STATE OF MINNESOTA SECOND JOINT MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
JOINT COMMITTEE HEARING
K-12 EDUCATION POLICY & OVERSIGHT
K-12 FINANCE DIVISION
EARLY CHILDHOOD FINANCE & POLICY DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Mindy Greiling, Chair of the K-12 Finance Division, Rep. Carlos Mariani, Chair of the K-12 Education Policy & Oversight committee, and Rep. Nora Slawik, Chair of the Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division, called the second meeting to order at 6:10 PM on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 in Room 10 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll:
K-12 Policy & Oversight Members Present:
MARIANI (CHAIR)
KATH (VICE-CHAIR)
BENSON
BRYNAERT
DAVNIE
DEMMER
DITTRICH
DOEPKE
DOWNEY
GREILING
OBERMUELLER
NEWTON
PETERSON
SLAWIK
SWAILS
K-12 Finance Members Present:
GREILING (CHAIR)
ANDERSON, P
BENSON
DAVNIE
DEMMER
DETTMER
DITTRICH
DOEPKE
GAROFALO
MARIANI
NEWTON
SLOCUM
SWAILS
TILLBERRY
CARLSON (EX-OFFICIO)
SOLBERG (EX-OFFICIO)
Early Childhood Members Present:
SLAWIK (CHAIR)
BLY
DOWNEY
GREILING
LAINE
MACK
MARIANI
PETERSON
CARLSON (EX-OFFICIO)
SOLBERG (EX-OFFICIO)
K-12 Education Policy & Oversight Members Excused:
ABELER
FAUST
LOON
MURDOCK
MCFARLANE
NORNES
NORTON
K-12 Finance Division Members Excused:
WARD (VICE-CHAIR)
ANZELC
BROWN
BUESGENS
MARQUART
MCFARLANE
MORGAN
Early Childhood Finance & Policy Division Members Excused:
ROSENTHAL (VICE-CHAIR)
BUESGENS
HAMILTON
KULICK JACKSON
NORNES
WARD
A quorum was present.
Chair Greiling welcomed the members and the audience to the meeting and explained the agenda for the hearing.
Chair Mariani remarked on his expectations and hopes for the hearing and Minnesota’s Race to the Top application.
Chair Slawik welcomed members and commented on the role Early Childhood Education plays in closing the achievement gap.
Chair Greiling welcomed Ways and Means chair Representative Loren Solberg and Finance Chair Representative Lyndon Carlson to the hearing.
Commissioner Alice Seagren, Minnesota Department of Education, presented Minnesota’s application for the Race to the Top grant program.
Handouts: Minnesota Race to the Top: Overview Document
"Memorandum of Agreement: State Educational Agency and Local Educational Agency, Race to the Top Program"
Rep. Garofalo moved to adopt the minutes of October 29, 2009. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED.
Members asked questions of Commissioner Seagren about Minnesota’s application.
Handout: "Overview of Minnesota’s federal Race to the Top grant application" Memorandum from House Research
Ms. Karen Balmer, Executive Director, Minnesota Board of Teaching, explained the aspects of Minnesota’s application that relate to teacher licensure.
Mr. Bob Meeks, Executive Director, Minnesota School Board Assocation, discussed MSBA’s support of Minnesota’s application and their advice to school boards for deciding whether or not to enroll their school district in Minnesota’s Race to the Top program
.Members asked questions of Mr. Bob Meeks and MSBA’s position on Minnesota’s application.
Mr. Charlie Kyte, Executive Director, Minnesota Association of School Administrators, discussed MASA’s support of Minnesota’s application for Race to the Top, as well as the organization’s analysis and concerns for the program.
Handout: "Race to the Top Grant: A recommendation to MASA Superintendents" Report
Members asked questions of Mr. Kyte and MASA’s position on Minnesota’s application.
Ms. Jan Alswager, Government Relations, Education Minnesota, discussed EdMN’s concerns about Minnesota’s application for Race to the Top, and their concerns for the program.
Handout: Article: "Two State Unions Balking at ‘Race to Top’ Plans" Education Week, Jan.6, 2010
Members asked questions of Ms. Alswager and Ms. Garnet Franklin, Education Minnesota, about EdMN’s position on Minnesota’s application.
Mr. Roger Aronson, Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals and Minnesota Elementary School Principal’s Association, discussed Minnesota’s principals’ support and concerns of Minnesota’s application for Race to the Top.
Ms. Pam Costain, Minneapolis School Board, (speaking as a private citizen), discussed her support of Minnesota’s application for Race to the Top and the importance of reforming education to address educational disparities.
Chair Greiling apologized to Ms. Sue Henderson, University of Minnesota’s College in the Schools program, and Mr. Jim Bartholomew, Minnesota Business Partnership, for not being able to testify, due to time constraints.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 PM.
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REP. MINDY GREILING, CHAIR
____________________________________
Elizabeth Mandelman
Committee Legislative Assistant
____________________________________
REP. CARLOS MARIANI, CHAIR
____________________________________
Celeste Marin
Committee Legislative Assistant
____________________________________
REP. NORA SLAWIK, CHAIR
____________________________________
Matthew Collie
Committee Legislative Assistant