STATE OF MINNESOTA EIGHTEENTH MEETING
MN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY SECOND SESSION
EDUCATION FINANCE
MINUTES
Representative Julie Sandstede, Vice-Chair of the Education Finance Committee, called the virtual meeting to order at 10:30am on February 18, 2021 pursuant to House rule 10.01. The meeting is being broadcast via Zoom and House Public Information Services.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
SANDSTEDE, Julie
KRESHA, Ron
BENNETT, Peggy
DANIELS, Brian
DEMUTH, Lisa
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve
ERICKSON, Sondra
FEIST, Sandra
JORDAN, Sydney
MARQUART, Paul
MUELLER, Patricia
RICHARDSON, Ruth
THOMPSON, John
WOLGAMOTT, Dan
XIONG, Tou
YOUAKIM, Cheryl
Excused:
DAVNIE, Jim
A quorum was present.
Rep. Erickson moved that the minutes from February 17, 2021 be approved. Motion prevailed.
HF 587 (Murphy) Minnesota has provided support for full-service community schools under a few different models. In 2015, the Legislature codified the current full-service community school program. A full-service community school incorporates aspects of: early childhood services; academic support and enrichment activities including an extended school calendar; career counseling and internship opportunities; parent involvement and leadership; mental and physical health support; community involvement; and service learning. Under the statutes, a qualifying school is eligible for a grant of up to $150,000 per year if the school is on a continuous improvement plan or has an achievement and integration plan approved by the commissioner of education. A qualifying site must hire or contract with a partner agency to coordinate services at the school. The qualifying site must establish a 12 to 15 member school leadership team whose members include at least 30 percent parents and at least 30 percent teachers at that site, as well as the building principal, and representatives from partnering agencies. The school leadership team must develop program goals, assess program needs, and oversee the program’s implementation. The 2015 Legislature initially appropriated $250,000 per year for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 funding four school sites for both years, and the 2016 Legislature approved another $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 for grants to nine additional full-service community schools. No full-service community school grants were awarded in the last four budget years.
Rep. Wolgamott moved that HF 587 be presented before the committee without formal action; be laid over for further consideration at a later time.
Rep. Murphy presented HF 587.
Rep. Wolgamott renewed the motion that HF 587 be laid over for further consideration at a later time.
HF 725 (Youakim) Extended time revenue provides additional money to school districts participating in a State-Approved Alternative Program (SAAP). SAAPs are delivered through Area Learning Centers (ALCs), Alternative Learning Programs (ALPs), targeted services activities, and through contract alternative schools. A pupil must voluntarily enroll in a SAAP. This means the extended time revenue does not cover a child who has been placed in a residential facility. A school district may count the hours that a student spends in a SAAP for additional funding. The hours are capped so that the additional time served cannot exceed 0.2 pupils in average daily membership. Extended time revenue for a school district equals each district’s extended time pupil units times the statutory allowance of $5,117. HF 725 extends extended time revenue for summer programming to students who have been placed in a children’s residential facility.
Rep. Youakim moved that HF 725 be presented before the committee; be laid over for further consideration at a later time.
Rep. Youakim moved that the A2 amendment to HF 725 be adopted by the committee. The amendment was adopted.
Rep. Youakim presented HF 725, as amended.
Rep. Youakim renewed the motion that HF 725, as amended by the A2 amendment, be laid over for further consideration at a later time.
Testifiers:
Rachel Thapa, Full-Service Community School Coordinator, Lincoln Park Middle School,
Duluth Public Schools
Serrano Robinson, Boys Group Coordinator, Men As Peacemakers
Renee Van Nett, Parent, Duluth City Council President
Kaytie Kamphoff, Special Education Teacher, Patrick Henry High School
Sandy Lewandowski, Superintendent, Intermediate School District 287
Connie Ross, Residential Programs Administrative Director, North Homes Children and Family
Services
Adosh Unni, Director of Government Relations, MDE
The meeting of the Education Finance Committee was adjourned 11:50am.
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Representative Jim Davnie, Chair
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Brittney Sunderland, Committee Legislative Assistant