Education Commissioner Alice Seagren told the House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight Committee Feb. 23 that the attorney general has certified that the state’s Race to the Top application for $330 million in federal grants is not in conflict with Minnesota laws; but some lawmakers and advocates have a different reading.
The proposal to extend Q Comp in the application could circumvent laws retaining local control over districts’ ability to make Q Comp agreements, said Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville). Q Comp is an alternative teacher compensation and professional development system.
Rep. Kathy Brynaert (DFL-Mankato) is wary of the proposal to link data about growth in student achievement to individual teacher evaluations. She said a law enacted last year puts the brakes on using student achievement in teacher evaluations. Seagren said school districts may use such data in teacher evaluations, but the Education Department cannot.
Education Minnesota chief lobbyist Jan Alswager said that several RTTT proposals could be in conflict with Minnesota law or legislative intent, including the push to expand Q Comp, alternative teacher licensure pathways and an “equitable transfer” plan that would move “highly effective” teachers to high-need schools without regard for seniority.
Alswager noted that a state map of chronically low-performing schools targeted for reforms in the application is similar to one made by Kids Count Minnesota indicating high poverty areas. She added that teachers are tired of feeling they’re expected to solve societal problems stemming from poverty.
“For some reason we have got this notion that if a school isn’t working, or kids aren’t performing the best that they can, we’re going to put it on the backs of teachers,” Alswager said. “Poverty and all of the needs that go along with poverty came before the kids ever walked in the school.”
Committee Chairman Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL-St. Paul) said legislators should decide “whether or not we need to be acting proactively to change Minnesota statute, or, quite frankly, acting proactively to say no to certain proposals in the Race to the Top proposal, to be consistent with Minnesota statutes.”
No action was taken.
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