By the ninth grade, all young people should be making plans for what they’ll do after graduating from high school.
“It is projected that 70 percent of the jobs will require some form of post-secondary education … students need to know their options, and without a plan it is hard to know what is next,” said Bryan Lindsley, executive director of the Governor’s Workforce Development Council, during the Feb. 28 House Education Reform Committee.
Rep. Carol McFarlane (R-White Bear Lake) and Sen. Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) sponsor
HF1272/
SF1073*, which encourages school districts to seek funding and develop a plan for helping students make a successful transition to post-secondary education and employment. The committee approved the bill and it now awaits action on the House floor. The Senate passed the bill 48-12 on Feb. 20.
The measure comes from the council established to “forge practical solutions to Minnesota’s workforce challenges.” It is part of its All Hands on Deck report recently submitted to the governor.
McFarlane emphasized this is a recommendation and not a mandate. Rep. Tom Tilberry (DFL-Fridley) is concerned that with tight school budgets, rural schools would have a hard time implementing a program that may need more school counselors.
The bill, however, has bipartisan support.
“I really think it is necessary, and most schools are trying to accommodate what is in the bill,” said Rep. Sandra Peterson (DFL-New Hope). “Many of our students graduate with no idea of what courses they need. It is a whole different world today, and the jobs are very different. … It is just time we do this.”
Waiting for the governor’s final grade
Omnibus education bill nears finish line
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Published 4/27/2012
Last in, first out … out or in?
Conference committee weighs benefits of changing teacher layoff practices
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Published 3/30/2012
Education advocate is moving on
Rep. Mindy Greiling announces she won’t seek re-election
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Published 2/3/2012
Withholding state funds from schools
Education finance law keeps $780 million for other General Fund spending
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Published 8/11/2011
First try at K-12 finance bill fails
Dayton says special education cuts ‘would create significant funding gaps’
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Published 7/15/2011
‘Bold and beautiful’ or full of inequities?
Confusion exists whether K-12 bill increases or cuts funding
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Published 5/20/2011
Minnesota Index: Teaching and learning
Facts and statistics about education in Minnesota
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Published 5/20/2011
Lands set apart
Permanent School Fund management, income potential explored
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Published 5/13/2011
‘Social promotion’ to promote literacy
Third-graders could repeat if they can’t read
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Published 4/29/2011
Historic St. Paul walkout
Illegal action changed teacher bargaining; a new debate rises over right to strike
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Published 4/15/2011
Changes in education
House approves omnibus education finance bill
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Published 4/1/2011
Education finance bill offers bold reforms
Quantity not as key as quality, says DFL
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Published 3/25/2011
A voucher by any other name
Bill would create limited scholarships for low-income students
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Published 3/18/2011
Fewer days, longer hours
Some districts find four-day school week works as a budget fix
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Published 2/18/2011
First Reading: ‘Pitting the good against the good’
Proposed lift of safe schools mandate is a tough call
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Published 2/4/2011
The goal: 25,000 new teachers
Bush Foundation commits big bucks to revamp teacher training
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Published 1/28/2011
First Reading: Alternative teacher mindset
Tackling the achievement gap one classroom at a time
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Published 1/21/2011