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The same day Gov. Tim Pawlenty reiterated his call for key education reforms, House K-12 Education Finance Chairwoman Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville) urged the governor to stop “bashing” the teachers union, Education Minnesota, for the state’s unsuccessful first application for its share of $4.35 billion in federal Race to the Top funds.

The governor said he won’t sign a new application for the funds unless the Legislature passes significant reforms, including alternative teacher licensing laws, which received just 9.2 of a possible 21 points on the application.

If selected in round two, Minnesota could receive up to $175 million in federal funding over three years.

Getting “buy-in” from all state education groups is the “No. 1 way” to gain points on a second-round application, and should be the governor’s priority, Greiling said, promising to help persuade the union to accept reforms such as two bills sponsored by House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL-St. Paul): HF3163 that would strengthen teacher preparation programs and use longitudinal data to track teacher performance and HF3093 that would create pathways to licensure for non-traditional teacher candidates.

Greiling disagrees with the governor’s proposal to expand Q-Comp, the teacher performance pay and evaluation program used by 44 school districts and 31 charter schools. Pawlenty wants to mandate participation statewide, make student test scores count for 35 percent of teacher evaluations and require tenure renewal every five years.

"These reforms are eventually going to happen in Minnesota, just as they are happening around the country,” Pawlenty said in a press release. “The only question is whether Minnesota will lead the way or be dragged along. There’s a growing consensus around what must be done to ensure our children receive a top-notch education. This is not a Republican issue or a Democrat issue. Now it’s time for the legislature to come together in a bipartisan way to pass these reforms on behalf of our students and future students.” (Listen to the governor's press conference.)

- Kris Berggren

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/sessiondaily.asp?storyid=2182