryl Youakim
Representative Josiah Hill
Representative Laurie Pryor
Representative Mary Frances Clardy
Representative Ron Kresha
Senator Mary Kunesh
Senator Steve Cwodzinski
Senator Heather Gustafson
Senator Erin Maye Quade
Senator Zach Duckworth
The conference committee is expected to begin the week of May 1.
Dates to remember
May 22: Last day of the 2023 legislative session.
Session update - week of May 1, 2023
SESSION UPDATE - WEEK OF MAY 1, 2023
Conference committee update
With two weeks left in the 2023 legislative session, conference committees have been busy working out differences in the major budget bills. A few conference committees, such as the committee working on the Omnibus Tax bill, are still in the process of being appointed and have not yet begun work.
The Education Finance conference committee met several times this week. Committee members spent most of the time reviewing the House and Senate bills, but they did discuss the House proposal to provide an inflationary increase in the formula at some length. They also agreed to a handful of small policy items that were the same or similar in both bills but made no other significant budget decisions.
House advances omnibus labor policy bill
This week the House passed the Omnibus Labor Policy bill that proposes changes to the Public Employee Labor Relations Act. Several amendments were offered that did not pass, to remove the provisions related to collective bargaining on staff ratios, e-learning days, and student testing calendars and changing the inherent managerial right of school boards to make decisions about the number of personnel. These provisions are not included in the Senate bill so a conference committee will be appointed to work out the differences.
If you have not reached out to your local legislators on this issue yet, you still have time to share your concerns and explain how this will impact your school district.
Pension Commission holds informational hearing on TRA pension bill
On Thursday, the Pension Commission held an informational hearing on HF3294/SF3314, legislation to reduce the retirement age for teachers who do not qualify for Rule of 90. The bill lowers the retirement age from 66 to 64 for those teachers and pays for this change with a .5% increase in employee contributions and a 1% increase in employer contributions. The bill also includes an unspecified appropriation to school districts to cover the employer contribution costs. The hearing was informational only and the commission took no action on the bill.
Paid family and medical leave bill passes House, Senate to take up the bill Monday
On Tuesday, the House passed the bill to establish paid family and medical leave, funded by a .7% payroll tax, split between the employer and the employee. The House bill provides up to 12 weeks of benefits for medical leave for an individual’s pregnancy or a serious health condition, or up to 12 weeks for family leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition, for safety leave, or bonding. The Senate will take up their bill Monday. Because the bills are different, they will need to resolve differences before sending a final bill to the Governor for his signature.
Advocacy next steps
Thank you for your advocacy so far on the budget and policy issues. If you have not reached out to your local legislators yet, you still have time to share your thoughts and concerns.
Conference committee update
With two weeks left in the 2023 legislative session, conference committees have been busy working out differences in the major budget bills. A few conference committees, such as the committee working on the Omnibus Tax bill, are still in the process of being appointed and have not yet begun work.
The Education Finance conference committee met several times this week. Committee members spent most of the time reviewing the House and Senate bills, but they did discuss the House proposal to provide an inflationary increase in the formula at some length. They also agreed to a handful of small policy items that were the same or similar in both bills but made no other significant budget decisions.
House advances omnibus labor policy bill
This week the House passed the Omnibus Labor Policy bill that proposes changes to the Public Employee Labor Relations Act. Several amendments were offered that did not pass, to remove the provisions related to collective bargaining on staff ratios, e-learning days, and student testing calendars and changing the inherent managerial right of school boards to make decisions about the number of personnel. These provisions are not included in the Senate bill so a conference committee will be appointed to work out the differences.
If you have not reached out to your local legislators on this issue yet, you still have time to share your concerns and explain how this will impact your school district.
Pension Commission holds informational hearing on TRA pension bill
On Thursday, the Pension Commission held an informational hearing on HF3294/SF3314, legislation to reduce the retirement age for teachers who do not qualify for Rule of 90. The bill lowers the retirement age from 66 to 64 for those teachers and pays for this change with a .5% increase in employee contributions and a 1% increase in employer contributions. The bill also includes an unspecified appropriation to school districts to cover the employer contribution costs. The hearing was informational only and the commission took no action on the bill.
Paid family and medical leave bill passes House, Senate to take up the bill Monday
On Tuesday, the House passed the bill to establish paid family and medical leave, funded by a .7% payroll tax, split between the employer and the employee. The House bill provides up to 12 weeks of benefits for medical leave for an individual’s pregnancy or a serious health condition, or up to 12 weeks for family leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition, for safety leave, or bonding. The Senate will take up their bill Monday. Because the bills are different, they will need to resolve differences before sending a final bill to the Governor for his signature.
Advocacy next steps
Thank you for your advocacy so far on the budget and policy issues. If you have not reached out to your local legislators yet, you still have time to share your thoughts and concerns.
Important information: Education Finance budget agreement update (May 12, 2023)
On Thursday evening the Education Finance conference committee reviewed the agreement reached on the education finance budget.
We do not yet have full details and the final bill language still needs to be finalized. More details on the funding and policy provisions will be provided as soon as possible but below is a summary of what we know so far on the budget.
The conference committee is expected to finalize the bill on Saturday. We will provide more details and a summary once the bill language is available.
We do not yet have full details and the final bill language still needs to be finalized. More details on the funding and policy provisions will be provided as soon as possible but below is a summary of what we know so far on the budget.
- Overall, the final K-12 budget agreement appropriates $2.264 billion for the FY 24-25 biennium and $3.2 billion for FY 26-27 biennium.
- 4% and 2% increase on the per-pupil formula and ties the formula to inflation, capped at 3%, in future biennia
- $662.8 million in FY 24-25 and $821 million in FY 26-26 for special education cross subsidy aid (44% in FY 24-25; 50% and FY 26-27)
- $86.9 million in FY 24-25 and $171.8 million in FY 26-27 for English Learner cross-subsidy aid
- $64 million in FY 24-25 and $117.7 million in FY 26-27 for student support personnel aid
- $135 million in one-time funding unemployment insurance aid
- $64 million per year, starting in FY 26, for special education unemployment insurance costs
- $7.2 million in FY 25 and $16.6 million in FY 26-27 for paraprofessional aid starting in FY25
- READ Act funding including $35 million for curriculum and instructional materials and $34.9 million for professional development
- $27 million in FY 24-25 and later for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, MTSS
- Funding to grow the teaching profession including:
- $37 million in FY 24-25 and $50.9 million in FY 26-27 for Grow Your Own grants
- $30 million in FY 24-25 and $10 million in FY 26-27 for licensure shortage areas/special education teacher pipeline initiatives
- $8.8 million per year for Collaborative Urban and Greater Minnesota Educators of Color grants
- $6 million in FY 24-25 and later for teacher residency programs
- $1 million in FY 24-25 and later for Black Men Teach
- $9.8 million in FY 24-25 and $11.6 million in FY 26-27 for transportation sparsity revenue
- Makes existing VPK/SR+ slots permanent, expands the number of seats by an additional 5200 seats in FY26-27 and later. Provides an additional $50 million in one-time funding available through June 30, 2026 (no details on how this funding is distributed available yet).
- $24 million in FY24 only for building and cybersecurity grants
The conference committee is expected to finalize the bill on Saturday. We will provide more details and a summary once the bill language is available.
Additional Information: Legislative update on PELRA (May 12, 2023)
Tonight, the conference committee on the Jobs and Labor Omnibus bill passed their final agreement. The agreement includes the PELRA provisions on terms and conditions of employment to include adult to student ratios, student to personnel ratios, and student testing calendars as well as the provision limiting inherent managerial rights to negotiate on personnel matters.
As a reminder, we were successful in having these provisions removed in the original Senate Labor policy bill. Despite reaching out to the author of these provisions, she was unwilling to consider other alternatives to these proposals.
The House and Senate will take up the report in the next day or two, but you still have time to reach out to your legislators. Please share your concerns and explain how this will impact your school district.
As a reminder, we were successful in having these provisions removed in the original Senate Labor policy bill. Despite reaching out to the author of these provisions, she was unwilling to consider other alternatives to these proposals.
The House and Senate will take up the report in the next day or two, but you still have time to reach out to your legislators. Please share your concerns and explain how this will impact your school district.
Time sensitive: Call to action regarding proposed changes to PELRA (May 16, 2023)
Time sensitive: Call to action regarding proposed changes to PELRA (May 16, 2023)
The Omnibus Jobs, Economic Development, Labor, and Industry appropriations bill, SF3035, includes the provisions related to PELRA that we have raised concerns about during these past months of the legislative session. The Senate was supposed to take up the bill on Monday, but hit a snag so we have more time to influence the outcome.
Click here to be directed to our advocacy system. There you will enter your contact information and your school district information. A crafted message will populate to send to each member
in your legislative area. You can send the message as is or personalize it to suit your needs.
* Note: Some senators require an electronic email form, so we cannot use this system. If you do
not see a senator listed, that is why.
** Note: This advocacy system is not set up so cooperative school districts can enter their
specific district or charter school name. We have found a solution, but it will take time to
program the system to include these districts.
Your advocacy is essential. Thank you for contacting your legislators.
Valerie & Deb
The Omnibus Jobs, Economic Development, Labor, and Industry appropriations bill, SF3035, includes the provisions related to PELRA that we have raised concerns about during these past months of the legislative session. The Senate was supposed to take up the bill on Monday, but hit a snag so we have more time to influence the outcome.
Click here to be directed to our advocacy system. There you will enter your contact information and your school district information. A crafted message will populate to send to each member
in your legislative area. You can send the message as is or personalize it to suit your needs.
* Note: Some senators require an electronic email form, so we cannot use this system. If you do
not see a senator listed, that is why.
** Note: This advocacy system is not set up so cooperative school districts can enter their
specific district or charter school name. We have found a solution, but it will take time to
program the system to include these districts.
Your advocacy is essential. Thank you for contacting your legislators.
Valerie & Deb
Virtual Session with Deb Henton and Valerie Dosland (May 16, 2023)
Thank you to everyone who attended the MASA Legislative Update on Friday, May 19.
If you missed the session, you can watch a recording of the session and view the Q&A chat here: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/WIFNjntQ_sW3Q4nAWjF8w4vHvGnzA8g60bKwvitmb6u9J5_0RGyLxrwd28ry73U.QK6s-PJNS0obr9df
A YouTube version without the questions in the chat can be found here: https://youtu.be/4m01eJBFzzo.
If you missed the session, you can watch a recording of the session and view the Q&A chat here: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/WIFNjntQ_sW3Q4nAWjF8w4vHvGnzA8g60bKwvitmb6u9J5_0RGyLxrwd28ry73U.QK6s-PJNS0obr9df
A YouTube version without the questions in the chat can be found here: https://youtu.be/4m01eJBFzzo.
Information: District runs (May 16, 2023)
Included in this email is this link to a budget spreadsheet where you can enter a/your school district number to see more detailed information on the impact of the agreement reached by the education conference committee on your school district. Also attached is the same information in a different format-the district runs released today.
The senate is meeting tonight to take up the bill. Once we know the outcome, we will send out a summary.
Finally, Valerie and I invite you to join us for a virtual legislative update on Friday, May 19 at 10am. Register for the session here!
Best regards,
Valerie & Deb
The senate is meeting tonight to take up the bill. Once we know the outcome, we will send out a summary.
Finally, Valerie and I invite you to join us for a virtual legislative update on Friday, May 19 at 10am. Register for the session here!
Best regards,
Valerie & Deb
Session update - E12 education budget agreement headed to Governor (May 17, 2023)
SESSION UPDATE - E12 EDUCATION BUDGET AGREEMENT HEADED TO GOVERNOR (MAY 17, 2023)
Below is a summary of the education omnibus bill passed by both the House and Senate. Additional attachments are provided for your information (. There was much debate in the Senate lasting through the night and into the early morning hours.
Your advocacy efforts throughout the session were remarkable and we are grateful. Valerie notes below that your voices were heard.
We hope you are able to join us on Friday at 10:00am for a recap of the session.
Have a great day!
Valerie & Deb
===
On Wednesday, the House and Senate passed HF2497, the final K-12 budget agreement, which appropriates $2.264 billion for the FY24-25 biennium and $3.2 billion for FY26-27 biennium for K-12 education. The House and Senate also passed HF2292, the bill which appropriates funding for early childhood education programs funded through the MN Department of Education. These bills are now headed to the Governor for his signature.
Attached is summary of the key provisions of these two bills. This is an initial draft and will be updated once more time is available to review the bill in more detail. Attached are school district runs and here is a link to a budget spreadsheet where you can enter your school district number to see more detailed information on the impact of the agreement on your school district.
Additionally, the House and Senate passed SF3505, the Omnibus Jobs, Economic Development, Labor, and Industry appropriations bill that included the changes to terms and conditions and inherent managerial rights. Thank you for your advocacy efforts again on this yesterday. There was long debate, and many Senators and Representatives voiced your concerns. The bill is now headed to the Governor for his signature.
The Legislature still has unfinished business so more detailed information and summaries on other bills of interest will be available once all the budget and policy bills are finalized.
23, K12 CC Agreement 2024 District Run
23, K12 CC Agreement 2025 District Runs
Final agreement - 2023 E-12 education omnibus budget bill
Below is a summary of the education omnibus bill passed by both the House and Senate. Additional attachments are provided for your information (. There was much debate in the Senate lasting through the night and into the early morning hours.
Your advocacy efforts throughout the session were remarkable and we are grateful. Valerie notes below that your voices were heard.
We hope you are able to join us on Friday at 10:00am for a recap of the session.
Have a great day!
Valerie & Deb
===
On Wednesday, the House and Senate passed HF2497, the final K-12 budget agreement, which appropriates $2.264 billion for the FY24-25 biennium and $3.2 billion for FY26-27 biennium for K-12 education. The House and Senate also passed HF2292, the bill which appropriates funding for early childhood education programs funded through the MN Department of Education. These bills are now headed to the Governor for his signature.
Attached is summary of the key provisions of these two bills. This is an initial draft and will be updated once more time is available to review the bill in more detail. Attached are school district runs and here is a link to a budget spreadsheet where you can enter your school district number to see more detailed information on the impact of the agreement on your school district.
Additionally, the House and Senate passed SF3505, the Omnibus Jobs, Economic Development, Labor, and Industry appropriations bill that included the changes to terms and conditions and inherent managerial rights. Thank you for your advocacy efforts again on this yesterday. There was long debate, and many Senators and Representatives voiced your concerns. The bill is now headed to the Governor for his signature.
The Legislature still has unfinished business so more detailed information and summaries on other bills of interest will be available once all the budget and policy bills are finalized.
23, K12 CC Agreement 2024 District Run
23, K12 CC Agreement 2025 District Runs
Final agreement - 2023 E-12 education omnibus budget bill
Session update - 2023 legislature is adjourned (May 22, 2023)
SESSION UPDATE - 2023 LEGISLATURE IS ADJOURNED (MAY 22, 2023)
After completing its work and sending a complete two-year state budget to Governor Walz, the 2023 legislative session has adjourned!
Summary and district information
Linked below is an updated summary of the education finance bill and of the changes made to the Public Employee Labor Relations Act and other labor provisions. House Research has also prepared a spreadsheet you can download to allow you to see how the funding will look for your district. Download the file and input your district # to see those details.
Pension reform proposal included in Tax bill
Over the weekend the legislature passed, and sent to the Governor, the Tax bill. Late last week, the Tax conference committee agreed to include funding to address pension reform to reduce normal retirement age to 65 (effective July 1, 2025). To pay for this change the employee contribution is increased .25 % and the employer share is increased .75%, (all after June 30, 2025). To pay for the employer costs, $101.9 million ($47.020 million in FY26 and $54.910 million in FY27) is appropriated and language is added so this cost comes from a pension adjustment mechanism.
Extension on lifetime limit for Type III vehicles
The recently passed Transportation Finance and Policy bill extends the lifetime limit on the use of Type III vehicles - school districts and bus contractors can now purchase and use Type III vehicles that are 2008 or newer.
Thank you!
Thank you for all your advocacy this session and your work to develop and strengthen relationships with your local legislators. It has made a difference in advancing our priorities.
Final agreement - E-12 education omnibus budget bill - 2023 session
Final agreement - labor provisions - 2023 session
After completing its work and sending a complete two-year state budget to Governor Walz, the 2023 legislative session has adjourned!
Summary and district information
Linked below is an updated summary of the education finance bill and of the changes made to the Public Employee Labor Relations Act and other labor provisions. House Research has also prepared a spreadsheet you can download to allow you to see how the funding will look for your district. Download the file and input your district # to see those details.
Pension reform proposal included in Tax bill
Over the weekend the legislature passed, and sent to the Governor, the Tax bill. Late last week, the Tax conference committee agreed to include funding to address pension reform to reduce normal retirement age to 65 (effective July 1, 2025). To pay for this change the employee contribution is increased .25 % and the employer share is increased .75%, (all after June 30, 2025). To pay for the employer costs, $101.9 million ($47.020 million in FY26 and $54.910 million in FY27) is appropriated and language is added so this cost comes from a pension adjustment mechanism.
Extension on lifetime limit for Type III vehicles
The recently passed Transportation Finance and Policy bill extends the lifetime limit on the use of Type III vehicles - school districts and bus contractors can now purchase and use Type III vehicles that are 2008 or newer.
Thank you!
Thank you for all your advocacy this session and your work to develop and strengthen relationships with your local legislators. It has made a difference in advancing our priorities.
Final agreement - E-12 education omnibus budget bill - 2023 session
Final agreement - labor provisions - 2023 session
Information: MDE letter regarding Special Education Licensure Noncompliance (July 21, 2023)
INFORMATION: MDE LETTER REGARDING SPECIAL EDUCATION LICENSURE NONCOMPLIANCE (JULY 21, 2023)
As many of you know, MDE received a notice of noncompliance from the United States Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) regarding our state's alternative pathway options for licensing special education teachers. Linked you will find a letter from MDE to the OSEP outlining corrective action steps.
Please note that PELSB has not yet officially signed off on MDE's plan, nor voted to support the legislative proposal mentioned in the letter. It is also not known as of this writing if the OSEP will approve the corrective action plan. Still, given the concerns raised when the OSEP letter was received along with the severe special education teacher shortage we are facing, I thought it important for you to have this communication.
As many of you know, MDE received a notice of noncompliance from the United States Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) regarding our state's alternative pathway options for licensing special education teachers. Linked you will find a letter from MDE to the OSEP outlining corrective action steps.
Please note that PELSB has not yet officially signed off on MDE's plan, nor voted to support the legislative proposal mentioned in the letter. It is also not known as of this writing if the OSEP will approve the corrective action plan. Still, given the concerns raised when the OSEP letter was received along with the severe special education teacher shortage we are facing, I thought it important for you to have this communication.
Legislative Messages from the 2022 Session:
Legislative Update: February 14, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Sent February 14, 2022
Second Week in Session
Committee hearings began in earnest this week with a full slate of bills. We are starting to see issues advance in both bodies relating to frontline worker bonus pay, public safety, teacher licensure, and refilling the unemployment insurance trust fund.
A judicial panel will release new district maps on Valentine’s Day outlining new congressional and legislative district boundaries. Legislators will be distracted pouring over their new legislative districts and deciding their re-election prospects.
Committee hearings – week of 2/7/22
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee heard overviews on LiveMore ScreenLess and Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS). Both programs received funding in the 2021 Education Finance budget bill, and these two items are high priorities for the Senate.
The House Education Policy Committee heard HF2950, a bill to increase the supply of substitute teachers through mechanisms to make teacher licensure more flexible and accessible. These would include a pilot program for short-call substitute teachers, allowing those with a lapsed license to accept a teaching position and allowing conditional teaching licenses for those who have not yet passed the licensure exam. The bill also would allow school districts and charters to adopt crisis online learning when necessary. The bill passed the House Education Policy Committee and now heads to the House floor. The Senate companion has yet to receive a hearing in that body.
The House Education Finance Committee heard two bills aligned with our priorities. HF2944 phases out the English learner cross-subsidy. HF2657 eliminates the special education cross-subsidy. A statewide cohort of superintendents, business managers, and school board members provided strong testimony supporting both bills. If you are curious about what these bills mean to your district, here is the district-run for HF2944, and here is the district-run for HF2657.
The committee also heard an overview from MDE on the Governor’s supplemental budget recommendations.
The House Education Policy Committee heard and passed HF3079, the Increase Teachers of Color Act.
Committee hearings – week of 2/14/22
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee will hear bills addressing the shortage of short-call substitutes, LETRS, and issues related to parental curriculum review.
The House Education Finance Committee will hear legislation regarding paraprofessional training and the Teacher of Color Act.
The House Education Policy Committee will hear a slate of health-related bills.
Call to action coming next week!
Next week you will receive a call to action from us asking you to connect with your elected officials. Our ask will be a simple one to reach out to your elected officials, share our priorities, and encourage them to prioritize education funding this year.
Dates to remember
March 25: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
April 1: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Bill introductions of interest
H. F. 3079, A bill for an act relating to education; strengthening the Increase Teachers of Color Act.
H. F. 3124, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying short-call substitute teacher requirements.
S.F. No. 2909: A bill for an act relating to education; providing for transparency in curriculum; protecting parent's rights.
S.F. No. 2952: A bill for an act relating to education; modifying teacher shortage reporting requirements.
H. F. 3224, A bill for an act relating to education finance; increasing long-term facilities maintenance revenue; increasing local optional revenue; providing enhanced debt service equalization aid for consolidating school districts; reducing school district property taxes; increasing equalization aids for school formulas; appropriating money.
H. F. 3231, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying teacher licensure provisions; modifying Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board composition; authorizing rulemaking.
H. F. 3232, A bill for an act relating to education finance; eliminating an average age of buildings index from the operating capital formula; modifying the long-term facilities maintenance revenue age index for school districts adding square footage; authorizing flexibility for the use of long-term facilities maintenance revenue; increasing the long-term facilities maintenance levy equalizing factor to keep the statewide levy impact unchanged.
H. F. 3260, A bill for an act relating to education; prohibiting malicious and sadistic conduct involving race, religion, sexual harassment, sexual orientation, and sexual exploitation.
H. F. 3295, A bill for an act relating to education finance; providing for a more complete count of low-income students; appropriating money.
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Sent February 14, 2022
Second Week in Session
Committee hearings began in earnest this week with a full slate of bills. We are starting to see issues advance in both bodies relating to frontline worker bonus pay, public safety, teacher licensure, and refilling the unemployment insurance trust fund.
A judicial panel will release new district maps on Valentine’s Day outlining new congressional and legislative district boundaries. Legislators will be distracted pouring over their new legislative districts and deciding their re-election prospects.
Committee hearings – week of 2/7/22
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee heard overviews on LiveMore ScreenLess and Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS). Both programs received funding in the 2021 Education Finance budget bill, and these two items are high priorities for the Senate.
The House Education Policy Committee heard HF2950, a bill to increase the supply of substitute teachers through mechanisms to make teacher licensure more flexible and accessible. These would include a pilot program for short-call substitute teachers, allowing those with a lapsed license to accept a teaching position and allowing conditional teaching licenses for those who have not yet passed the licensure exam. The bill also would allow school districts and charters to adopt crisis online learning when necessary. The bill passed the House Education Policy Committee and now heads to the House floor. The Senate companion has yet to receive a hearing in that body.
The House Education Finance Committee heard two bills aligned with our priorities. HF2944 phases out the English learner cross-subsidy. HF2657 eliminates the special education cross-subsidy. A statewide cohort of superintendents, business managers, and school board members provided strong testimony supporting both bills. If you are curious about what these bills mean to your district, here is the district-run for HF2944, and here is the district-run for HF2657.
The committee also heard an overview from MDE on the Governor’s supplemental budget recommendations.
The House Education Policy Committee heard and passed HF3079, the Increase Teachers of Color Act.
Committee hearings – week of 2/14/22
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee will hear bills addressing the shortage of short-call substitutes, LETRS, and issues related to parental curriculum review.
The House Education Finance Committee will hear legislation regarding paraprofessional training and the Teacher of Color Act.
The House Education Policy Committee will hear a slate of health-related bills.
Call to action coming next week!
Next week you will receive a call to action from us asking you to connect with your elected officials. Our ask will be a simple one to reach out to your elected officials, share our priorities, and encourage them to prioritize education funding this year.
Dates to remember
March 25: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
April 1: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Bill introductions of interest
H. F. 3079, A bill for an act relating to education; strengthening the Increase Teachers of Color Act.
H. F. 3124, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying short-call substitute teacher requirements.
S.F. No. 2909: A bill for an act relating to education; providing for transparency in curriculum; protecting parent's rights.
S.F. No. 2952: A bill for an act relating to education; modifying teacher shortage reporting requirements.
H. F. 3224, A bill for an act relating to education finance; increasing long-term facilities maintenance revenue; increasing local optional revenue; providing enhanced debt service equalization aid for consolidating school districts; reducing school district property taxes; increasing equalization aids for school formulas; appropriating money.
H. F. 3231, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying teacher licensure provisions; modifying Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board composition; authorizing rulemaking.
H. F. 3232, A bill for an act relating to education finance; eliminating an average age of buildings index from the operating capital formula; modifying the long-term facilities maintenance revenue age index for school districts adding square footage; authorizing flexibility for the use of long-term facilities maintenance revenue; increasing the long-term facilities maintenance levy equalizing factor to keep the statewide levy impact unchanged.
H. F. 3260, A bill for an act relating to education; prohibiting malicious and sadistic conduct involving race, religion, sexual harassment, sexual orientation, and sexual exploitation.
H. F. 3295, A bill for an act relating to education finance; providing for a more complete count of low-income students; appropriating money.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: February 17, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Deb Henton
Sent February 17, 2022 (The Henton Headlines)
Parent Rights
A number of bills have been introduced regarding the rights of parents who have children in Minnesota’s public schools. MASA joined MSBA and AMSD in sending a letter to the Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee affirming our desire to engage parents in our public schools. Included in the communication to the committee was a compilation of MSBA Model Policies and MN statutes already requiring parent involvement.
Expect the discussion on parent rights to be present during this legislative session. You might want to think about all the ways you involve parents and share that information when you meet with senators and representatives during your Days at the Capitol, or during other events when you come in contact with legislators.
Deb Henton
Sent February 17, 2022 (The Henton Headlines)
Parent Rights
A number of bills have been introduced regarding the rights of parents who have children in Minnesota’s public schools. MASA joined MSBA and AMSD in sending a letter to the Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee affirming our desire to engage parents in our public schools. Included in the communication to the committee was a compilation of MSBA Model Policies and MN statutes already requiring parent involvement.
Expect the discussion on parent rights to be present during this legislative session. You might want to think about all the ways you involve parents and share that information when you meet with senators and representatives during your Days at the Capitol, or during other events when you come in contact with legislators.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: February 21, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Sent 2/21/22
Redistricting was the focus
On Tuesday, February 15, a judicial panel released Minnesota’s new congressional and legislative district maps that will shape our political landscape for the next ten years. While many sitting representatives and senators will run for election in their new seats, several incumbents may decide to retire as they are faced with a re-election campaign in dramatically different districts or competition between their colleagues.
Despite the attention given to the new legislative maps, key bills did advance this week. The Senate passed legislation to repay the Unemployment Trust Fund. The House advanced a proposal to provide additional pay to COVID frontline workers through several committees.
Budget Update
The January monthly budget report brought promising budget news but with some caveats. The report showed tax revenues exceeded estimates by 25 percent or $649 million above the forecast. Tax receipts were down for income taxes but higher for corporate, sales, and other taxes. These increases are due to estimated tax payments for the Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTE) that will be credited against business owners’ tax liability for 2021 taxes.
Committee hearings – week of 2/14/22
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee heard legislation addressing the shortage of short-call substitutes, a proposal to provide $33 million for Language Essentials for Teaching of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) grants, and bills related to parental curriculum review (SF2575, SF2666, SF2909).
The House Education Finance Committee heard bills for paraprofessional training, the Teacher of Color Act, and a bill to mandate provisions related to non-licensed school personnel wages, benefits, and training.
The House Education Policy Committee heard legislation to require school districts to provide students access to free menstrual products in student restrooms, a bill requiring schools to maintain a supply of opiate antagonists, and a bill requiring schools to have at least two epinephrine auto-injectors at each site. The committee also heard legislation to fund two school mental health services leads at MDE.
Committee hearings – week of 2/21/22
The House Education Finance Committee agenda is light this week. Of note, the committee will hear legislation to provide $33 million for Language Essentials for Teaching of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) grants. The committee will also hear a presentation from NWEA on student achievement.
The House Education Policy Committee will hear bills related to bullying, student misconduct, and ethnic studies requirements.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee will hear a bill establishing Education Savings Accounts (vouchers) and a bill proposing to increase the maximum earnings for school board members employed by a school district.
Update on advocacy request
Thank you for responding to our call to action using our new advocacy tool. So far, MASA members sent out 208 emails to their representatives and senators! We are resolving some technical glitches, so thank you for your patience as we work through those!
Dates to remember
March 25: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
April 1: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Bill introductions of interest
S.F. No. 3107: A bill for an act relating to education; increasing maximum earnings for school board members employed by a school district.
S.F. No. 3194: A bill for an act relating to education finance; linking the general education basic formula allowance to the rate of inflation; linking extended time revenue and local optional revenue to the general education basic formula allowance.
S.F. No. 3239: A bill for an act relating to education; providing for transparency in curriculum and expanding parents' rights in schools.
H. F. 3378, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying student bullying policy provisions.
H. F. 3402, A bill for an act relating to education; prohibiting exclusion from recess as student discipline.
H. F. 3434, A bill for an act relating to education; creating an ethnic studies requirement; creating an Ethnic Studies Task Force.
H. F. 3531, A bill for an act relating to education finance; requiring certain forecasted positive general fund balances be allocated to increase the aid payment schedule for school district aids and credits; adjusting the aid payment percentage; adjusting the special education aid payment percentage.
H. F. 3555, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying unrequested leave of absence provisions for teachers.
H. F. 3580, A bill for an act relating to education; requiring indexing of English learner programs revenue to basic education revenue.
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Sent 2/21/22
Redistricting was the focus
On Tuesday, February 15, a judicial panel released Minnesota’s new congressional and legislative district maps that will shape our political landscape for the next ten years. While many sitting representatives and senators will run for election in their new seats, several incumbents may decide to retire as they are faced with a re-election campaign in dramatically different districts or competition between their colleagues.
Despite the attention given to the new legislative maps, key bills did advance this week. The Senate passed legislation to repay the Unemployment Trust Fund. The House advanced a proposal to provide additional pay to COVID frontline workers through several committees.
Budget Update
The January monthly budget report brought promising budget news but with some caveats. The report showed tax revenues exceeded estimates by 25 percent or $649 million above the forecast. Tax receipts were down for income taxes but higher for corporate, sales, and other taxes. These increases are due to estimated tax payments for the Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTE) that will be credited against business owners’ tax liability for 2021 taxes.
Committee hearings – week of 2/14/22
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee heard legislation addressing the shortage of short-call substitutes, a proposal to provide $33 million for Language Essentials for Teaching of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) grants, and bills related to parental curriculum review (SF2575, SF2666, SF2909).
The House Education Finance Committee heard bills for paraprofessional training, the Teacher of Color Act, and a bill to mandate provisions related to non-licensed school personnel wages, benefits, and training.
The House Education Policy Committee heard legislation to require school districts to provide students access to free menstrual products in student restrooms, a bill requiring schools to maintain a supply of opiate antagonists, and a bill requiring schools to have at least two epinephrine auto-injectors at each site. The committee also heard legislation to fund two school mental health services leads at MDE.
Committee hearings – week of 2/21/22
The House Education Finance Committee agenda is light this week. Of note, the committee will hear legislation to provide $33 million for Language Essentials for Teaching of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) grants. The committee will also hear a presentation from NWEA on student achievement.
The House Education Policy Committee will hear bills related to bullying, student misconduct, and ethnic studies requirements.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee will hear a bill establishing Education Savings Accounts (vouchers) and a bill proposing to increase the maximum earnings for school board members employed by a school district.
Update on advocacy request
Thank you for responding to our call to action using our new advocacy tool. So far, MASA members sent out 208 emails to their representatives and senators! We are resolving some technical glitches, so thank you for your patience as we work through those!
Dates to remember
March 25: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
April 1: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Bill introductions of interest
S.F. No. 3107: A bill for an act relating to education; increasing maximum earnings for school board members employed by a school district.
S.F. No. 3194: A bill for an act relating to education finance; linking the general education basic formula allowance to the rate of inflation; linking extended time revenue and local optional revenue to the general education basic formula allowance.
S.F. No. 3239: A bill for an act relating to education; providing for transparency in curriculum and expanding parents' rights in schools.
H. F. 3378, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying student bullying policy provisions.
H. F. 3402, A bill for an act relating to education; prohibiting exclusion from recess as student discipline.
H. F. 3434, A bill for an act relating to education; creating an ethnic studies requirement; creating an Ethnic Studies Task Force.
H. F. 3531, A bill for an act relating to education finance; requiring certain forecasted positive general fund balances be allocated to increase the aid payment schedule for school district aids and credits; adjusting the aid payment percentage; adjusting the special education aid payment percentage.
H. F. 3555, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying unrequested leave of absence provisions for teachers.
H. F. 3580, A bill for an act relating to education; requiring indexing of English learner programs revenue to basic education revenue.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Week of February 21, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 2/21/22
As the first bill deadline approaches, committee hearings in the House and Senate are ramping up. This week a total of ninety-three hearings were held in both bodies. A total of 398 bills have been introduced in the legislature for far, though the Senate and House floor sessions have had a relative break in momentum as committees meet to review bills. The combination of an election year and new district maps triggered a flurry of retirements, with more to come in the following weeks.
Senate tax proposal
On Thursday, Senate Republicans unveiled their overarching tax proposal. This proposal, which costs $8.5 billion over the next three fiscal years, reduces the lowest income tax rate from 5.35 percent to 2.8 percent, which reduces taxes for all filers, and exempts all Social Security income from taxes.
More redistricting changes
After the initial panic of last week, the dust is settling over the decennial legislative re-districting shake-up. It will take some time for a complete analysis of all 201 state legislative districts, but we expect to see many unfamiliar faces come next session. There are some new open seats, a sizeable number of retirements and in some new seats, legislators are preparing to campaign against their colleagues because they were paired in the same seat.
So far, twenty-five legislators in the House and Senate have announced they will not be running for re-election in 2022. Notably, two key leaders in the Senate have announced their retirement, Senate President David Osmek (R - Mound) and Senate Minority leader Melissa Franzen (DFL – Edina). Several other legislators have decided to run for the opposite body or a different elected office.
Student data privacy bill update
Legislation recently advanced in the MN House proposing new student data privacy requirements for technology providers and schools utilizing school-issued technological devices.
HF341 includes provisions important to holding technology vendors accountable but some provisions in the bill will impact how school districts use technology in our schools and classrooms. There are two provisions of greatest concern -- the school-issued device monitoring and opt-out sections of this bill.
MASA, along with other education organizations, have been communicating concerns to legislators and have been doing targeted outreach to members of the House Education Policy Committee. We will provide updates on this issue, and if the need arises, we will send out an advocacy alert.
Committee hearings – week of 2/21/22
The House Education Finance Committee heard legislation to provide $33 million for Language Essentials for Teaching of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) grants. The committee also heard a presentation from NWEA on student achievement during the pandemic.
The House Education Policy Committee heard bills related to bullying, student misconduct, and ethnic studies requirements.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee heard a bill establishing Education Savings Accounts (vouchers), and a bill proposing to increase the maximum earnings for school board members employed by a school district. The committee also heard a bill by Sen. Chamberlain to suspend World’s Best Workforce for five years. Instead, school districts would be required to adopt a comprehensive plan to support and improve teaching and learning aligned to have 90 percent of third-grade students achieve grade-level reading proficiency during the five-year suspension.
Committee hearings – week of 2/28/22
On Monday, the House Education Policy Committee is hearing the MDE policy bill. Wednesday that committee is hearing a slate of bills relating to student support services, substance abuse prevention, mental health screening, and lead testing.
The House Education Finance Committee has a light agenda next week but that could change as the week progresses.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee is scheduled to hear overviews on topics regarding reading instruction.
Dates to remember
March 25: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
April 1: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Bill introductions of interest
S.F. No. 3270: A bill for an act relating to education finance; modifying the calculation of long-term facilities maintenance revenue; amending the allowed uses of long-term facilities maintenance revenue; modifying the calculation of safe schools revenue; amending the allowed uses of safe schools revenue; appropriating money
S.F. No. 3293: A bill for an act relating to teacher licensing; providing for short-call substitute teacher emergency licensing provisions; appropriating money.
S.F. No. 3380: A bill for an act relating to education; modifying the safe schools revenue program; appropriating money.
H. F. 3624, A bill for an act relating to education finance; creating a grant program to provide funding for a one-time payment for any teacher with an educational loan; appropriating money.
H. F. 3634, A bill for an act relating to education; requiring mental health screening for students; creating student mental health supports revenue; appropriating money.
H. F. 3673, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying substitute teacher provisions; requiring school buildings to employ a substitute teacher; appropriating money.
H. F. 3723, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying social studies requirements; requiring school districts to offer a course in government and citizenship.
H. F. 3727, A bill for an act relating to education finance; increasing the portion of special education aid paid in the current year; appropriating money.
H. F. 3773, A bill for an act relating to education; providing for retirement service credit for certain school employees.
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 2/21/22
As the first bill deadline approaches, committee hearings in the House and Senate are ramping up. This week a total of ninety-three hearings were held in both bodies. A total of 398 bills have been introduced in the legislature for far, though the Senate and House floor sessions have had a relative break in momentum as committees meet to review bills. The combination of an election year and new district maps triggered a flurry of retirements, with more to come in the following weeks.
Senate tax proposal
On Thursday, Senate Republicans unveiled their overarching tax proposal. This proposal, which costs $8.5 billion over the next three fiscal years, reduces the lowest income tax rate from 5.35 percent to 2.8 percent, which reduces taxes for all filers, and exempts all Social Security income from taxes.
More redistricting changes
After the initial panic of last week, the dust is settling over the decennial legislative re-districting shake-up. It will take some time for a complete analysis of all 201 state legislative districts, but we expect to see many unfamiliar faces come next session. There are some new open seats, a sizeable number of retirements and in some new seats, legislators are preparing to campaign against their colleagues because they were paired in the same seat.
So far, twenty-five legislators in the House and Senate have announced they will not be running for re-election in 2022. Notably, two key leaders in the Senate have announced their retirement, Senate President David Osmek (R - Mound) and Senate Minority leader Melissa Franzen (DFL – Edina). Several other legislators have decided to run for the opposite body or a different elected office.
Student data privacy bill update
Legislation recently advanced in the MN House proposing new student data privacy requirements for technology providers and schools utilizing school-issued technological devices.
HF341 includes provisions important to holding technology vendors accountable but some provisions in the bill will impact how school districts use technology in our schools and classrooms. There are two provisions of greatest concern -- the school-issued device monitoring and opt-out sections of this bill.
MASA, along with other education organizations, have been communicating concerns to legislators and have been doing targeted outreach to members of the House Education Policy Committee. We will provide updates on this issue, and if the need arises, we will send out an advocacy alert.
Committee hearings – week of 2/21/22
The House Education Finance Committee heard legislation to provide $33 million for Language Essentials for Teaching of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) grants. The committee also heard a presentation from NWEA on student achievement during the pandemic.
The House Education Policy Committee heard bills related to bullying, student misconduct, and ethnic studies requirements.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee heard a bill establishing Education Savings Accounts (vouchers), and a bill proposing to increase the maximum earnings for school board members employed by a school district. The committee also heard a bill by Sen. Chamberlain to suspend World’s Best Workforce for five years. Instead, school districts would be required to adopt a comprehensive plan to support and improve teaching and learning aligned to have 90 percent of third-grade students achieve grade-level reading proficiency during the five-year suspension.
Committee hearings – week of 2/28/22
On Monday, the House Education Policy Committee is hearing the MDE policy bill. Wednesday that committee is hearing a slate of bills relating to student support services, substance abuse prevention, mental health screening, and lead testing.
The House Education Finance Committee has a light agenda next week but that could change as the week progresses.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee is scheduled to hear overviews on topics regarding reading instruction.
Dates to remember
March 25: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
April 1: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Bill introductions of interest
S.F. No. 3270: A bill for an act relating to education finance; modifying the calculation of long-term facilities maintenance revenue; amending the allowed uses of long-term facilities maintenance revenue; modifying the calculation of safe schools revenue; amending the allowed uses of safe schools revenue; appropriating money
S.F. No. 3293: A bill for an act relating to teacher licensing; providing for short-call substitute teacher emergency licensing provisions; appropriating money.
S.F. No. 3380: A bill for an act relating to education; modifying the safe schools revenue program; appropriating money.
H. F. 3624, A bill for an act relating to education finance; creating a grant program to provide funding for a one-time payment for any teacher with an educational loan; appropriating money.
H. F. 3634, A bill for an act relating to education; requiring mental health screening for students; creating student mental health supports revenue; appropriating money.
H. F. 3673, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying substitute teacher provisions; requiring school buildings to employ a substitute teacher; appropriating money.
H. F. 3723, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying social studies requirements; requiring school districts to offer a course in government and citizenship.
H. F. 3727, A bill for an act relating to education finance; increasing the portion of special education aid paid in the current year; appropriating money.
H. F. 3773, A bill for an act relating to education; providing for retirement service credit for certain school employees.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: February 24, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Deb Henton
Sent February 24, 2022 (The Henton Headlines)
Ed. Orgs. Opposed to Education Savings Accounts
The education organizations sent a letter to the Senate Education Committee objecting to SF 1525, a proposal that would establish education savings accounts to be used for private schools. Feel free to reference/use the letter in your advocacy efforts.
Deb Henton
Sent February 24, 2022 (The Henton Headlines)
Ed. Orgs. Opposed to Education Savings Accounts
The education organizations sent a letter to the Senate Education Committee objecting to SF 1525, a proposal that would establish education savings accounts to be used for private schools. Feel free to reference/use the letter in your advocacy efforts.
Legislative Update: March 3, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Deb Henton
March 3, 2022
MASA and education associations send joint letter to Minnesota Legislative Leaders regarding the MMB surplus announcement
As you consider supplemental budget priorities for the 2022 legislative session, we urge you to make stabilizing Minnesota’s education funding system one of your highest priorities. Two major state policy changes adopted in 2001 and 2002 – repealing the general education levy and removing projected inflation from the state budget forecast – have greatly destabilized Minnesota’s education funding system.... Read the full letter here.
Deb Henton
March 3, 2022
MASA and education associations send joint letter to Minnesota Legislative Leaders regarding the MMB surplus announcement
As you consider supplemental budget priorities for the 2022 legislative session, we urge you to make stabilizing Minnesota’s education funding system one of your highest priorities. Two major state policy changes adopted in 2001 and 2002 – repealing the general education levy and removing projected inflation from the state budget forecast – have greatly destabilized Minnesota’s education funding system.... Read the full letter here.
Legislative Update: March 7, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 3/7/22
This week the legislature focused on updated budget news and ongoing committee work as legislators race to get their bills heard before the first committee deadline (March 25). This week the House and Senate held 88 committee hearings and introduced 560 bills.
February budget forecast shows a growing budget surplus
On Monday, the Office of Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) unveiled the February 2022 Budget and Economic Forecast. The surplus increased from $7.7 billion to $9.25 billion, an increase of $1.15 billion. This surplus is due to higher-than-expected income, corporate, and sales taxes, and reduced spending for E-12 (due to declining enrollment) and human services.
MMB cautioned legislators to approach this projection with caution, as shifts in the U.S. economy and the war in Ukraine could still impact the general fund in the future. In addition, much of the $1.15 billion projected in the February forecast is one-time money.
Senate advances “Parents Bill of Rights” proposals
The Senate passed key bills as their "Parents Bill of Rights" proposals. SF2575, sponsored by Sen. Paul Gazelka, passed on a vote of 36-30 during the Thursday floor session. The bill requires schools to notify parents they can review instructional materials and can choose reasonable accommodation for alternative instruction if a parent objects to instructional materials. SF2729, sponsored by Sen. Roger Chamberlain, also passed Thursday. This bill stipulates parents do not need to reveal their home addresses at school board meetings, but school boards can ask for the city where parents reside.
Senate advances short-call substitute bill
The Senate Finance Committee passed SF2861, legislation to speed up the licensure process for short-call substitute teachers. This bill requires PELSB to issue a short-call substitute teaching license to an applicant who holds at least an associate degree or equivalent, is enrolled in a state-approved teacher preparatory program, and das been employed as an education support personnel or paraprofessional within the school district or charter schools for at least one school year. Next stop is a vote in the full Senate.
The House has not advanced the companion bill however as they are focused on an alternative bill, which has yet to be heard in the Senate.
House hears bill to tie the per-pupil formula to inflation
The House Education Finance Committee heard HF 2949, sponsored by Rep. Sandra Feist, which proposes to link the general education basic formula allowance to inflation. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus budget bill.
More redistricting changes
The dust continues to settle as legislators ponder their re-election prospects and decide whether to retire or run for other offices. Here is the updated list of retirements as of Thursday, March 3, though we expect more to come in the following weeks.
House Retirements
Senate Retirements
House members running for the Senate
House members running for other positions:
Senators running for other positions:
Senate members running for the House
On Monday, the House Education Policy Committee heard the MDE policy bill. On Wednesday, the committee heard a bill to require schools to employ at least one full-time equivalent licensed school counselor in each building. The bill also outlines the specific duties a school counselor can perform. The committee also heard a bill to require mental health screening and substance abuse prevention education.
The House Education Finance Committee heard a bill to tie the general education formula to inflation, which would help stabilize education funding. The committee also heard legislation to place special education aid payments on the same 90/10 schedule as most other major school district aid payments.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee heard a bill to increase safe schools revenue and legislation to direct up to 2 percent of ECFE revenue for two full-time staff at MDE to provide support and guidance for early childhood family education programs.
The House Early Childhood Finance and Policy heard legislation to expand the age range of children served by school-age care programs and to increase funding for school-age care programs. The committee also heard a bill proposing to direct up to 2 percent of ECFE revenue for two full-time staff at MDE to provide support and guidance for early childhood family education programs.
Committee hearings – week of 3/7/22
The House Education Finance and Policy Committee will hear legislation incorporating ethnic studies into the social studies graduation requirements. The committee will also hear legislation to require mental health screening for students and legislation to fund a requirement for school districts to provide free menstrual products in student restrooms.
Thursday, the committee will hear a bill that makes changes to transportation sparsity. The committee will also hear a bill that proposes changes to LTFMR revenue, local optional revenue, and reduces school district property taxes. The committee will also hear a bill to eliminate the operating capital formula building index average age and to modify LTFMR and another that makes changes to local optional revenue.
The House Education Policy Committee will hear a bill to expand the learning opportunities a student engages in that meet minimum hours of instruction. The committee will also hear a bill to extend the eligibility for free public school enrollment for students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 during the 2021-2022 or 2022-2023 school years. The committee will also hear a bill to increase the maximum amount a school board member employed by the school district can earn from $8000 to $20,000.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee will hear a bill to include the Cambridge Assessment International Education in advanced placement and international baccalaureate programs. The committee will also hear a bill to require elementary education teacher candidates to receive instruction in LETRS, a bill to increase general community education revenue, and a bill to fund a requirement for school districts to provide free menstrual products in student restrooms.
Bills of interest
S.F. No. 3500: A bill for an act relating to education finance; creating a grant program to provide funding for a one-time payment for any teacher with an educational loan.
S.F. No. 3554: A bill for an act relating to education finance; increasing long-term facilities maintenance revenue; increasing local optional revenue; providing enhanced debt service equalization aid for consolidating school districts; reducing school district property taxes; increasing equalization aids for school formulas.
S.F. No. 3570: A bill for an act relating to education; providing for short-call substitute teacher licensing provisions for rural Minnesota.
H. F. 3891, A bill for an act relating to education finance; establishing a legislative working group to examine methods of identifying student eligibility for compensatory revenue calculations; providing appointments; requiring a report.
H. F. 3926, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying provisions for teacher preparation time.
H. F. 3963, A bill for an act relating to education finance; providing additional state aid for certain high-cost special education activities; appropriating money.
H. F. 3979, A bill for an act relating to education finance; authorizing mental health grants for federal instructional setting level 4 for special education sites.
Dates to remember
March 25: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
April 1: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 3/7/22
This week the legislature focused on updated budget news and ongoing committee work as legislators race to get their bills heard before the first committee deadline (March 25). This week the House and Senate held 88 committee hearings and introduced 560 bills.
February budget forecast shows a growing budget surplus
On Monday, the Office of Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) unveiled the February 2022 Budget and Economic Forecast. The surplus increased from $7.7 billion to $9.25 billion, an increase of $1.15 billion. This surplus is due to higher-than-expected income, corporate, and sales taxes, and reduced spending for E-12 (due to declining enrollment) and human services.
MMB cautioned legislators to approach this projection with caution, as shifts in the U.S. economy and the war in Ukraine could still impact the general fund in the future. In addition, much of the $1.15 billion projected in the February forecast is one-time money.
Senate advances “Parents Bill of Rights” proposals
The Senate passed key bills as their "Parents Bill of Rights" proposals. SF2575, sponsored by Sen. Paul Gazelka, passed on a vote of 36-30 during the Thursday floor session. The bill requires schools to notify parents they can review instructional materials and can choose reasonable accommodation for alternative instruction if a parent objects to instructional materials. SF2729, sponsored by Sen. Roger Chamberlain, also passed Thursday. This bill stipulates parents do not need to reveal their home addresses at school board meetings, but school boards can ask for the city where parents reside.
Senate advances short-call substitute bill
The Senate Finance Committee passed SF2861, legislation to speed up the licensure process for short-call substitute teachers. This bill requires PELSB to issue a short-call substitute teaching license to an applicant who holds at least an associate degree or equivalent, is enrolled in a state-approved teacher preparatory program, and das been employed as an education support personnel or paraprofessional within the school district or charter schools for at least one school year. Next stop is a vote in the full Senate.
The House has not advanced the companion bill however as they are focused on an alternative bill, which has yet to be heard in the Senate.
House hears bill to tie the per-pupil formula to inflation
The House Education Finance Committee heard HF 2949, sponsored by Rep. Sandra Feist, which proposes to link the general education basic formula allowance to inflation. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus budget bill.
More redistricting changes
The dust continues to settle as legislators ponder their re-election prospects and decide whether to retire or run for other offices. Here is the updated list of retirements as of Thursday, March 3, though we expect more to come in the following weeks.
House Retirements
- Shelly Christensen (DFL–39B)
- Jim Davnie (DFL–63A)
- Bob Dettmer (R–39A)
- Sondra Erickson (R–15A)
- Rod Hamilton (R–22B)
- Alice Hausman (DFL–66A)
- Todd Lippert (DFL–20B)
- Dale Lueck (R–10B)
- Carlos Mariani (DFL–65B)
- Paul Marquart (DFL–4B)
- Tim Miller (R–17A)
- Jeremy Munson (R–23B)
- Steve Sandell (DFL–53B)
- Jen Schultz (DFL–7A)
- Mike Sundin (DFL–11A)
- Ami Wazlawik (DFL–38B)
Senate Retirements
- Melisa Lopez Franzen (DFL–49)
- Greg Clausen (DFL–57)
- Chris Eaton (DFL–40)
- Michael Goggin (R–21)
- Bill G. Ingebrigtsen (R–8)
- Susan Kent (DFL–8)
- Mary Kiffmeyer (R–30)
- Scott Newman (R–18)
- Jerry Newton (DFL–37)
- John Poston (R–9A)
- Julie Rosen (R–23)
- David Tomassoni (I–6)
- Patricia Torres Ray (DFL–63)
- Chuck Wiger (DFL–43)
House members running for the Senate
- Steve Green (R–2B) running for SD 2
- Cal Bahr (R–31B) running for SD 31
- Steve Drazkowski (R–21B) running for SD 21
- Barb Haley (R–21A) running for SD 21
- Tony Jurgens (R–54B) running SD 54
- Eric Lucero (R–30B) running for SD 30
- Kelly Morrison (DFL–33B) running for SD 33
- Jordan Rasmusson (R–8A) running for SD 8
- Tou Xiong (DFL–53A) running for SD 53
- Andrew Carlson (DFL–50B) running for SD 50
- Tama Theis (R–14) running for SD 14
House members running for other positions:
- Rena Moran (DFL–65A) running for Ramsey County Commissioner
- Jeremy Munson (R–23B) running for First U.S. Congressional District
- Ryan Winkler (DFL–46A) running for Hennepin County Attorney
Senators running for other positions:
- Michelle Benson (R–31) running for Governor
- Karla Bigham (DFL–54) running for Washington County Commissioner
- Paul Gazelka (R–9) running for Governor
Senate members running for the House
- Jerry Newton (DFL–37) running for House seat 35B
On Monday, the House Education Policy Committee heard the MDE policy bill. On Wednesday, the committee heard a bill to require schools to employ at least one full-time equivalent licensed school counselor in each building. The bill also outlines the specific duties a school counselor can perform. The committee also heard a bill to require mental health screening and substance abuse prevention education.
The House Education Finance Committee heard a bill to tie the general education formula to inflation, which would help stabilize education funding. The committee also heard legislation to place special education aid payments on the same 90/10 schedule as most other major school district aid payments.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee heard a bill to increase safe schools revenue and legislation to direct up to 2 percent of ECFE revenue for two full-time staff at MDE to provide support and guidance for early childhood family education programs.
The House Early Childhood Finance and Policy heard legislation to expand the age range of children served by school-age care programs and to increase funding for school-age care programs. The committee also heard a bill proposing to direct up to 2 percent of ECFE revenue for two full-time staff at MDE to provide support and guidance for early childhood family education programs.
Committee hearings – week of 3/7/22
The House Education Finance and Policy Committee will hear legislation incorporating ethnic studies into the social studies graduation requirements. The committee will also hear legislation to require mental health screening for students and legislation to fund a requirement for school districts to provide free menstrual products in student restrooms.
Thursday, the committee will hear a bill that makes changes to transportation sparsity. The committee will also hear a bill that proposes changes to LTFMR revenue, local optional revenue, and reduces school district property taxes. The committee will also hear a bill to eliminate the operating capital formula building index average age and to modify LTFMR and another that makes changes to local optional revenue.
The House Education Policy Committee will hear a bill to expand the learning opportunities a student engages in that meet minimum hours of instruction. The committee will also hear a bill to extend the eligibility for free public school enrollment for students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 during the 2021-2022 or 2022-2023 school years. The committee will also hear a bill to increase the maximum amount a school board member employed by the school district can earn from $8000 to $20,000.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee will hear a bill to include the Cambridge Assessment International Education in advanced placement and international baccalaureate programs. The committee will also hear a bill to require elementary education teacher candidates to receive instruction in LETRS, a bill to increase general community education revenue, and a bill to fund a requirement for school districts to provide free menstrual products in student restrooms.
Bills of interest
S.F. No. 3500: A bill for an act relating to education finance; creating a grant program to provide funding for a one-time payment for any teacher with an educational loan.
S.F. No. 3554: A bill for an act relating to education finance; increasing long-term facilities maintenance revenue; increasing local optional revenue; providing enhanced debt service equalization aid for consolidating school districts; reducing school district property taxes; increasing equalization aids for school formulas.
S.F. No. 3570: A bill for an act relating to education; providing for short-call substitute teacher licensing provisions for rural Minnesota.
H. F. 3891, A bill for an act relating to education finance; establishing a legislative working group to examine methods of identifying student eligibility for compensatory revenue calculations; providing appointments; requiring a report.
H. F. 3926, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying provisions for teacher preparation time.
H. F. 3963, A bill for an act relating to education finance; providing additional state aid for certain high-cost special education activities; appropriating money.
H. F. 3979, A bill for an act relating to education finance; authorizing mental health grants for federal instructional setting level 4 for special education sites.
Dates to remember
March 25: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
April 1: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Week of March 14, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 3/14/22
There's been a steady uptick of committee meetings this week in preparation for the first committee deadline. This week, the House and Senate held 118 committee hearings, up from 108 the week before and 93 two weeks ago. The first deadline (March 25) is when committees must act favorably on bills in their house of origin so many bills may not be moving forward if they do not advance this week.
Unemployment Trust Fund Deadline Passes
In February, the Senate passed SF2677, the legislation proposing to repay the federal government and replenish the state's unemployment insurance trust fund. The bill would appropriate $2.7 billion to refill the fund, which was depleted from the high volume of unemployment claims during the pandemic. The deadline to replenish the fund before businesses see an increase in unemployment-related payroll taxes was Tuesday, March 15. However, the House and Senate were not able to agree on the bill because the House was only willing to replenish the fund under the condition that their bill for frontline worker pay also passes. The Senate has yet to pass legislation for expanded COVID worker pay, so they did not reach an agreement.
More retirements
While the dust is starting to settle with redistricting, retirements keep coming. This week, the Iron Range's longtime DFLer, now Independent, Senator Tom Bakk, announced he will not seek another term. In the House, Representative Tony Albright, from the Prior Lake area, announced he is stepping down after 12 years.
Committee hearings – week of 3/14/22
The House Education Policy Committee had a full slate as they heard the last of the bills before the first committee deadline. The committee heard bills to place parameters around teacher prep time, clarify how PESLB determines teacher shortages, establish a healthy and hunger-free schools program, index EL revenue to the per-pupil formula, prohibit the dismissal of students in grades k-3, prohibit the exclusion of recess for student discipline, and a bill to clarify PSEO requirements. The committee also heard a bill to add a personal finance course as a graduation requirement. Rep. Urdahl successfully added an amendment, once again, to require civics as an additional graduation requirement.
The House Education Finance Committee also had a full slate this week. The committee heard bills to increase funding for the statewide teacher concurrent enrollment training program, fund student support personnel, provide student mental health supports, and address the high cost of special education. Lastly, the committee heard the Governor’s education budget bill.
The House Property Tax Division heard the bill proposing changes to LTFMR revenue, local optional revenue, reduces school district property taxes, and a bill to increase the school building bond agricultural credit amount.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee heard the bill provide vouchers to students who qualify for special education and a bill to establish a special education tuition billing working group. The committee also heard a bill addressing nonpublic pupil transportation and lead testing in schools.
The Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement heard a bill to temporarily permit (through 2024) retired teachers who resume teaching to teach without application of an earnings limitation.
Committee hearings – week of 3/21/22
The House Education Policy Committee is hearing one bill next week, the Student Data Privacy Act, before moving forward on its Omnibus Education Policy bill Wednesday.
The House Education Finance Committee continues to hear bills leading up to the second committee deadline. This week the committee will hear a bill establishing a legislative working group to look at compensatory education, one to increase the growth factor for Adult Basic Education, and one to expand mental health grants for school districts with federal setting Level IV programs.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee will hear a bill to clarify how PESLB determines teacher shortages and a bill requiring civics test reporting requirements.
Bills of interest
H. F. 4233, A bill for an act relating to education; requiring due process forms and procedures time for teachers.
H. F. 4234, A bill for an act relating to education finance; authorizing a school district's American Indian education aid to carry over from one school year to the next under certain circumstances.
H. F. 4236, A bill for an act relating to education finance; appropriating money for supplemental aid for school facility construction.
H. F. 4300, A bill for an act relating to education finance; providing for supplemental funding for prekindergarten through grade 12 education; modifying provisions for general education, education excellence, teachers, special education, facilities, nutrition and libraries, early childhood, community education, and state agencies; requiring reports; appropriating money. This is the Governor’s E12 Education Finance bill.
S.F. No. 4068: A bill for an act relating to education finance; increasing career and technical revenue; appropriating money.
Dates to remember
March 25: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
April 1: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Questions?
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the legislative session. You can reach me at valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-3052.
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 3/14/22
There's been a steady uptick of committee meetings this week in preparation for the first committee deadline. This week, the House and Senate held 118 committee hearings, up from 108 the week before and 93 two weeks ago. The first deadline (March 25) is when committees must act favorably on bills in their house of origin so many bills may not be moving forward if they do not advance this week.
Unemployment Trust Fund Deadline Passes
In February, the Senate passed SF2677, the legislation proposing to repay the federal government and replenish the state's unemployment insurance trust fund. The bill would appropriate $2.7 billion to refill the fund, which was depleted from the high volume of unemployment claims during the pandemic. The deadline to replenish the fund before businesses see an increase in unemployment-related payroll taxes was Tuesday, March 15. However, the House and Senate were not able to agree on the bill because the House was only willing to replenish the fund under the condition that their bill for frontline worker pay also passes. The Senate has yet to pass legislation for expanded COVID worker pay, so they did not reach an agreement.
More retirements
While the dust is starting to settle with redistricting, retirements keep coming. This week, the Iron Range's longtime DFLer, now Independent, Senator Tom Bakk, announced he will not seek another term. In the House, Representative Tony Albright, from the Prior Lake area, announced he is stepping down after 12 years.
Committee hearings – week of 3/14/22
The House Education Policy Committee had a full slate as they heard the last of the bills before the first committee deadline. The committee heard bills to place parameters around teacher prep time, clarify how PESLB determines teacher shortages, establish a healthy and hunger-free schools program, index EL revenue to the per-pupil formula, prohibit the dismissal of students in grades k-3, prohibit the exclusion of recess for student discipline, and a bill to clarify PSEO requirements. The committee also heard a bill to add a personal finance course as a graduation requirement. Rep. Urdahl successfully added an amendment, once again, to require civics as an additional graduation requirement.
The House Education Finance Committee also had a full slate this week. The committee heard bills to increase funding for the statewide teacher concurrent enrollment training program, fund student support personnel, provide student mental health supports, and address the high cost of special education. Lastly, the committee heard the Governor’s education budget bill.
The House Property Tax Division heard the bill proposing changes to LTFMR revenue, local optional revenue, reduces school district property taxes, and a bill to increase the school building bond agricultural credit amount.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee heard the bill provide vouchers to students who qualify for special education and a bill to establish a special education tuition billing working group. The committee also heard a bill addressing nonpublic pupil transportation and lead testing in schools.
The Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement heard a bill to temporarily permit (through 2024) retired teachers who resume teaching to teach without application of an earnings limitation.
Committee hearings – week of 3/21/22
The House Education Policy Committee is hearing one bill next week, the Student Data Privacy Act, before moving forward on its Omnibus Education Policy bill Wednesday.
The House Education Finance Committee continues to hear bills leading up to the second committee deadline. This week the committee will hear a bill establishing a legislative working group to look at compensatory education, one to increase the growth factor for Adult Basic Education, and one to expand mental health grants for school districts with federal setting Level IV programs.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee will hear a bill to clarify how PESLB determines teacher shortages and a bill requiring civics test reporting requirements.
Bills of interest
H. F. 4233, A bill for an act relating to education; requiring due process forms and procedures time for teachers.
H. F. 4234, A bill for an act relating to education finance; authorizing a school district's American Indian education aid to carry over from one school year to the next under certain circumstances.
H. F. 4236, A bill for an act relating to education finance; appropriating money for supplemental aid for school facility construction.
H. F. 4300, A bill for an act relating to education finance; providing for supplemental funding for prekindergarten through grade 12 education; modifying provisions for general education, education excellence, teachers, special education, facilities, nutrition and libraries, early childhood, community education, and state agencies; requiring reports; appropriating money. This is the Governor’s E12 Education Finance bill.
S.F. No. 4068: A bill for an act relating to education finance; increasing career and technical revenue; appropriating money.
Dates to remember
March 25: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
April 1: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Questions?
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the legislative session. You can reach me at valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-3052.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Week of March 21, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 3/21/22
This week, committees spent their time focused on getting bills heard before the first committee deadline. If a policy bill did not meet this first deadline, its trajectory slows down considerably after Friday.
The Governor, and House and Senate leaders continue to negotiate an agreement on the Unemployment Insurance Fund and Frontline Worker pay. The House is holding out on replenishing the unemployment insurance fund to gain bargaining power to increase the scope of frontline worker bonuses. The Senate passed a bill to replenish the unemployment insurance fund but have been slow to support additional frontline worker bonuses beyond an initial agreement last year for $250 million. We expect negotiations to continue this week.
Committee hearings – week of 3/21/22
On Monday, the House Education Policy Committee heard but took no action on the Student Data Privacy Act. The committee spent the rest of the week on the Omnibus Education Policy Bill. The bill's next stop is the House Education Finance Committee. Linked is a more detailed summary but some highlights include:
The House Education Finance Committee continued to hear bills leading up to the second committee deadline. This week the committee heard a bill establishing a legislative working group to look at compensatory education, one to increase the growth factor for Adult Basic Education, and one to expand mental health grants for school districts with federal setting Level IV programs.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee heard a bill to clarify how PESLB determines teacher shortages, a bill requiring civics test reporting requirements, a bill clarifying requirements around PSEO, and a bill modifying the hours of instruction requirements for high school students.
The Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement moved forward the Omnibus Pensions bill. Two provisions related to education are included. First is a provision to temporarily permit (through 2024) retired teachers who resume teaching to teach without application of an earnings limitation. Second is a provision to clarify reporting requirements for 403B vendors.
Committee hearings – week of 3/28/22
The number of policy committee hearings will decrease now as the finance committees begin to put together budget bills to meet the Friday, April 8 deadline for budget bills.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee is scheduled to hear the Governor's literacy proposals but has no other plans for hearings next week.
The House Education Finance Committee will hear bills to place parameters around teacher prep time, establish a healthy and hunger-free schools program, require lead testing in schools, and require collective bargaining agreements to include provisions around due process forms and procedures for teachers.
Dates to remember
April 1: Committees must act favorably on policy bills that met the first deadline in the other body
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Questions?
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the legislative session. You can reach me at valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-3052.
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 3/21/22
This week, committees spent their time focused on getting bills heard before the first committee deadline. If a policy bill did not meet this first deadline, its trajectory slows down considerably after Friday.
The Governor, and House and Senate leaders continue to negotiate an agreement on the Unemployment Insurance Fund and Frontline Worker pay. The House is holding out on replenishing the unemployment insurance fund to gain bargaining power to increase the scope of frontline worker bonuses. The Senate passed a bill to replenish the unemployment insurance fund but have been slow to support additional frontline worker bonuses beyond an initial agreement last year for $250 million. We expect negotiations to continue this week.
Committee hearings – week of 3/21/22
On Monday, the House Education Policy Committee heard but took no action on the Student Data Privacy Act. The committee spent the rest of the week on the Omnibus Education Policy Bill. The bill's next stop is the House Education Finance Committee. Linked is a more detailed summary but some highlights include:
- allowing school districts to serve their students through online learning without going through the MDE approval process
- flexibility to provide e-learning during a crisis
- new graduation requirements
- more reporting requirements for World's Best Workforce
- changes to Pupil Fair Dismissal Act and discipline statutes
- changes to teacher probationary status
- additional prep time requirements
The House Education Finance Committee continued to hear bills leading up to the second committee deadline. This week the committee heard a bill establishing a legislative working group to look at compensatory education, one to increase the growth factor for Adult Basic Education, and one to expand mental health grants for school districts with federal setting Level IV programs.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee heard a bill to clarify how PESLB determines teacher shortages, a bill requiring civics test reporting requirements, a bill clarifying requirements around PSEO, and a bill modifying the hours of instruction requirements for high school students.
The Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement moved forward the Omnibus Pensions bill. Two provisions related to education are included. First is a provision to temporarily permit (through 2024) retired teachers who resume teaching to teach without application of an earnings limitation. Second is a provision to clarify reporting requirements for 403B vendors.
Committee hearings – week of 3/28/22
The number of policy committee hearings will decrease now as the finance committees begin to put together budget bills to meet the Friday, April 8 deadline for budget bills.
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee is scheduled to hear the Governor's literacy proposals but has no other plans for hearings next week.
The House Education Finance Committee will hear bills to place parameters around teacher prep time, establish a healthy and hunger-free schools program, require lead testing in schools, and require collective bargaining agreements to include provisions around due process forms and procedures for teachers.
Dates to remember
April 1: Committees must act favorably on policy bills that met the first deadline in the other body
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Questions?
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the legislative session. You can reach me at valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-3052.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Week of March 28, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 3/28/22
Second committee deadline passed, focus now shifts to budget bills
April 1 marked the second deadline for committees in the Minnesota legislature to have acted favorably on policy bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body. We expect a flurry of budget activity next week before Friday's third deadline, where committees must act favorably on appropriation bills.
Compromise is possible
This week the Legislature reached agreements on several issues and sent bills to Governor Walz for his signature.
While they have yet to find a compromise on the unemployment trust fund or frontline COVID worker pay, it was nice to see some agreement on other issues.
Senate releases supplemental education budget bill
Friday, the Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee released its supplemental budget bill. To describe it is "thin" is an understatement. It is nine-pages long and appropriates $30 million in funding for the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling program and $700,000 for the Regional Centers of Excellence to support the state’s literacy efforts.
House to release supplemental early education and K-12 education budget bills
The House will release its early education and K-12 budget bills Monday, so look for more details in next week’s update.
House Property Tax Division includes education tax proposals
The House Property Tax Division advanced its committee report last week, which includes two education-related provisions. These provisions will eventually be included in the House Omnibus Tax bill.
Here is a joint letter submitted by various education organizations – MASA, MASBO, MSBA, AMSD, MREA, and SEE.
Student data privacy bill
There has been some movement on HF341/SF2307. The House Judiciary Committee advanced an Omnibus Data Practices bill which includes the provisions of HF341. Two provisions are of concern and will impact how school districts use technology in our schools and classroom – a parent opt-out and the school-issued device monitoring provisions.
The Senate Civil Law Committee also advanced a bill this week that is slightly different from the House bill. During the almost three-hour committee discussion, Sen. Ron Latz strongly advocated that the opt-out provision needed to be changed to address concerns. The author, Sen. Karla Bigham, offered an amendment, which was adopted, to not permit an opt-out for school district operations. We continue to have concerns because the language still allows parents to opt-out of technology devices used to deliver instruction. We will continue to express concerns about this language as it moves through the legislative process.
Pension Commission to advance funding bill
Next week, the Pension Commission will advance a benefits and funding bill affecting all major public pension funds. Jay Stoffel, TRA’s executive director, provided the summary below.
Dates to remember
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
April 24: Governor Walz delivers state of the state address
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Questions?
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the legislative session. You can reach me at valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-3052.
Attachments area
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 3/28/22
Second committee deadline passed, focus now shifts to budget bills
April 1 marked the second deadline for committees in the Minnesota legislature to have acted favorably on policy bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body. We expect a flurry of budget activity next week before Friday's third deadline, where committees must act favorably on appropriation bills.
Compromise is possible
This week the Legislature reached agreements on several issues and sent bills to Governor Walz for his signature.
- $25 million for ALS research and caregiver support
- Extension of reinsurance, along with $700 million in funding, to help head off rate increases for people in the individual health insurance market.
- Russia-Belarus divestment from state investments passes Senate and House unanimously
While they have yet to find a compromise on the unemployment trust fund or frontline COVID worker pay, it was nice to see some agreement on other issues.
Senate releases supplemental education budget bill
Friday, the Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee released its supplemental budget bill. To describe it is "thin" is an understatement. It is nine-pages long and appropriates $30 million in funding for the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling program and $700,000 for the Regional Centers of Excellence to support the state’s literacy efforts.
House to release supplemental early education and K-12 education budget bills
The House will release its early education and K-12 budget bills Monday, so look for more details in next week’s update.
House Property Tax Division includes education tax proposals
The House Property Tax Division advanced its committee report last week, which includes two education-related provisions. These provisions will eventually be included in the House Omnibus Tax bill.
- Sets the first-tier local optional revenue equalization factor to 170 percent of the statewide average tax base per pupil
- Increases the school building bond agricultural credit to 85 percent beginning with property taxes payable in 2024
Here is a joint letter submitted by various education organizations – MASA, MASBO, MSBA, AMSD, MREA, and SEE.
Student data privacy bill
There has been some movement on HF341/SF2307. The House Judiciary Committee advanced an Omnibus Data Practices bill which includes the provisions of HF341. Two provisions are of concern and will impact how school districts use technology in our schools and classroom – a parent opt-out and the school-issued device monitoring provisions.
The Senate Civil Law Committee also advanced a bill this week that is slightly different from the House bill. During the almost three-hour committee discussion, Sen. Ron Latz strongly advocated that the opt-out provision needed to be changed to address concerns. The author, Sen. Karla Bigham, offered an amendment, which was adopted, to not permit an opt-out for school district operations. We continue to have concerns because the language still allows parents to opt-out of technology devices used to deliver instruction. We will continue to express concerns about this language as it moves through the legislative process.
Pension Commission to advance funding bill
Next week, the Pension Commission will advance a benefits and funding bill affecting all major public pension funds. Jay Stoffel, TRA’s executive director, provided the summary below.
- The scheduled employee contribution rate increase of 0.25% to take effect on 7/1/2023 is eliminated. In addition, the current rate of 7.5% will decrease to 7.25% effective 7/1/2022 for a total reduction in plan funding of 0.50%.
- The TRA post-retirement adjustment will go from 1.0% to 1.5% permanently, effective 1/1/2023. The current schedule of increasing the postretirement from 1.0% to 1.5% over 5 years, beginning 1/1/2024, is eliminated.
- The TRA investment return assumption is lowered from 7.5% to 7.0%
- Beginning October 1, 2022, and each year thereafter the State will pay TRA $7 million. This covers the cost of accelerating the post-retirement adjustment to 1.5%. The payment continues until the earlier of when the fund reaches full 100% funded status using the actuarial value of assets, or 7/1/2048.
- The pension adjustment revenue in the general education aid formula for all school districts (other than St. Paul) is increased by 0.25% for FY2023 and an additional 0.25% for FY2024 and thereafter.
- The TRA employer contribution rate will increase by 0.25% in FY2023 and by an additional 0.25% in FY2024 and thereafter for a total increase in plan funding of 0.50%. The final employer contribution rate will be 9.25%.
- Appropriates an additional amount of $12,774,000 for general education aid.
Dates to remember
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
April 24: Governor Walz delivers state of the state address
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Questions?
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the legislative session. You can reach me at valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-3052.
Attachments area
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK OF April 4, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 4/4/22
Budget bills advancing
This week the House and Senate advanced their respective education. The House and Senate could not be further apart regarding investments in public education. Here is a funding overview and summary of key provisions in both bills.
The legislature will be on break from Monday, April 11 through Monday, April 18. This time is an excellent time for you to connect personally with your elected officials so please reach out to them. Our advocacy efforts will pick as the legislature negotiates a final budget so look for an advocacy alert after the break.
Pension funding bill
Last week, I reported on a proposal scheduled to be heard in the Pensions Commission this week that made changes to public pension funds, including TRA. I neglected to mention the proposal makes no changes to PERA.
In addition, the hearing was canceled so no action was taken this week. It's unclear if anything will move forward after the break. Stay tuned!
Dates to remember
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
April 24: Governor Walz delivers state of the state address
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Questions?
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the legislative session. You can reach me at valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-305
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 4/4/22
Budget bills advancing
This week the House and Senate advanced their respective education. The House and Senate could not be further apart regarding investments in public education. Here is a funding overview and summary of key provisions in both bills.
The legislature will be on break from Monday, April 11 through Monday, April 18. This time is an excellent time for you to connect personally with your elected officials so please reach out to them. Our advocacy efforts will pick as the legislature negotiates a final budget so look for an advocacy alert after the break.
Pension funding bill
Last week, I reported on a proposal scheduled to be heard in the Pensions Commission this week that made changes to public pension funds, including TRA. I neglected to mention the proposal makes no changes to PERA.
In addition, the hearing was canceled so no action was taken this week. It's unclear if anything will move forward after the break. Stay tuned!
Dates to remember
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
April 24: Governor Walz delivers state of the state address
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Questions?
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the legislative session. You can reach me at valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-305
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK OF April 18, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 4/18/22
Supplemental budget bills up for a vote by the full House and Senate next week
After a week-long legislative break, the House and Senate returned Tuesday to begin to move their respective budget bills through the legislative process. The House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee heard and passed their respective education budget bills. The next stop is a full vote by the House and Senate which is expected next week. The House is expected to take up its tax bill as well.
Once the budget bills pass out of their respective bodies, a conference committee comprised of five members from each body will be appointed. The purpose of the conference committee is to resolve differences and agree on one bill to send to the governor. In the last several years, this conference committee process was more a concept than reality with the legislative leaders reaching a final agreement amongst themselves. Hopefully, the process will be more public and transparent and involve the conference committee this year.
Our advocacy efforts will pick as the legislature negotiates a final budget so look for an advocacy alert soon!
Governor Walz to give State of the State
Governor Walz will give his state of the state address Sunday, April 24. The governor will address a joint session of the House and Senate at 6:00 pm, his first live state of the state in two years. You can watch it live here.
Dates to remember
April 24: Governor Walz delivers state of the state address
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Questions?
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the legislative session. You can reach me at valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-3052.
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 4/18/22
Supplemental budget bills up for a vote by the full House and Senate next week
After a week-long legislative break, the House and Senate returned Tuesday to begin to move their respective budget bills through the legislative process. The House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee heard and passed their respective education budget bills. The next stop is a full vote by the House and Senate which is expected next week. The House is expected to take up its tax bill as well.
Once the budget bills pass out of their respective bodies, a conference committee comprised of five members from each body will be appointed. The purpose of the conference committee is to resolve differences and agree on one bill to send to the governor. In the last several years, this conference committee process was more a concept than reality with the legislative leaders reaching a final agreement amongst themselves. Hopefully, the process will be more public and transparent and involve the conference committee this year.
Our advocacy efforts will pick as the legislature negotiates a final budget so look for an advocacy alert soon!
Governor Walz to give State of the State
Governor Walz will give his state of the state address Sunday, April 24. The governor will address a joint session of the House and Senate at 6:00 pm, his first live state of the state in two years. You can watch it live here.
Dates to remember
April 24: Governor Walz delivers state of the state address
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Questions?
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the legislative session. You can reach me at valeried@ewald.com or 612-490-3052.
Week of April 18, 2022
Action Alert: April 25, 2022
➤ Legislative Action Alert
Deb Henton, MASA Executive Director
4/25/22
Dear MASA members:
Legislation is advancing this session proposing new student data privacy requirements for technology providers and schools utilizing school-issued technological devices.
We support the provisions to hold technology vendors accountable to high standards for ensuring privacy and data security. We are concerned about the provisions in the bill that impact how school districts use technology in our schools and classrooms. Specifically, one provision of greatest concern is the opt-out section.
Click here and you will be directed to MASA’s advocacy system. There you will enter your contact information and will next be directed to input your school district information. A crafted message will populate to send to each member in your legislative area.
Thank you for reaching out -- it is important to build relationships and influence the legislative process.
* Some senators require an electronic email form, so we cannot use this system. If you do not see them listed, that is why. You will have to send a message separately using the email form on their website. Below is a copy of the message to send if you do not see your senator listed on the advocacy page.
**The advocacy system is not set up so that charter schools or cooperatives can enter their specific district or charter school name. If you would like to send a message to your area delegation, you can use the message below and send it directly from your email. You could also enter each member school district name and send a message that way. Thanks for your patience as we work through this new advocacy system. My intent is to have this issue addressed over the interim.
Message to send to senators with email form
I am writing to express my concern about legislation that is advancing in the House and Senate - the Student Data Privacy Act. These provisions are included in HF1404, the Omnibus Data Practices bill, and SF2307, a bill that has advanced separately in the Senate. These bills propose new student privacy requirements for technology providers and for schools utilizing school-issued technological devices.
School district staff work every day to secure the privacy and data of our students, staff, and families. Although I support the provisions holding technology vendors accountable to high standards for ensuring privacy and data security, some provisions in these bills will impact how we use technology in our schools and classrooms.
Our primary concern is that the language allows parents to opt-out of instructional platforms which could limit opportunities for students. Many districts deliver instruction via a technology device, rather than traditional textbooks, so allowing an opt-out will require teachers to develop and deliver alternative lesson plans and content. This will result in additional staff time and take away from needed instructional time with students.
As stated earlier, we support the provisions holding technology vendors accountable. However, we ask that our concerns be addressed should the bill advance.
Please reach out to deb.henton@mnasa.org if you would like to discuss this further and thank you for your work.
Deb Henton, MASA Executive Director
4/25/22
Dear MASA members:
Legislation is advancing this session proposing new student data privacy requirements for technology providers and schools utilizing school-issued technological devices.
We support the provisions to hold technology vendors accountable to high standards for ensuring privacy and data security. We are concerned about the provisions in the bill that impact how school districts use technology in our schools and classrooms. Specifically, one provision of greatest concern is the opt-out section.
Click here and you will be directed to MASA’s advocacy system. There you will enter your contact information and will next be directed to input your school district information. A crafted message will populate to send to each member in your legislative area.
Thank you for reaching out -- it is important to build relationships and influence the legislative process.
* Some senators require an electronic email form, so we cannot use this system. If you do not see them listed, that is why. You will have to send a message separately using the email form on their website. Below is a copy of the message to send if you do not see your senator listed on the advocacy page.
**The advocacy system is not set up so that charter schools or cooperatives can enter their specific district or charter school name. If you would like to send a message to your area delegation, you can use the message below and send it directly from your email. You could also enter each member school district name and send a message that way. Thanks for your patience as we work through this new advocacy system. My intent is to have this issue addressed over the interim.
Message to send to senators with email form
I am writing to express my concern about legislation that is advancing in the House and Senate - the Student Data Privacy Act. These provisions are included in HF1404, the Omnibus Data Practices bill, and SF2307, a bill that has advanced separately in the Senate. These bills propose new student privacy requirements for technology providers and for schools utilizing school-issued technological devices.
School district staff work every day to secure the privacy and data of our students, staff, and families. Although I support the provisions holding technology vendors accountable to high standards for ensuring privacy and data security, some provisions in these bills will impact how we use technology in our schools and classrooms.
Our primary concern is that the language allows parents to opt-out of instructional platforms which could limit opportunities for students. Many districts deliver instruction via a technology device, rather than traditional textbooks, so allowing an opt-out will require teachers to develop and deliver alternative lesson plans and content. This will result in additional staff time and take away from needed instructional time with students.
As stated earlier, we support the provisions holding technology vendors accountable. However, we ask that our concerns be addressed should the bill advance.
Please reach out to deb.henton@mnasa.org if you would like to discuss this further and thank you for your work.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK OF April 25, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 4/25/22
Education supplemental budget bill passes House
After six hours of debate on Wednesday, the House passed HF4300, their supplemental education finance bill 69-61. The Senate is expected to vote on their supplemental funding bill on Monday, May 2.
Once the budget bills pass out of their respective bodies, a conference committee composed of five members from each body will be appointed. The purpose of the conference committee is to resolve differences and agree on one bill to send to the governor. In recent years, the conference committee process was more a concept than a reality as legislative leaders were the ones to come to agreement privately. Hopefully, the process will be more public and transparent and involve the conference committee this year.
Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund/COVID Frontline Worker Pay
In February, the Senate passed legislation proposing to repay the federal government and replenish the state's unemployment insurance trust fund to pre-COVID levels. The House and Senate tried to find agreement but because of a disagreement on whether to replenish the fund under the condition of expanded COVID frontline worker pay, reaching agreement took some time.
On Thursday, the House and Senate finally came to a compromise. The agreement fully funds the trust fund and provides $500 million in expanded COVID frontline worker pay. The list of employees eligible for frontline worker pay include health care workers, law enforcement, school employees, child care, and retail employees who had to work in-person during the pandemic. The details on how these additional payments will be distributed will be available in the coming weeks.
Earlier this week, the House included expansion of unemployment benefits to hourly school employees as part of negotiations on the UI trust fund bill. The House proposed $161 million in one-time funding to cover these costs. School districts would have had to rely on the unemployment levy after the state funding was depleted. This provision was dropped by the conference committee, however.
Press conference on funding the special education cross-subsidy
Education organizations will host a press conference at 1:00 on Monday, May 9, to address special education funding shortfalls and the Legislature's responsibility to fund the amount owed. More details on the press conference will be available next week with links that will be sent to you. Additional information will also follow in next week’s update.
After the press conference, we will be sharing an advocacy request for you to contact legislators urging them to eliminate the cross-subsidy. Stay tuned!
Dates to remember
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 4/25/22
Education supplemental budget bill passes House
After six hours of debate on Wednesday, the House passed HF4300, their supplemental education finance bill 69-61. The Senate is expected to vote on their supplemental funding bill on Monday, May 2.
Once the budget bills pass out of their respective bodies, a conference committee composed of five members from each body will be appointed. The purpose of the conference committee is to resolve differences and agree on one bill to send to the governor. In recent years, the conference committee process was more a concept than a reality as legislative leaders were the ones to come to agreement privately. Hopefully, the process will be more public and transparent and involve the conference committee this year.
Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund/COVID Frontline Worker Pay
In February, the Senate passed legislation proposing to repay the federal government and replenish the state's unemployment insurance trust fund to pre-COVID levels. The House and Senate tried to find agreement but because of a disagreement on whether to replenish the fund under the condition of expanded COVID frontline worker pay, reaching agreement took some time.
On Thursday, the House and Senate finally came to a compromise. The agreement fully funds the trust fund and provides $500 million in expanded COVID frontline worker pay. The list of employees eligible for frontline worker pay include health care workers, law enforcement, school employees, child care, and retail employees who had to work in-person during the pandemic. The details on how these additional payments will be distributed will be available in the coming weeks.
Earlier this week, the House included expansion of unemployment benefits to hourly school employees as part of negotiations on the UI trust fund bill. The House proposed $161 million in one-time funding to cover these costs. School districts would have had to rely on the unemployment levy after the state funding was depleted. This provision was dropped by the conference committee, however.
Press conference on funding the special education cross-subsidy
Education organizations will host a press conference at 1:00 on Monday, May 9, to address special education funding shortfalls and the Legislature's responsibility to fund the amount owed. More details on the press conference will be available next week with links that will be sent to you. Additional information will also follow in next week’s update.
After the press conference, we will be sharing an advocacy request for you to contact legislators urging them to eliminate the cross-subsidy. Stay tuned!
Dates to remember
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date
Information: May 4, 2022
➤ Information: Special Education Cross-Subsidy Press Conference (May 4, 2022)
Education organizations across the state are joining in advocating for the legislature to address the special education cross-subsidy. There will be a press conference on Monday, May 9.
PRESS CONFERENCE/DAY OF ADVOCACY
WHO: Minnesota’s leading education organizations
WHAT: Press conference and Day of Advocacy
WHERE: Minnesota Capitol and Virtually
WHEN: 1 p.m. on Monday, May 9
WHY: Address the growing special education cross-subsidy and the Legislature’s responsibility to fund the shortfall
SPEAKERS: Albert Lea Superintendent Mike Funk, St. Paul Superintendent Joe Gothard, Cathy Nathan, Rochester School Board member and Minnesota PTA member
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
ATTEND THE EVENT AT THE STATE CAPITOL. Press conference spectators may view the press event from L’Etoile du Nord Vault in the basement of the State Capitol. See attached document for more details.
If you attend in-person, it would be a good time to meet with your local legislators to discuss this topic before or after the event. If you plan to do so, you should contact their offices this week to schedule an appointment for that day.
PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY. The presentation will coincide with the mobilization of school districts, parents, and families to simultaneously communicate the message virtually for the need for more funding.
· You can watch the press conference virtually here (this link will not be live until the press conference)
· MASA will send out an advocacy alert Monday morning for you to easily contact legislators urging them to eliminate the cross-subsidy.
Education organizations across the state are joining in advocating for the legislature to address the special education cross-subsidy. There will be a press conference on Monday, May 9.
PRESS CONFERENCE/DAY OF ADVOCACY
WHO: Minnesota’s leading education organizations
WHAT: Press conference and Day of Advocacy
WHERE: Minnesota Capitol and Virtually
WHEN: 1 p.m. on Monday, May 9
WHY: Address the growing special education cross-subsidy and the Legislature’s responsibility to fund the shortfall
SPEAKERS: Albert Lea Superintendent Mike Funk, St. Paul Superintendent Joe Gothard, Cathy Nathan, Rochester School Board member and Minnesota PTA member
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
ATTEND THE EVENT AT THE STATE CAPITOL. Press conference spectators may view the press event from L’Etoile du Nord Vault in the basement of the State Capitol. See attached document for more details.
If you attend in-person, it would be a good time to meet with your local legislators to discuss this topic before or after the event. If you plan to do so, you should contact their offices this week to schedule an appointment for that day.
PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY. The presentation will coincide with the mobilization of school districts, parents, and families to simultaneously communicate the message virtually for the need for more funding.
· You can watch the press conference virtually here (this link will not be live until the press conference)
· MASA will send out an advocacy alert Monday morning for you to easily contact legislators urging them to eliminate the cross-subsidy.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK OF May 02, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 5/2/22
Education supplemental budget bill passes Senate, conference committee members named
Now that the Senate passed its supplemental education finance bill, the next steps in the conference committee process can begin. The first step is for the House and Senate to appoint a conference committee made up of five members. The E12 conference committee members were named Thursday:
House conferees: Rep. Jim Davnie, Rep. Julie Sandstede, Rep. Ruth Richardson, Rep. Hoda Hassan, Rep. Sondra Erickson
Senate conferees: Sen. Roger Chamberlain, Sen. Justin Eichorn, Sen. Julia Coleman, Sen. Zach Duckworth, Sen. Chuck Wiger
The conference committee will begin to meet next week. However, until legislative leaders and the Governor come to a global budget agreement, the conference committee cannot get much accomplished.
Student data privacy bill advances
Legislation was heard in the Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee this week that proposes new requirements on technology vendors and school districts to ensure student data privacy and security.
Throughout the session we have worked to address concerns on several key provisions. One provision would allow parents to opt-out of technology, whether for school operations or to deliver instruction. I’m happy to say this provision was removed from the bill Thursday!
The bill still has a few steps to go in the legislative process before becoming law, including votes in the House and Senate.
Unemployment benefits for hourly school employees
Last week, I reported that the House included an expansion of unemployment benefits for hourly school employees as part of negotiations on the UI trust fund bill. Their proposal to extend these benefits was not agreed to in that final bill. The provision was removed from the final bill.
The House continues to pursue avenues to advance this proposal. On Thursday, the House added an amendment to their Supplemental Jobs Appropriations bill. The amendment proposes to allow hourly school employees to receive unemployment and provided
$161 million in one-time funds to cover this additional cost. Once this funding is depleted, school districts would have to use the unemployment levy to cover these costs.
We have been in conversations with legislators about concerns with this proposal. The discussion focuses on four main points:
The House and Senate will be negotiating an agreement in the jobs conference committee in the coming weeks, and we will continue to raise these concerns and questions.
Press conference on funding the special education cross-subsidy
Education organizations across the state will be hosting a press conference on Monday, May 9 to urge the legislature and the governor to fund the special education cross-subsidy.
How to participate
Attend The Event at The State Capitol: Press conference spectators may view the press event from L’Etoile du Nord Vault in the basement of the State Capitol. See attached document for more details.
If you attend in person, it would be a good time to meet with your local legislators to discuss this topic before or after the event. If you plan to do so, you should contact their offices this week to schedule an appointment for that day.
Participate Virtually: The presentation will coincide with the mobilization of school districts, parents, and families to simultaneously communicate the message virtually about the need for more funding.
Frontline worker pay bill signed into law
On Monday, Governor Walz signed the frontline worker pay bill into law. This legislation includes schools as one of the defined employment sectors. It does not list out specific employees but instead states an individual is eligible if the individual was employed in one of those sectors and:
The state has created a frontline worker pay website where you will find more information and sign up to receive updates.
MASBO budget survey results
Recently, MASBO surveyed members to understand the current state of school district budgets for the 2022-2023 school year. Of the 105 school districts responding to the survey, 61 reported deficit spending for the 2022-23 school year, despite pandemic relief funding. Further, 91 reported that, excluding pandemic relief funds, they project deficit spending in the 2022-23 school year.
61 respondents reported that including pandemic relief funds project deficit spending in the 2022-2023 school year.
91 respondents also reported that, excluding pandemic relief funds, they would be deficit spending in the 2022-2023 school year.
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 5/2/22
Education supplemental budget bill passes Senate, conference committee members named
Now that the Senate passed its supplemental education finance bill, the next steps in the conference committee process can begin. The first step is for the House and Senate to appoint a conference committee made up of five members. The E12 conference committee members were named Thursday:
House conferees: Rep. Jim Davnie, Rep. Julie Sandstede, Rep. Ruth Richardson, Rep. Hoda Hassan, Rep. Sondra Erickson
Senate conferees: Sen. Roger Chamberlain, Sen. Justin Eichorn, Sen. Julia Coleman, Sen. Zach Duckworth, Sen. Chuck Wiger
The conference committee will begin to meet next week. However, until legislative leaders and the Governor come to a global budget agreement, the conference committee cannot get much accomplished.
Student data privacy bill advances
Legislation was heard in the Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee this week that proposes new requirements on technology vendors and school districts to ensure student data privacy and security.
Throughout the session we have worked to address concerns on several key provisions. One provision would allow parents to opt-out of technology, whether for school operations or to deliver instruction. I’m happy to say this provision was removed from the bill Thursday!
The bill still has a few steps to go in the legislative process before becoming law, including votes in the House and Senate.
Unemployment benefits for hourly school employees
Last week, I reported that the House included an expansion of unemployment benefits for hourly school employees as part of negotiations on the UI trust fund bill. Their proposal to extend these benefits was not agreed to in that final bill. The provision was removed from the final bill.
The House continues to pursue avenues to advance this proposal. On Thursday, the House added an amendment to their Supplemental Jobs Appropriations bill. The amendment proposes to allow hourly school employees to receive unemployment and provided
$161 million in one-time funds to cover this additional cost. Once this funding is depleted, school districts would have to use the unemployment levy to cover these costs.
We have been in conversations with legislators about concerns with this proposal. The discussion focuses on four main points:
- The cost to school districts and the long-term impact on property taxes.
- How does this proposal help or exacerbate the staff shortage school districts are experiencing?
- What happens if an hourly school employee is offered a summer position that is not in line with their current position regarding type of work, wages, and hours?
- How do school districts navigate perceptions in their communities that school district resources are used to pay for people to not work?
The House and Senate will be negotiating an agreement in the jobs conference committee in the coming weeks, and we will continue to raise these concerns and questions.
Press conference on funding the special education cross-subsidy
Education organizations across the state will be hosting a press conference on Monday, May 9 to urge the legislature and the governor to fund the special education cross-subsidy.
How to participate
Attend The Event at The State Capitol: Press conference spectators may view the press event from L’Etoile du Nord Vault in the basement of the State Capitol. See attached document for more details.
If you attend in person, it would be a good time to meet with your local legislators to discuss this topic before or after the event. If you plan to do so, you should contact their offices this week to schedule an appointment for that day.
Participate Virtually: The presentation will coincide with the mobilization of school districts, parents, and families to simultaneously communicate the message virtually about the need for more funding.
- You can watch the press conference virtually here (this link will not be live until the press conference).
- Look for an advocacy alert Monday morning for you to easily contact legislators urging them to eliminate the cross-subsidy.
Frontline worker pay bill signed into law
On Monday, Governor Walz signed the frontline worker pay bill into law. This legislation includes schools as one of the defined employment sectors. It does not list out specific employees but instead states an individual is eligible if the individual was employed in one of those sectors and:
- Was employed for at least 120 hours in Minnesota in one or more frontline sectors between March 15, 2020, and June 30, 2021.
- Was not able to telework due to the nature of the individual's work and worked in close proximity to individuals outside of the individual's household.
- Did not receive an unemployment insurance benefit for more than 20 cumulative weeks from March 15, 20202-June 26, 2021.
- Had an annual income that did not exceed $185,000 for a married taxpayer filing a joint return and $85,000 for all other filers.
The state has created a frontline worker pay website where you will find more information and sign up to receive updates.
MASBO budget survey results
Recently, MASBO surveyed members to understand the current state of school district budgets for the 2022-2023 school year. Of the 105 school districts responding to the survey, 61 reported deficit spending for the 2022-23 school year, despite pandemic relief funding. Further, 91 reported that, excluding pandemic relief funds, they project deficit spending in the 2022-23 school year.
61 respondents reported that including pandemic relief funds project deficit spending in the 2022-2023 school year.
- 3 of 60 indicated a shortfall of $4m or greater
- 16 of 60 indicated a shortfall between $1m-$3.9m
- 13 of 60 indicated a shortfall between $500k-999k
- 25 of 60 indicated a shortfall of less than $499k
- 4 respondents indicated a shortfall but did not indicate a specific amount
91 respondents also reported that, excluding pandemic relief funds, they would be deficit spending in the 2022-2023 school year.
- 7 of 88 indicated a shortfall of $4m or greater
- 34 of 88 indicated a shortfall between $1m-$3.9m
- 15 of 88 indicated a shortfall between $500k-999k
- 28 of 88 indicated a shortfall less than $499k
- 7 respondents indicated a shortfall but did not indicate a specific amount
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK OF May 09, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 5/9/22
With one week left in the 2022 legislative session, there is much unfinished business before the May 23 constitutional adjournment date. There is still a significant portion of the $9.25 billion budget surplus unspent, and leaders in each body are at odds with what to spend it on. Big-ticket items up for debate include education funding, public safety, long-term/disability care, and tax relief.
This past week the House and Senate have moved through mostly smaller and noncontroversial bills while conference committees have been trying to work out differences between the omnibus bills passed by each chamber. If conference committees agree to a final version of their omnibus bill, those bills will be sent back to each floor for passage and then on to Governor Walz for signature.
Education conference committee meets, little progress made
The Education Conference Committee members met all week but only accomplished a review each respective body's bills and listening to some public testimony. The conference committee is far from reaching a final agreement. Until the legislative leaders and the Governor come to a global budget agreement, the conference committee will not accomplish much.
Student data privacy bill advances
Legislation proposing new requirements for technology vendors and school districts is one step closer to becoming law. This week, the Senate added this language to a small educational data bill (HF2353) that had already passed the House. The House still must agree to the Senate changes which we expect to happen next week.
The language adopted yesterday by the Senate reflects the changes we sought that would have allowed parents to opt out of any technology. The opt-out provision is no longer in the bill. Thanks for your advocacy on this issue. It made a difference!
Pension update
This week, the Senate passed the Omnibus Pensions bill. Two provisions of interest include temporarily permitting (through 2024) retired teachers who resume teaching to teach without application of an earnings limitation and clarifications on reporting 503B information to the Pension Commission. The House will take up this bill on Monday.
Next week, the Pension Commission is expected to advance a benefits and funding bill affecting all major public pension funds. I will include a summary in next week's update after the Pension Commission acts on the legislation.
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 5/9/22
With one week left in the 2022 legislative session, there is much unfinished business before the May 23 constitutional adjournment date. There is still a significant portion of the $9.25 billion budget surplus unspent, and leaders in each body are at odds with what to spend it on. Big-ticket items up for debate include education funding, public safety, long-term/disability care, and tax relief.
This past week the House and Senate have moved through mostly smaller and noncontroversial bills while conference committees have been trying to work out differences between the omnibus bills passed by each chamber. If conference committees agree to a final version of their omnibus bill, those bills will be sent back to each floor for passage and then on to Governor Walz for signature.
Education conference committee meets, little progress made
The Education Conference Committee members met all week but only accomplished a review each respective body's bills and listening to some public testimony. The conference committee is far from reaching a final agreement. Until the legislative leaders and the Governor come to a global budget agreement, the conference committee will not accomplish much.
Student data privacy bill advances
Legislation proposing new requirements for technology vendors and school districts is one step closer to becoming law. This week, the Senate added this language to a small educational data bill (HF2353) that had already passed the House. The House still must agree to the Senate changes which we expect to happen next week.
The language adopted yesterday by the Senate reflects the changes we sought that would have allowed parents to opt out of any technology. The opt-out provision is no longer in the bill. Thanks for your advocacy on this issue. It made a difference!
Pension update
This week, the Senate passed the Omnibus Pensions bill. Two provisions of interest include temporarily permitting (through 2024) retired teachers who resume teaching to teach without application of an earnings limitation and clarifications on reporting 503B information to the Pension Commission. The House will take up this bill on Monday.
Next week, the Pension Commission is expected to advance a benefits and funding bill affecting all major public pension funds. I will include a summary in next week's update after the Pension Commission acts on the legislation.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: WEEK OF May 16, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 5/16/22
On Monday, May 16, the Governor, and legislative leaders announced they reached an overall budget agreement. The agreement included:
$4 billion in spending ($1.6 billion in FY23 and $2.4 billion in FY24-25)
The agreement allowed the conference committees to get to work on the details of their respective budget and policy areas.
E12 conference committee meets but no progress yet on a final agreement
The E12 conference committee met several times this week but has yet to make progress on reaching a final budget agreement. The most recent Senate offer focuses funding on the special education cross-subsidy and LETRS. The most recent House offer focuses on the special education and EL cross-subsidies, mental health/student support personnel, teacher of color grants, school meals, and making the VPK slots permanent.
With just three days left, time is running out and at some point, the legislative leaders and the Governor may make the final decision on the components of the supplemental E12 bill.
Student data privacy bill advances
Legislation proposing new requirements for technology vendors and school districts is one step closer to becoming law. This week, the House agreed to language adopted in the Senate. The bill is now headed to Governor Walz for his signature.
Pensions update – policy bill passes, funding bill advances
This week, the House passed the Omnibus Pensions Policy bill. Two provisions of interest include temporarily permitting (through 2024) retired teachers who resume teaching to teach without application of an earnings limitation and clarifications on reporting 503B information to the Pension Commission. The bill still has some more steps before heading to the Governor for his signature.
This week the Pension Commission passed a benefits and funding bill affecting all public pension funds. The bill proposes the following changes related to TRA and PERA General:
The funding bill still needs to advance in the House and Senate, which will have to happen very quickly in the remaining days of the session.
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
Week of 5/16/22
On Monday, May 16, the Governor, and legislative leaders announced they reached an overall budget agreement. The agreement included:
$4 billion in spending ($1.6 billion in FY23 and $2.4 billion in FY24-25)
- $1 billion For E-12 education ($320 million in FY23 and $680 million in FY24-25)
- $1 billion for Health and Human Services (biennial breakdown not available)
- $450 million for Public Safety (biennial breakdown not available)
- $1.3 billion for other budget areas
- $1.4 billion for bonding (GO bonds) and $150 million (cash)
The agreement allowed the conference committees to get to work on the details of their respective budget and policy areas.
E12 conference committee meets but no progress yet on a final agreement
The E12 conference committee met several times this week but has yet to make progress on reaching a final budget agreement. The most recent Senate offer focuses funding on the special education cross-subsidy and LETRS. The most recent House offer focuses on the special education and EL cross-subsidies, mental health/student support personnel, teacher of color grants, school meals, and making the VPK slots permanent.
With just three days left, time is running out and at some point, the legislative leaders and the Governor may make the final decision on the components of the supplemental E12 bill.
Student data privacy bill advances
Legislation proposing new requirements for technology vendors and school districts is one step closer to becoming law. This week, the House agreed to language adopted in the Senate. The bill is now headed to Governor Walz for his signature.
Pensions update – policy bill passes, funding bill advances
This week, the House passed the Omnibus Pensions Policy bill. Two provisions of interest include temporarily permitting (through 2024) retired teachers who resume teaching to teach without application of an earnings limitation and clarifications on reporting 503B information to the Pension Commission. The bill still has some more steps before heading to the Governor for his signature.
This week the Pension Commission passed a benefits and funding bill affecting all public pension funds. The bill proposes the following changes related to TRA and PERA General:
- decreases the employee contribution rate for TRA from 7.5% to 7.25% and for PERA General to 6.25%
- increases the employer contribution rate for TRA to offset the employee reduction
- increases the pension adjustment to offset the employer contribution increase for TRA and includes a general fund appropriation to pay for PERA General increase
- increases the TRA COLA from 1% to 1.5% effective January 1, 2023, rather than phasing it to 1.5% over five years (as under current law); makes no changes to the PERA General COLA (COLAs in these plans are tied to the COLA adjustment announced each year by the Social Security Administration)
- pays for the COLA adjustment with a general fund appropriation
- reduces the actuarial assumption for investment rate of return from 7.5% to 7% for all plans
The funding bill still needs to advance in the House and Senate, which will have to happen very quickly in the remaining days of the session.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: May 23, 2022
➤ Legislative Update
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
5/23/22
Despite reaching a global budget agreement, the Legislature failed to end the session with the passage of most supplemental budget bills, a bonding bill, or a tax bill.
The Tax Conference Committee reached an agreement on the tax bill that includes a combination of income tax cuts, social security tax cuts, credits for working families, and property tax relief. Despite reaching an agreement, the House and Senate failed to take up the bill by the midnight deadline.
Because the E12 conference committee failed to reach agreement over weekend, the leaders took over negotiations. They exchanged offers Saturday and Sunday, but they also failed to reach agreement. The last public offer from the Senate included $52 million for LETRS, $911 million for the special education cross-subsidy, $15 million for level IV mental health grants, and $25 million for early learning scholarships.
The tax agreement included equalization of the first tier of a district’s local optional levy, new cooperative facilities lease levy, an increase in the school building bond credit from 70 percent to 85 percent, and an increase in the phase-out for the K-12 income tax credit to begin at $70,000.
As the leaders continued to negotiate the details of the budget bills, there was a lot of talk about a possible special session so the Legislature could finish its work. The House majority wants one, and the Governor indicated he would now call them back if they reach agreement on the outstanding budget bills, but the Senate majority does not seem very open. More to follow on that!
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
5/23/22
Despite reaching a global budget agreement, the Legislature failed to end the session with the passage of most supplemental budget bills, a bonding bill, or a tax bill.
The Tax Conference Committee reached an agreement on the tax bill that includes a combination of income tax cuts, social security tax cuts, credits for working families, and property tax relief. Despite reaching an agreement, the House and Senate failed to take up the bill by the midnight deadline.
Because the E12 conference committee failed to reach agreement over weekend, the leaders took over negotiations. They exchanged offers Saturday and Sunday, but they also failed to reach agreement. The last public offer from the Senate included $52 million for LETRS, $911 million for the special education cross-subsidy, $15 million for level IV mental health grants, and $25 million for early learning scholarships.
The tax agreement included equalization of the first tier of a district’s local optional levy, new cooperative facilities lease levy, an increase in the school building bond credit from 70 percent to 85 percent, and an increase in the phase-out for the K-12 income tax credit to begin at $70,000.
As the leaders continued to negotiate the details of the budget bills, there was a lot of talk about a possible special session so the Legislature could finish its work. The House majority wants one, and the Governor indicated he would now call them back if they reach agreement on the outstanding budget bills, but the Senate majority does not seem very open. More to follow on that!
Action Alert: May 23, 2022
➤ Action Alert seeking a Special Legislative Session
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
5/23/22
As you know, the Legislature and the Governor failed to complete its work and pass an E12 supplemental budget bill.
We need you to contact your legislators and the Governor and urge them to finish their work and pass an E12 supplemental budget bill.
Click here to be directed to our advocacy system. There you will enter your contact information and your school district. A crafted message will populate to send to each member in your legislative area. You can send the message as is or you can add district-specific before hitting send.
Please also send a message to the Governor. We cannot use this system because of a required email form so you will have to send a message separately using this email form. Below is a copy of the message to send.
Thank you for reaching out -- it is an important step in building relationships and influencing the legislative process.
* Some senators require an electronic email form, so we cannot use this system. If you do not see them listed, that is why. You will have to send a message separately using the email form on their website. Below is a copy of the message to send if you do not see your senator listed on the advocacy page.
**The advocacy system is not set up so that charter schools or cooperatives can enter their specific district or charter school name. If you would like to send a message to your area delegation, you can use the message below and send it directly from your email. You could also enter each member's school district name and send a message that way. Thanks for your patience as we work through this new advocacy system. I intend to have this issue addressed over the interim.
Message to Governor or those Senators with no public email address (required email form)
Although we understand the differing opinions about whether to hold a special session, we encourage you to do so to finish the work you started. Most importantly, we urge you to finish the work on a supplemental E12 education budget bill.
The $820 million special education shortfall impacts every school district in Minnesota and has long created budget challenges for school districts. This underfunding means our school district must redirect funds meant for general classroom instruction – known as the cross-subsidy – or ask voters to approve operating referendums to cover the shortfall.
Now is the time to solve these challenges and we ask you to join us to call on legislative leaders to address these issues in a special session.
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
5/23/22
As you know, the Legislature and the Governor failed to complete its work and pass an E12 supplemental budget bill.
We need you to contact your legislators and the Governor and urge them to finish their work and pass an E12 supplemental budget bill.
Click here to be directed to our advocacy system. There you will enter your contact information and your school district. A crafted message will populate to send to each member in your legislative area. You can send the message as is or you can add district-specific before hitting send.
Please also send a message to the Governor. We cannot use this system because of a required email form so you will have to send a message separately using this email form. Below is a copy of the message to send.
Thank you for reaching out -- it is an important step in building relationships and influencing the legislative process.
* Some senators require an electronic email form, so we cannot use this system. If you do not see them listed, that is why. You will have to send a message separately using the email form on their website. Below is a copy of the message to send if you do not see your senator listed on the advocacy page.
**The advocacy system is not set up so that charter schools or cooperatives can enter their specific district or charter school name. If you would like to send a message to your area delegation, you can use the message below and send it directly from your email. You could also enter each member's school district name and send a message that way. Thanks for your patience as we work through this new advocacy system. I intend to have this issue addressed over the interim.
Message to Governor or those Senators with no public email address (required email form)
Although we understand the differing opinions about whether to hold a special session, we encourage you to do so to finish the work you started. Most importantly, we urge you to finish the work on a supplemental E12 education budget bill.
The $820 million special education shortfall impacts every school district in Minnesota and has long created budget challenges for school districts. This underfunding means our school district must redirect funds meant for general classroom instruction – known as the cross-subsidy – or ask voters to approve operating referendums to cover the shortfall.
Now is the time to solve these challenges and we ask you to join us to call on legislative leaders to address these issues in a special session.
Action Alert: June 03, 2022
➤ Action requested: New Action Alert for Special Session
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
6/3/22
Happy Friday!
Legislative leaders and the Governor are meeting this morning to discuss the possibility of a special session to complete their unfinished business, including funding our public schools.
If you have yet to reach out to your legislators about the need for an education funding bill, which includes significant investments in the special education cross subsidy, it’s not too late. Please send a message to your elected officials today.
Click here to be directed to our advocacy system to easily and quickly send a message to your legislators.
Thank you for your advocacy. Have a wonderful weekend!
Valerie & Deb
Valerie Dosland, MASA Lobbyist
6/3/22
Happy Friday!
Legislative leaders and the Governor are meeting this morning to discuss the possibility of a special session to complete their unfinished business, including funding our public schools.
If you have yet to reach out to your legislators about the need for an education funding bill, which includes significant investments in the special education cross subsidy, it’s not too late. Please send a message to your elected officials today.
Click here to be directed to our advocacy system to easily and quickly send a message to your legislators.
Thank you for your advocacy. Have a wonderful weekend!
Valerie & Deb