LEGISLATION HIGHLIGHTSREADING RESET AIMS TO IMPROVE STUDENT LITERACY  Science of Reading “IT WORKS” – listen to Principal Ben Bakeberg from Jordan, MN explain: “there is NO Blame. We do NOT blame teachers. There is NO Blame… UNLESS we do NOT act.” Are you aware that only 50 percent of Minnesota’s students are grade level proficient in reading? This is unacceptable and has truly become a crisis, and lawmakers need to treat it as such. Recently I joined a number of other lawmakers at a press conference to announce legislation that would address the issue based on a renewed focus on the Science of Reading program.  Reading RESET is a focused plan that includes strategic funding, local control, and empowers parents and schools. Our plan establishes a special revenue fund, not unlike a disaster relief fund, from which schools can apply to cover costs related to aligning their curriculum and instructional practices to the Science of Reading. The RESET Fund includes three primary components: - Funding for schools to invest in proven Science of Reading curriculum, instructional materials and books. Schools that replace products purchased from Heineman Publishing, and authors like Fountas and Pinnell, will receive state aid to replace these materials with new curriculum, books, and instructional materials rooted in the Science of Reading.
- Funding for teacher training and professional development in the Science of Reading. Teachers will have opportunities to be trained with intensive workshops and academies along with real professional development.
- Funding for tutoring. Parents of students identified as struggling readers will receive help for targeted tutoring based on the Science of Reading.
With an $18 billion surplus, we can make this happen. Teachers, parents, and struggling readers should understand that no one is blaming any of you for the low student reading proficiency rates. The goal of this legislation is to recognize the problem and provide the tools and resources necessary in the future for all to succeed. Check out the FULL Republican Reading Reset Press Conference here. SHUT DOWN CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS? The abortion debate has gone off the rails in so many ways this session, but the worst might be a plan that would shut down crisis pregnancy centers. It’s been reported that the governor’s proposed budget would eliminate $3.4 million every year to the 33 sites that utilize the funding. It’s hard for me to understand why some extreme Democrat lawmakers don’t even want a conversation to happen with a pregnant woman that lays out her options – which include giving birth and giving the child up for adoption. For these radicals, its literally get an abortion and that’s that. Think about it, these pro-choice liberals are doing all they can to ensure a mother is prevented from learning about all of the pregnancy “choices” that are available to her, and discussing those options with compassionate professionals who want this woman to make an informed decision. It’s not only confusing, but also embarrassing. RANKED CHOICE VOTING Do you find it difficult to make up your mind when you go to vote? Well, the Democrats now want to ensure you have to put more unnecessary thought into casting a ballot as they now have legislation that would implement ranked choice voting in Minnesota. We recently discussed the issue in our elections committee. Testifiers said it would be great because we need more people running in our elections. After that discussion ended, we moved on to the next Democrat bill, which would eliminate all “minor” political parties from the ballot unless a candidate had received 10% of the vote in the previous election. The current threshold is 5%. So, on one hand they are arguing for a new election system in order to put more people on the ballot, and not 10 minutes later they are trying to make it much more difficult for an outside political party to put a candidate on the ballot, which automatically means fewer people can receive votes! Once again, this is a solution in search of a problem. Election bills are supposed to be nonpartisan and there is zero Republican support for either of these. Rest assured, if the Democrats are bringing forward election bills these days it’s not because it’s in Minnesota’s best interests, but is very likely in the DFL Party’s best interests. To watch my comments in committee on ranked choice voting, click here, and on raising the ballot threshold, click here. LOCAL VISITORSIt was good to visit with Robert and Henry Cushman, juniors from Wabasha-Kellogg High School, who were at the State Capitol recently to participate in the Minnesota House High School Page program!  I also had the pleasure to meet with people from Great River Homes recently, as they visited the Capitol to take part in Disability Services Day.  I was also pleased to visit with Sadie Keller and Ryan Marking with Wabasha Ambulance Services.  |