E-12 omnibus bill sent to floor

The House E-12 Education Committee approved its omnibus bill March 13, and sent it to the House floor.

HF3316, sponsored by Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL-St. Paul), would:

• add state academic growth-based measures to the Minnesota school report card;

• require school administrators to give a Tennessen warning, a warning that states the purpose and intended use for data, only when that information may lead to a student’s expulsion;

• require criminal background checks for all school employees, including coaches and those directing extracurricular activities;

• require the school district, when it conducts a Bureau of Criminal Apprehension background check on a teacher or prospective teacher, to also check with the Board of Teaching to see if that person has been disciplined for sexual conduct issues;

• ensure that people enrolled in a teacher preparation program receive instruction in historical and cultural competencies related to American Indians;

• allow a school to appeal its adequate yearly progress or status determination in writing to the education commissioner within 30 days of a decision. The special advisory committee must submit a written decision to grant or deny the appeal within 30 days;

• require schools to place scores they receive on standardized tests on transcripts;

• increase from $20 to $40, the amount that the commissioner may charge individuals to take the GED test; and

• close a loophole that allows parents of children declared truant to avoid an investigation from Child Infant Protective Services by withdrawing their child from school.

A companion bill, SF3001, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-Maplewood), awaits action by the Senate Education Committee.