SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved new COVID-19 response legislation for Minnesota K-12 schools. Notably absent from the bill is compensation for hourly school workers, which was blocked by Senate Republicans.
“I’m disappointed with the Senate Republicans for blocking any provision to this bill that includes compensation for our hourly school workers,” said House K-12 Education Finance Chair Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis). “During this crisis, our school staff have stepped up in extraordinary ways. We recognize and respect the value that they create in the lives of our students, and they deserve the dignity of a paycheck.”
The final bill addresses school finance formula glitches resulting from the conversion to the distance learning model. It also creates and legislatively approves certain waivers of state law regarding assessments, and potential licensure issues faced by prospective and current teachers.
In response to the thousands of Minnesota children who have been left behind during this distance learning period due to a lack of access to technology or a lack of internet service, the bill provides more flexibility and resources through Minnesota’s regional library system – a natural hub for communities to gain access to technology.
A copy of the final bill can be found here.
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