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Minnesota House of Representatives

State Representative Matt Dean

301 State Office BuildingState Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-3018

For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529

Posted: 2007-04-20 00:00:00
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OP/ED COLUMN

STUDENTS REQUEST ONE STEP CLOSER TO LAW

By State Rep. Matt Dean,
District 52B

As was reported nearly a month ago, I introduced legislation that would allow students who attend charter schools to participate in extracurricular activities with their local school district. I introduced this legislation after meeting with some great students from St. Croix Preparatory Academy who actively lobbied me to do so.

I am happy to announce to them today that their wish is one step closer to becoming a reality. This week an amendment was offered to the Education Omnibus bill, with Rep. Laura Brod (R – New Prague) and myself working together to create opportunities for charter school students, which would allow these students to participate in extracurricular activities. “This proposal will help all charter school students throughout the state. They should not be treated as second class students,” Rep. Brod said. I am pleased to report the provision was approved, and the bill passed with by vote of support.

While I am extremely pleased this amendment is on the House bill, I caution students it may be cut out of the bill in conference committee as it is not included in the Senate bill. I will urge my colleagues to keep this provision in the bill. Even if the provision is not adapted into law this year, it has paved the way for easier passage during next year’s legislative session.

This legislation is important to many students from all around the state. The students, Sarah Marchio, Anne Guitirrez, Britta Anderson, Aurora Johnson, Erin Kirkpatrick, and Krista Swedenburg, should be proud that their work may pave the way for future students in charter schools across the state. Their decision to contact me to help them be able to attend the school they like and still play sports has made it farther than some have thought it would. If it doesn’t become law this year, these students have helped the way to allow their underclassmen to participate on sports team in the future.

These students and their teacher, Rebecca Wahl, have been an active part of the legislative process. They can take pride in knowing it was their actions which will change state law, and allow for them and their fellow students in charter schools through out the country to partake in extracurricular activities.

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