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Descendants of Africa Host DFL Gubernatorial Candidates Forum, March 18, 2010, 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
North Community High School, Minneapolis.
This forum is an opportunity for the African American and other African communities to come together and dialogue with the individuals competing for their votes for the highest executive office of our state. Cosponsors include: Minneapolis NAACP, Minnesota State Black Baptist Convention, AWMIN, African Cab Drivers Association, African American Community Alliance, North Community High School and others. - More Information -

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.

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 - 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.

Upcoming Events

Citizens input needed on government redesign

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

Descendants of Africa Host DFL Gubernatorial Candidates Forum
3/18/2010 6:30 PM
Minneapolis North Community High School, 1500 James Ave North, Minneapolis. Hosted by the Descendants of Africa.

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

Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
3/18/2010 8:30 AM

House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
3/18/2010 8:30 AM

For Immediate Release

March 8 , 2010 - Safeguard Parent Information and Resource Centers (PIRCS)
National PTA Takes Action

March 5, 2010 - The Governor's education policy initiatives
Schools for Equity in Education

Minnesota Budget Bites via RSS

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 [...]