| | | Joint Committee: House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight Committee, House K-12 Education Finance Division, Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
4/21/2009 8:30 AM
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: Presentation by Education Commission of the States (ECS):
Overview of ECS, Aligning Education and Workforce Development, Update on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, High School Exit Exams and End of Course Exams, Community Schools: Locating Government Services in Schools
Education Commission of the States
Mission Statement
Helping states develop effective policy and practice for public education by providing data, research, analysis and leadership; and by facilitating collaboration, the exchange of ideas among the states and long-range strategic thinking.
Core Purpose
To enlighten, equip and engage key education leaders — governors, legislators, chief state school officers, higher education officials, business leaders and others — to work side by side to improve education across the 50 states and U.S. territories.
2008-2010 Chair: Governor Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota
"Besides bringing Minnesota from historic budget crisis to financial security, Pawlenty fought for and oversaw passage of a dramatic overhaul and improvement of the state's education standards; a significant increase in K-12 education spending along with a nation-leading teacher performance pay program; health care reforms that led to a zero percent premium increase in the state insurance program; significant welfare reform; a range of new government efficiency initiatives; and a doubling of the state's ethanol standard to increase use of renewable fuels and reduce dependence on foreign oil."
By the Bylaws
Each state shall be represented by seven voting Commissioners. Except as otherwise indicated in this section, the seven voting Commissioners from each member state shall consist of: the Governor; two members of the state legislature selected by the member’s respective houses and serving in such manner as the legislature may determine; and four individuals appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor, unless the laws of the state provide otherwise.
Current Minnesota Commissioners
- Representative Pat Garofalo, District 36B (Farmington); Member, Minnesota House K-12 Education Finance Division
- Representative Mindy Greiling, District 54A, (Roseville); Member, Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division; Member, House Finance; Chair, K-12 Education Finance Division; Member, K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
- David Metzen, Director, Minnesota Office of Higher Education,
- Senator Gen Olson, District 33, (Minnetrista); Ranking Minority Member, Senate Education Policy and E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division; Member: Environment and Natural Resources, Finance, Transportation Budget and Policy Division, Rules and Administration, Transportation
- Alice Seagren, Commissioner of Education, Minnesota Department of Education
- Senator Charles Wiger, District 55, (Maplewood); Deputy Chair, Senate Education Policy and E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division; Member, Senate Finance; Higher Education Budget and Policy Division; Higher Education
Role of the Commissioners
Provide leadership for ECS initiatives as well as for their states' education agenda.
State Information
Additional Resources
June 2008 - 2007 Annual Report - Provides a summary of what ECS considers to be most important.
ECS Clearinghouse on Education Issues - Extensive database searchable by issue area. For example, Closing the Achievement Gap: What States Are Doing
ECS Projects & Initiatives - Current projects: Early Learning, High School, Leadership, Postsecondary, and Teaching Quality.
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