STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-NINTH SESSION
EDUCATION INNOVATION POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Erickson, Chair of the Education Innovation Policy Committee, began the meeting at 8:15 AM on January 27, 2015, in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
ERICKSON, Sondra, Chair
BENNETT, Peggy, VC
BLY, David
CHRISTENSEN, Drew
DAVNIE, Jim
KRESHA, Ron
LUCERO, Eric
MORAN, Rena
NORNES, Bud
PETERSON, Roz
PIERSON, Nels
SELCER, Yvonne
URDAHL, Dean
WARD, JoAnn
WHELAN, Abigail
WILLS, Anna
WINKLER, Ryan
YARUSSO, Barb
Members excused:
MARIANI, Carlos
A quorum was not present when the meeting began at 8:15 AM.
The meeting was called to order at 8:16 AM.
A quorum was present at 8:16 AM.
Representative Abigail Whelan moved to approve the minutes of January 22, 2015. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Devin Foley from Better Ed testified in favor of closing the achievement gap through expanding school choice and establishing greater options for students outside of their district.
John Klaber from the Minnesota Administrators for Special Education (MASE) testified in favor of a reduction in paperwork for special education teachers.
Gary Amaroso from the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) testified in favor of being able to retain effective teachers by not relying on seniority when cutting staff, as well as streamlining the process for out-of-state teachers to be able to obtain a teacher’s license in Minnesota.
Sarah Radosevich from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce testified in favor of more options for students to obtain college credit in high school, better methods for teacher evaluations, and improvements to struggling existing charter schools.
Ericca Maas from Parent Aware for School Readiness testified in favor of expanding the early learning scholarship program.
Mary Gilbert from St. Paul Schools testified in favor of greater access for student scholarships.
Jennifer Parrish from Minnesota Licensed Family Child Care Association (MLFCCA) testified against universal preschool, as well as gave a background on the Parent Aware program.
Cisa Keller from Minnesota Child Care Association (MCCA) testified in favor of expanding early learning scholarships.
Nancy Hylden from MinneMinds spoke on the successes in kindergarten classrooms in Minnesota and expanding early learning scholarships.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:01 AM.
Representative Sondra Erickson, Chair
Ethan Hellier, Committee Legislative Assistant