Print View
News & Events Desktop

Election 2010
Learn about the candidates for Governor

 

Hot Topics



March 10, 2010 - Smart Investments in Minnesota Students

March 2010 - Re-education: Conservative education scholar Diane Ravitch returns to her liberal roots
Over the last few years, Diane Ravitch has become one of the nation’s leading critics not only of conservative educational policies like vouchers but of more centrist ideas too, like charter schools, testing, and merit pay for teachers, Washington Monthly.

March 4, 2010 - Race to the Top Finalists Announced
Minnesota NOT on the list, U.S. Department of Education.                                   

February 2010 - Primary Sources: America's Teachers on America's Schools
40,000 of our nation's public school teachers share their thoughts on American Education, Scholastic and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Full Report; Star Tribune article).

March 2, 2010 - Governor's education bill
Ratifies the July 2009 unallotments, and more                                       

March 2, 2010 - February Economic Forecast Released
The February Economic Forecast released by Minnesota Management & Budget (MMB) shows an expected $994 million deficit for the remainder of the current 2010-11 biennium. In November, a $1.203 billion deficit was forecast (Minnesota Budget Bites' response).

New Report: The ACCESS System: Achieving College and Career Readiness for Every Student's Success
A proposal for a new high school assessment and accountability system for Minnesota.  Over the next decade Minnesota must find ways to dramatically improve the educational performance of its students who are on the wrong side of the achievement gaps that exist at every level of our educational system, College and Career Ready Policy Institute Assessment Working Group.

January 2010 - FY 2010-11 General Fund Budget Governor’s Unallotments and Administrative Actions
The Governor’s unallotment and deferral of K-12 education aid payments in FY 2010-11, creates an entitlement obligation to pay those aids instead in FY 2012. This entitlement liability adds $1.17 billion to the expected shortfall for FY 2012-13 while actions proposed to delay payment of tax revenue refunds from FY 2011 into FY 2012 would increase FY 2012-13 spending by $119 million and certain spending unallotments would further increases FY 2012-13 obligations $51 million, bringing the reported FY 2012-13 structural imbalance to $4.431 billion, Minnesota Office of Counsel, Research, and Fiscal Analysis. - More -

February 8, 2010 - Citizens input needed on government redesign
Move your redesign idea from the kitchen table to the committee table, Minnesota House of Representatives.

January 26, 2010 - Delayed payments to school districts, April-May 2010
Sortable file showing delayed payments by district, Minnesota Public Radio (supporting article).


RSS Feed

Upcoming Events
Citizens input needed on government redesign

Move your redesign idea from the kitchen table to the committee table
Minnesota House of Representatives

“Reconnecting the Title I Family” Conference
3/17/2010
Sofitel Hotel, 5601 W 78th St, Bloomington. Offered by the National Coalition of ESEA Title I Parents Region V. Partners on the local conference planning committee are the Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota PTA, Minnesota Parent Center, Bloomington Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, and St. Paul Public Schools. 

Remix*Refresh*Reload: Balancing New Media and Traditional Strategy
3/24/2010 7:30 AM
Nonprofit Technology and Communications Conference
Hyatt Regency, 1300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis.

Organizer Roundtable: Race, Power and Organizing
3/31/2010 12:00 PM
Rondo Community Outreach Library, St. Paul. Organized by the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability.

2004-2009 News
Bloomington schools must continue to struggle with shortfall
12/31/2009 12:00 AM
Harvey T. Rockwood, Bloomington Sun-Current
Like many metro area school districts, Bloomington Public Schools faced a daunting task of planning for the district's funding, said Rick Kaufman, executive director of community relations for the district.

Closings, cuts challenge Anoka Hennepin School District in 2009
12/31/2009 12:00 AM
Wendy Erlien, MN Sun Newspapers
It has been quite a year. That short statement by Anoka Hennepin School District Superintendent Dennis Carlson just touches on the tip of the ice burg of challenges District 11 faced in 2009. Challenges Carlson expects to see continue into 2010 and beyond without the state funding more for education.

One Levy up, another down
12/31/2009 12:00 AM
Mille Lacs County Times
Milaca schools' levy is down.

Tough times for state led to uncertainty for Dakota County school districts in 2009
12/31/2009 12:00 AM
Grant Boelter, MN Sun Newspapers
Dealing with a large and growing deficit, the state essentially froze funding for both the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. On top of that, about 8 percent of what districts receive from the state was deferred to next year, which could again be the case the following year.

Judge rules against Pawlenty on budget cuts
12/31/2009 12:00 AM
Pat Doyle and Baird Helgeson, Star Tribune
The governor's unilateral budget cuts are ruled improper, which could prompt more lawsuits and a new budget fight. "The Governor crossed the line between legitimate exercise of his authority to unallot and interference with the Legislative power to make laws, including statutes allocating resources and raising revenues."

Frustrating year financially for Eden Prairie schools
12/31/2009 12:00 AM
Chris Olwell, Eden Prairie Sun-Current
Earlier this month, the Eden Prairie school district cut about $4 million from its 2010-11 budget, completing the process of axing programs and dozens of jobs that had taken nearly all of 2009.

Gearin's order changes 2010 game
12/31/2009 12:00 AM
Lori Sturdevant, Star Tribune
Ramsey County District Judge Kathleen Gearin's order Wednesday blocking one piece of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's midsummer unallotment is far from the final word on the topic -- even from her.

In This Section
  • Parents United Updates
  • At the Capitol
  • For Immediate Release
  • Upcoming Events
  • Election 2010
  • Key Reports

  • Parents United Updates
    March 12, 2010
    Funding, tenure, graduation requirements and more

    March 5, 2010
    Race to the Top, February forecast, 4-day week, Governor’s priorities

    At the Capitol


    For Immediate Release


    House budget bill cuts $207 million in FY 2010-11
    Last Friday, the House Finance Committee (watch the video) pulled together their first supplemental budget bill, which includes spending reductions for most areas of the budget (excluding K-12 education, health and human services and taxes). In total, the bill would generate $207 million in general fund savings – the same amount as the Governor proposed to save [...]

    Policymakers reach agreement on General Assistance Medical Care
    After months of negotiations, the Governor and legislature have reached an agreement that would preserve access to General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) – which provides health care for thousands of very low-income Minnesotans. Both the Senate and House health and human services committees held hearings on the bill on Thursday. Here is the backbone of how the compromise [...]