Equalization Bill Introduced in Senate.  Sticking with the space theme of last week when the "Eagle" landed, the LEM (Legislative Equalization Measure) made its way to the Senate from the Sea of Tranquility (known as the House of Representatives) with the introduction of SF 1206.  SF 1206--authored by Senator Dave Senjem--is the companion to HF 1381, the comprehensive equalization bill introduced in the House last Thursday (and authored by Representative Joe McDonald).  Both bills have been initially referred to the education funding committees in their respective houses and will likely receive a hearing sometime in early March.  There will also likely be other equalization bills introduced during the session and we cannot forget that the Ag Bond Credit that was part last year's vetoed tax bill will also be front-and-center in legislative tax discussions.  All in all, it should be a big year for discussion of how the property tax fits into various elements of the education funding system and that may translate into tangible results.  So, stay tuned.

SF 1206

Great Education Funding Article on MinnPost.  Greta Kaul wrote a comprehensive article at MinnPost giving a very concise description of Minnesota's oft-confusing education funding system.  I have provided the link below.  The education funding system can seem incomprehensible at times (and seems to find a way to become moreso with each passing session), but Kaul does an excellent job in the article of presenting the various nuances that comprise the formula in plain language.

The Legislature is going to be debating education funding again. How, exactly, does Minnesota pay for its schools?

BILL INTRODUCTIONS

House

HF 1398-Jessup-Amends Term General Education Development

HF 1420-Erickson-Modifies World's Best Workforce Reports

HF 1421-Drazkowski-Allows for E-learning Days on Snow Days

HF 1426-Lee-Disaggregates Results of Teacher Preparation Summaries by Race

HF 1428-Daudt-Clarifying Nonresident Tuition Rate for Certain Court-Placed Students

HF 1444-Uglem-Creates Supplemental Compensatory Revenue Program

HF 1449-Anselmo-Provides Funding for Minnesota Children's Museum

HF 1454-Peterson-Allows Targeted Services Revenue to be Used During the School Day

HF 1455-Dettmer-Provides Additional Transportation Sparsity Revenue

HF 1457-Erickson-Provides Additional Revenue for AP/IB Courses

HF 1463-Urdahl (by Request)-Revenue for Library Construction Program

HF 1476-Dettmer-Appropriates Money for MN Starbase Program

HF 1478-Loon-Changes to LIFO

HF 1484-Howe-Appropriates Money for Library Construction Program

HF 1491-Loon-Modifies Early Scholarship Program

HF 1501-Youakim-Clarifies Free Speech Rights for Student Journalists in Grades 7 through 12

HF 1507-Lucero-Student Privacy Rights

Senate

SF 1122-Franzen-Clarifying Language Proficiency for Students of Latin

SF 1160-Franzen-Increases Funding for Gifted and Talented

SF 1161-Clausen-Creates Supplemental Compensatory Revenue Program

SF 1171-Pratt-Policy and Technical Changes for Charter Schools

SF 1180-P. Anderson-Creates Program at Service Cooperative to Help Address Achievement Gap Issues

SF 1185-Wiger- Increases Appropriation for AP/IB Programs

SF 1189-Nelson-Authorizes a Grant for Academic and Behavioral Interventions for Low-Achieving and Chronically Absent Students

SF 1198-Hoffman-Provides for Assistive Technology Plans

SF 1206-Senjem-Increased Debt and Referendum Equalization

SF 1207-Nelson-Allowing Third-Party Reimbursement for Special Education Evaluation Services

Committee Report for Monday.  The Senate E-12 Finance Committee was the only education-related committee meeting today and it covered three bills.  The first of these was SF 709.  SF 709 provides the tax relief portion of the commitment made to districts that were part of the maximum effort loan program that re-financed their loans early and provided the state with $50 million in savings last year.  The revenue part of the agreement for those districts was handled in last year's supplemental appropriations bill.  SF 709 was recommended to pass and re-referred to the Tax Committee.  The committee also heard Chair Nelson's SF 722, a bill that clarifies charter school lease aid, and Senator Wiger's SF 13, a bill that would provide a grant to the "Rock n' Read" program. The "Rock n' Read" program is a music-based program that has shown promise in helping young students experiencing reading problems reach proficiency.