Focus is on closing achievement gap, strengthening teachers, empowering parents

Minnesota Senate Republicans announced the second part of their “Your School, Your Needs” K-12 reform plan today focusing on policy changes that will close the achievement gap, strengthen Minnesota teaching and empower parents to make more choices in the education of their children. The first part of “Your School, Your Needs” was announced on February 24 and called for new funding for schools without the costly, burdensome state mandates that have long tied the hands of school boards, principals, and teachers.

Proposals introduced today include a plan to split the Minneapolis School district into six smaller districts, teacher reforms such as eliminating the Last In First Out mandate and increasing the tax credits and deductions for education expenses already in law.

Closing the Achievement Gap

Senate Republican Leader David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) introduced a bill to split the Minneapolis School District into six smaller districts. The new districts would be free from many of the state educational mandates that sometimes get in the way of learning. The current Minneapolis School Board would be charged with breaking Minneapolis into six smaller districts, with new school boards elected in 2017 and the first day of classes for the new districts in September 2018. If the school board fails to come to an agreement on the new districts, the governor would step in.

“This is a bold idea to solve a big problem,” said Senator Hann. “School leaders come and go, new programs are put in place, funding increases, but one thing stays the same: achievement lags. It’s time to dramatically change the school district structure and give neighborhoods the freedom and the focus to help their children succeed.”

Senator Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake) introduced a bill (with bipartisan support) to restore accountability by requiring high school students to achieve passing scores in math and English on a state test or college placement exam in order to graduate. The passing score would be determined by officials in the MNSCU system and students would receive one of three new diplomas, depending on their scores: Ready-for-College-2-or-4-Year-Degree, Ready-for-College-Certificate, or Ready-for-College-No-Remediation.

Senator Pratt also introduced a bipartisan bill to ensure students are proficient in reading before advancing to fourth grade. The advancement decision would include consultation with the parents and include an exception for special education students.

“The Minnesota Department of Education has been going the wrong direction the last few years when it comes to accountability for our students and schools,” said Senator Pratt. “We need to make sure all kids can read before they leave third grade and we need to strengthen the value of our high school diplomas.”

Senator Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake) introduced SF 429 and SF 430 which will help ensure dual enrollment courses like ensure College in the Schools (CIS) courses are as rigorous as the courses taught on college campuses.

The College in the Schools Program (CIS) is designed to provide high school juniors and seniors with rigorous, college-level coursework and earn college credit upon completing those courses. These courses are not consistently taught to the high standards of our colleges and universities.

“Preparing our high school students for college with the College in the Schools Program should do just that. Anything less is short-changing our students, parents, taxpayers, and schools,” said Senator Kiffmeyer.

Strengthening Teachers

Senate Republicans included SF 473, sponsored by Senator Pratt, in their ‘Your School, Your Needs’ K-12 reform package. SF 473 improves the quality of teachers in Minnesota and removes the Last In First Out mandate in state law. It is the companion bill to HF 2, which is likely to pass the House today.

SF1185, sponsored by Senator Branden Peterson (R-Andover), puts student teachers in the best position possible to be successful by requiring that school leaders place them with licensed teachers who are best prepared to mentor and train them. If a cooperating teacher is having remedial issues, they should be able to focus on that and improve their own performance without having to worry about a student teacher.

Empowering Parents

SF 496 sponsored by Senator Roger Chamberlain doubles the current Education Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000 and removes limits on household income and allows the credit to be used for tuition. The credit has not been increased since it was originally passed into law in the early 1990s. Another proposal by Senator Chamberlain (SF 1224) in the K-12 reform plan indexes the Education Tax Credit to inflation.

“This tax credit increase will allow parents to have greater control over their children’s education,” said Senator Chamberlain. “Not only does this bill increase the tax credit and deduction, it also includes an inflation adjuster provision so it will not need to be readjusted in the future.”