Education Policy

TWENTY-FOURTH MEETING

2019-2020 Regular Session - Wednesday, March 27, 2019

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-FOURTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FIRST SESSION

EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE

MINUTES

Representative Cheryl Youakim, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 2:30 PM on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Room 5 of the State Office Building. A quorum was present.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members Present:

YOUAKIM, Cheryl, Chair
KUNESH-PODEIN, Mary, Vice Chair
ERICKSON, Sondra, GOP Lead
BAHR, Cal
BAKER, Dave
BENNETT, Peggy
BIERMAN, Robert
CHRISTENSEN, Shelly
GRUENHAGEN, Glenn
HASSAN, Hodan
HER, Kaohly
HUOT, John
MOLLER, Kelly
SANDELL, Steve
SCOTT, Peggy
URDAHL, Dean
WAZLAWIK, Ami

Members Excused:
MARIANI, Carlos

Rebecca Lucero, Commissioner, and Scott Buetel, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Rights, gave a presentation on disparities based on race and disability status in school discipline practices and answered member questions.

Superintendent Dr. Carlton Jenkins, Robbinsdale Area Schools, Superintendent Christine Osorio, School District 622, and Superintendent Sandy Lewandowski, Intermediate District 287 presented work on decreasing suspensions in schools and answered member questions.

Andrea Jepson, parent and attorney representing student in expulsion matters, testified on school suspensions and expulsions.

Greg King, parent and member of ISAIAH and the Solutions Not Suspensions Coalition, testified on school suspensions and expulsions.

Shannon Mitchell, Managing Director of Policy with Educators for Excellence, briefly spoke on the work done on school suspensions and expulsions.

Maleena Mohabir, parent and advocate for PACER Center, testified on school suspensions and expulsions.

Jules Edwards, parent, testified on school suspensions and shared her son’s story.

Kelly Kausel, parent, testified on school suspensions and shared her son’s story.

Representative Huot moved to approve the minutes for the Wednesday, March 20, 2019 meeting. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The meeting adjourned at 4:13 P.M.

________________________________________
Cheryl Youakim, Chair

________________________________________
Prepared by Megan Arriola, Committee Legislative Assistant

More Info On This Meeting..

Documents:

MDHR Presentation on Suspension and Expulsions for House Ed Policy 3.27.19.pptx - 3/26/2019
ISD 287 Handout.pdf - 3/26/2019
Ms. Abdull Written Testimony Part 1.pdf - 3/26/2019
Ms. Abdull Written Testimony Part 2.pdf - 3/26/2019
Ms. Montgomery Written Testimony.docx - 3/27/2019
Fr. Bernie Lattner, PACER Written Testimony.pdf - 3/27/2019

Audio:
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Show Full Schedule Agenda:

I. Call to Order

II. Overview: Issues of Disparities Based on Race and Disability Status in School Discipline

Minnesota Department of Human Rights

III. Overview: School Districts Present Their Work on Decreasing Suspensions in Schools

IV. EdAllies, PACER and Solutions Not Suspensions Coalition Bring Parents to Share Their Stories

V. Adjournment

If time allows, there will be time given to public testimony. Please sign up with the Committee Page once the Committee meeting begins. If time does not allow for public testimony, we encourage submission of written testimony.