Yesterday at the Capitol
The Senate Education Committee heard from testifiers yesterday morning regarding SF298, a bill introduced by Sen. LeRoy Stumpf, DFL-Plummer, which allows a person teaching under a temporary license for two consecutive years, who does not attain the requisite composite ACT Plus Writing or SAT score during that period, to receive an initial teaching license if certain conditions are met: the person’s transcript shows they received credit for courses in mathematics and writing; and the school administrator who supervised the person during the two-year period states, in writing, that the person is able to perform basic job responsibilities requiring reading, writing, and math skills.
Jessica Las, a current employee at Minnesota State University Moorhead and teacher education graduate from MSU Moorhead, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Las told committee members that she graduated 2 years ago with a 3.5 GPA, passed the content and pedagogy and Math MTLE, but has not passed the basic skills reading and writing exam after three attempts. Ms. Las said she has test anxiety and has difficulty taking tests under a tight time frame. She currently works in data management for the teacher education program at MSU Moorhead and sees how other teacher education students struggle with testing. Ms. Las is still passionate about teaching and hopes to become a teacher.
After lengthy discussion, the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the committee’s omnibus bill.
Today at the Capitol
There are no higher education related committee hearings scheduled today.
Looking Ahead
Monday, February 9
11:00 a.m.
Senate in Session
3:30 p.m.
House in Session
Tuesday, February 10
12:45 p.m.
House Greater Minnesota Economic and Workforce Development Policy
Room: Basement Hearing Room
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda: Overview of the Office of Broadband Development
Overview of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
Overview of Current and Future Investments in Broadband
2:45 p.m.
Joint Meeting: Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development; House Committee on Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chairs: Sen. Terri E. Bonoff, Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: Recommend nominees for the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to be presented to a Joint Convention of the Legislature
Wednesday, February 11
2:00 p.m.
Senate Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Dan Sparks
Agenda: Confirmation – Commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, Katie Clark Sieben
S.F. 420-Saxhaug: Rural workforce system coordinators establishment and appropriation; Minnesota youth program appropriation
Thursday, February 12
8:30 a.m.
Senate E-12 Budget Division
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Charles W. Wiger
Agenda: MDE reports on testing and teacher evaluation
Bill Introductions
Please see the attached spreadsheet for the most recent higher education related bill introductions.
Thank you.
Melissa Fahning
Director of Legislative Communications
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
651-201-1757 (work) 612-483-3741 (cell)
melissa.fahning@so.mnscu.edu
Leave a Reply