STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTY-SIXTH MEETING
MN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY FIRST SESSION
EDUCATION FINANCE DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Jim Davnie, Chair of the Education Finance Division, called the meeting to order at 9:49am on February 27, 2020 in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
DAVNIE, Jim
SANDSTEDE, Julie
KRESHA, Ron
BENNETT, Peggy
DANIELS, Brian
DETTMER, Bob
DEMUTH, Lisa
ERICKSON, Sondra
HUOT, John
JURGENS, Tony
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie
KUNESH-PODEIN, Mary
MARQUART, Paul
MURPHY, Mary
NORNES, Bud
PRYOR, Laurie
RICHARDSON, Ruth
SANDELL, Steve
YOUAKIM, Cheryl
Excused:
EDELSON, Heather
A quorum was present.
Rep. Huot moved that the minutes from February 19, 2020 be moved. Motion prevailed.
HF 3201 (Kunesh-Podein) Amending and supplementing the Increase Teachers of Color Act.
Rep. Kunesh-Podein moved that HF 3201 be presented before the committee; be laid over for further consideration.
Rep. Kunesh-Podein presented HF 3201.
Rep. Kunesh-Podein renewed the motion that HF 3201 be laid over for further consideration. The bill was laid over.
HF 488 (Her) School districts and charter schools receive English Learner (EL) revenue to provide instruction to students with limited English skills. Programs may include bilingual programs or English-as-a-second-language (ESL) programs. Bilingual education programs provide curriculum instruction to students in their native language. ESL program students are taught to read, write, listen, and speak in English. The state has provided funding for EL programs since 1980. Originally, the funding was based on a percentage of qualifying staff salaries. In the late 1990’s, the formula was converted to a per pupil allowance. In the early 2000’s, the maximum number of years that a student could qualify for EL funding was reduced from seven to five years. This limitation was increased to six year for fiscal years 2015 and 2016 and restored to seven years for fiscal year 2017 and later.
There are two parts to the EL portion of basic skills revenue: a basic formula of $704 per English Learner; and a concentration formula which adds up to $250 per English Learner. A school district with at least one student eligible for EL services has a statutorily assigned minimum EL pupil count of 20. This bill increases EL revenue statewide from about $59,000,000 to $142,000,000 per year by doubling the basic EL allowance and quadrupling the EL revenue allowance.
Rep. Youakim moved that HF 488 be presented before the committee; be laid over for further consideration.
Rep. Sandstede moved that the A1 amendment to HF 488 be adopted by the committee. Motion prevailed.
Rep. Her presented HF 488, as amended.
Rep. Sandsteded renewed the motion that HF 488, as amended, be laid over for further consideration. The bill was laid over.
Testifiers:
Shannon Geshick, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council
Jasmine Carey, Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage
Samantha Diaz, Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs
Andrew Morris, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans
Angela Maria Bonilla Camargo, Student, Roseville Area High School
Danaya Franke, St. Paul Urban Teacher Residency (SUTR) Program
Marayam Abdulahi, Teacher, Roosevelt Middle School
Vivian Osuji, Teacher, Richfield Middle School
Roberta Hernandez, Teacher, Anoka-Hennepin Schools
Yeu Vang, Assistant Superintendent Multi-Lingual Learning, St. Paul Public Schools
See Vang, EL Support Teacher, St. Paul Public Schools
Steve Unowsky, Superintendent, Richfield Public Schools
Chris Dibble, Principal, Southwest Middle School
Additional Testifiers:
Paul Spies, Metropolitan State University
Kristina Robertson, Roseville Area Schools
Verna Wong
The meeting of the Education Finance Division was adjourned at 11:16am.
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Representative Jim Davnie, Chair
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Brittney Sunderland, Committee Legislative Assistant