January 16, 2009

Tuesday, January 20, 1:30 3 PM, St. Paul
The Lost Decade: A Closer Look at Minnesota’s Public Investments in the 2000s
Sponsored by the Minnesota Budget Project
Speakers include our own Mary Cecconi.

Monday, January 26, 7 PM, Roseville
Why Invest in Education — Even in Difficult Times?
A Forum for Parents, Educators, Law Makers, and Community Members
Sponsored by the Roseville Area Schools Legislative Action Committee
Featured: State Economist Tom Stinson and State Demographer Tom Gillaspy

A complete listing of Events is always available at our website.

In this issue

What is Happening at the Capitol?

HF2
It was wonderful to see HF 4178, referred to by many as the "Minnesota Miracle Bill," reintroduced in this biennium and now known as HF 2! Several changes have been made to the bill (as a result of the committee's tour around the state to get input), yet the essence of the bill remains. It fundamentally changes the way the formula is determined, while reducing property taxes and our overreliance on local levies to fund schools.

Those who dismiss this bill outright, saying we don't have the money to fund it, have missed the most important aspect of the bill: we must restructure the present formula and that conversation needs to take place now. HF2 is crafted so that as money becomes available, it can be funneled into a newer, fairer and more transparent funding formula.

Committee conversations
As expected, the week has been filled with "report outs" and opening statements from legislators. While the Senate concentrated on an overview of Minnesota's education finance system, the House heard reports from interim working groups on issues surrounding the GRAD test (Graduation-Required Assessments for Diploma), charter schools and the new "growth model" for the school report cards that was developed over the summer. The growth model is already up and running on the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website. It grew out of legislation championed by Rep. Kathy Brynart and Sen. Sandy Rummel and was developed using the expertise of our K12 and higher education assessment experts. While it provides more information on how Minnesota's schools are performing in helping ALL students reach proficiency, its weakness is that it STILL uses just one data point, the MCAII tests, to reach these conclusions.

There was also an overview from Education Commissioner Alice Seagren on where the MDE is concentrating its efforts, as well as information on K-12 academic standards and assessments and the benefits to the economy of investing in education.

We will be hearing a great deal more about these topics throughout the legislative session. It is worth noting that in her overview, the Commissioner referenced Governor Pawlenty's Teacher Transformation Act. Education Week reports:

Minnesota Governor and SMHC Task Force Chair Tim Pawlenty is putting forth an ambitious teacher quality improvement plan. Under Gov. Pawlenty's "Teacher Transformation Act," all districts would be required to tie annual teacher pay increases to student performance; enforce tighter admission standards for teacher education programs; actively recruit mid-career professionals from other fields to teach, especially in math and science; and introduce an intensive intervention program to address poor performance among 8th graders on reading and math state tests. The plan is supported by state Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren.

New Legislative Children and Youth Caucus
This week, a bipartisan group of legislators from both the House and Senate announced the creation of a new legislative caucus to address issues facing the children and youth of Minnesota. The Legislative Children and Youth Caucus is promoting a vision for youth that provides the support and opportunities necessary to fully prepare them for the future. The caucus will explore ways to help young people complete the continuum of education from early education through college to gain the skills necessary for success in college, work and life.

The Governor's State of the State
On Thursday Governor Pawlenty presented his State of the State address and announced his intention to increase funding by 2% of the per-student formula to schools whose students have met the state standards. You may remember a similar initiative that the Governor floated in the past, in which "Three R" schools received extra funding.

The problem with this idea, as I see it, is that many of the schools who would not qualify for this "extra" funding may be those schools with high concentrations of children who live in poverty. The percentage of children who live in poverty in Minnesota is on the rise and is in fact at the highest level in a decade. There is also a correlation in Minnesota between race and income disparity. So aren't we just creating a greater divide between the "haves" and "have nots" with this kind of initiative?

The Governor's budget is expected January 27. With the specifics on paper, it will be easier to analyze this idea.

A Look Ahead
Next week, both House education committees will be listening to the recommendations of education groups for investment, reductions and reforms. It is a VERY interesting time to visit a committee hearing.

In this issue

A Word about the Federal Level
Arne Duncan has been nominated as President-elect Obama's Education Secretary. It will be of great interest to see what direction this new nomination will bring to our schools.

Over the past year, Parents United has been meeting with members of our congressional delegation around issues that are more appropriately solved at the federal level -- special education funding, NCLB, health care costs as an issue for our schools, and now, potential federal dollars coming to the states to help rebuild infrastructure. We have met with wonderful cooperation and will continue to work with our delegation.

At the Website

Comment on the State Budget Deficit:
"It is important that we all be telling the stories about how cuts to the state’s budget would have a real impact on people’s lives."
— Nan Madden, Minnesota Budget Project

Minnesota State Budget Comment Line - An online form set up by the Minnesota House of Representatives for Minnesotans to have a say in how we confront the projected budget deficit.
Public Insight Network: How will Minnesota's budget crunch affect you? - Share your thoughts on several important questions.

State Budget Trends Study Commission Report to the Legislature - A framework for addressing Minnesota’s demographic trends and insuring budget stability.

Are you looking for better data? Let Twin Cities Compass Know! - In his January 2009 newsletter article, Twin Cities Compass lead researcher Craig Helmstetter listed his "Top 8" data wish list for '09, along with this note: "Have your own wish list for better data? Have ideas about how to make these a reality? Let us know." This is your chance to weigh-in and let a highly credible data resource know what's missing for you!

Check out all the News and Hot Topics at our website!

In this issue

What Can I Do?
No doubt if you have received this update you are interested in staying informed about what is happening in education in Minnesota, so you are taking the first step by committing to read this newsletter each week!

1) Meet your locally elected officials. They want to know how you feel about the schools in your area. Start there. Tell your story. Take a moment and talk with them at the local coffee shop, in the grocery store or better yet, call and ask them to have a cup of coffee with you and a few concerned folks. It is a good time to connect.

Find the policy makers who represent your school district, with this tool at our website!

2) Visit the Capitol! “Demystify the system” for yourself and others you know. It is not as big or scary as you may think. Meet me at the Capitol for an hour or a day, visit an education hearing, and stop in to your local legislator. Just email me or call 651-214-6565 to set this up.

3) Send this email on to others who are interested in the link between state policy and our local public schools. As Parents United's President, Christy Hlavacek, puts it: “The more informed citizens we have speaking out for public schools, the louder our voices become and the more likely we are to drive positive change. Parents United helps bring these voices to the places where decisions are made."

In this issue

“Childhood has no rewind: Our children cannot go back to grade school and get another education when times are better and we all have more to give. When the playground is empty and the children are gone, either we will have sacrificed for them, or we won’t."
—from a Parents United poster

Please join Parents United in our efforts to build the political will and community consensus necessary to provide a world class education for all Minnesota students.

Donate online — it's quick and secure.

Thank you! You are a valued partner in our work.

We welcome your feedback on this update and our work. Please take a few minutes to let us know what's helpful to you.

Questions? Email Mary Cecconi
Parents United for Public Schools
1667 Snelling Avenue N., St. Paul, MN 55108
651-999-7391
www.parentsunited.org