Category Archives: Uncategorized

Governor to focus on police accountability and reform, building a stronger and more equitable economy [ST. PAUL, MN] – As Minnesota continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and grapple with needed police reform following George Floyd’s death, Governor Tim Walz … Continue reading →

Congressional Update   House Aims to Pass Fiscal Year 2021 Spending Bills by August        This week, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) notified committee members that they should plan for a busy July. In a June 4 letter, she wrote … Continue reading →

The School Finance Working Group met remotely Thursday, June 4, from 4-5:30 p.m. The first order of business was to hear from Commissioner Ricker.  She applauded the work of school districts as they have provided meals to 20 million students, … Continue reading →

Congressional Update  Senate HELP Committee Plans Hearings Focused on Return to School, College  Senate HELP Committee Chairman Alexander (R-TN) announced this week that the committee will hold two hearings in June focused on postsecondary and K-12 plans to return to … Continue reading →

The School Finance Working Group met remotely Thursday, May 21, 4-5:30 p.m. The agenda included looking at some funding streams that are not equally available to all school districts.  The topics addressed were teacher development and evaluation (TDE), Q Comp … Continue reading →

 Congressional Update  Senate Adjourned Until June, House on Limited Memorial Day Schedule  Following House passage of the Democratic Leadership’s latest COVID-19 response bill (the “HEROES Act”) congressional work to respond to the emergency has slowed. Senate Republican Leaders said the body … Continue reading →

Congressional Update Senator Markey and 44 Co-sponsors Introduce Emergency E-rate Legislation This week, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), joined by 42 Democratic and 2 Independent senators,  introduced legislation (S.3690) that proposes to provide $4 billion in emergency funding, through the E-Rate … Continue reading →

Administration Update Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced the extension of three USDA nutrition waivers until August 31, 2020. According to the press release the waivers include: • Non-Congregate Feeding: FNS is allowing meals to be served … Continue reading →

Friday, May 15th, 2020 Following are the bills that were introduced in the MN Legislature in the last weeks of the 2020 session. This will be the final post for Bill Introductions this year. As the 2020 Legislative Session comes … Continue reading →

On May 14, Governor Tim Walz issued Emergency Executive Order 20-57, which authorizes and directs Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker to “allow for a safe and effective summer learning environment for Minnesota’s students.” Two key highlights … Continue reading →