This week I was honored with the privilege to recognize Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin with a House Resolution commending him for his work with immigrant families in agriculture. Regi, a resident of Northfield, launched Peace Coffee and has been an advocate for fair trade and sustainable agriculture practices since he moved here from Guatemala in the early 1990s. His more recent work involved efforts to develop new and emerging ecological systems in agriculture and our food production system.
As I wrote in my last column, we’ve seen major budget and transportation proposals from the legislative and executive branches. Education is another budget and policy area that has taken a prominent role at the legislature. We’ve seen a myriad of proposals, including all day pre-K, flexibility in levy authority, changing teacher retention policies, increasing the per pupil formula, increasing State Grants for two and four year college students, and more.
In the House Committee on Education Policy and Reform, we’ve been involved in a lengthy hearing on the Majority’s education initiative, House File 2, introduced by Rep. Jennifer Loon (R – Eden Prairie). HF 2 has several components that focus on teachers, including changes to teacher contracts and retention policies, changes to the “basic skills test” for licensed teachers, lowering requirement for teachers from other states to become licensed in Minnesota, and allowing schools to hire un-licensed teacher much more easily.
This year, as a result of previous legislation, Minnesota started implementing teacher development evaluations that factor in student performance and peer reviews. HF2 proposes allowing districts to use these ratings as a decision factor when laying off teachers. There may be great alternatives to the last in, first out policies, but making it easier to lay off the most experienced teachers and increasing class sizes is not the best way to improve Minnesota’s schools. Research shows that the experienced teachers are usually the most effective in the classroom. Layoffs are difficult for all concerned, in economic tough times there are always losers. It may be that a simple and clear process is the best and causes the least pain. It may also be best to keep separate a layoff process with a goal to fairly let teachers prepare for an unfortunate future for what is hopefully a rare occurrence and the process of improving a district’s teaching staff.
All of this discussion misses a very important reality: no law prevents tenured teachers from being fired for poor performance right now. Principals have authority to fire teachers now and do so. This might explain why most research shows Principals have some of the greatest influence on student outcomes – they manage the teaching corps of a school. Having from the state moderate how this is done is not what’s best for our children. In good times teachers that are not helped along and supported leave education for other professions. We need a system that supports and challenges teachers to be the best they can be and helps those that can’t improve to move on.
Minnesota’s licensing process can be cumbersome and needs common sense reforms. Currently, a licensed teacher from another state who wants to be licensed in Minnesota, can be if they have graduated from an accredited program with in-field teaching experience. HF 2 would do away with many teaching requirements and allow teachers with as little as two years’ of licensed teaching in another state to teach our children. We should re-examine the process for attracting talent from other states, but we shouldn’t lower standards for teaching to fill our vacancies. A science or math teacher from Alabama or Texas doesn’t have the training to teach to our state’s standards.
We cannot send a message to those considering teaching our children that they’re the problem. If we lift teachers up and make that profession desirable, we’ll attract the best and brightest. And if we give beginning teachers the support and tools they need to continue, we’ll encourage them to stay. I will continue to pursue common sense education reforms that ensure we keep and attract the best teachers and empower them to work with students in new and innovative ways.