In This Edition:
- Education Bill Passes House
- National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here is an update with the latest news from the Capitol and around the community.
Education Bill Passes House
Speaking to the press about my education legislation on Thursday
As Education Chair, I have worked hard this session to collaborate with colleagues, educators, families and stakeholders to craft legislation that prioritizes school and student safety, offers greater transparency in school finance and performance reporting, and most importantly, helps prepare kids for a bright and successful future.
On Thursday, the House passed my supplemental education bill on a bipartisan vote of 94-29. The legislation includes our school safety package and a number of critical reforms.
As I shared last week, highlights in the bill include:
- Championing a multifaceted approach to give school districts the resources and flexibility they need to address student safety and security. That includes expanding the use of long-term facilities maintenance revenue for facility security upgrades, strengthening the state’s commitment to school-linked mental health grants, supporting suicide prevention training for teachers, increasing funding for Safe Schools Revenue, and more
- Strengthening and clarifying state law to address teacher misconduct and teacher licensure including prohibiting sexual relationships between educators and students, even if that student is 18; requiring periodic teacher background checks; and prohibiting the issuance or renewal of a teacher/administrative license or bus driver endorsement for certain felonies or gross misdemeanors involving a minor
- Requiring the Minnesota Department of Education to create a School Report Card —a one-stop-spot for summative and easily accessible school and district ratings that will provide families with a place to research, compare and help determine which school will work best for their child
- Enhancing the transparency of school funding and our commitment to tackling our state’s achievement gap by doubling the number of school audits each year. These audits will discern whether or not education dollars allocated to school districts and dedicated to special education, English-learner and low-income students are reaching the students intended
- Ensuring students are exposed to a wide variety of post-secondary options including the trades and branches of the military
- Strengthening laws that protect kids from school lunch shaming
- Creating a Special Education Working Group to engage stakeholders and examine the factors that are driving rising costs
I am proud of the comprehensive education and school safety package we’ve put together this session. From providing critical resources and flexibility for our schools to address student safety and mental health, to creating a School Report Card for families to easily research and compare schools to find what will work best for their child, we are focused on innovative solutions that will make a meaningful impact on education in our state.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
April 28 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which encourages people to safely dispose of unused pharmaceuticals including opioids. This Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM, you can drop off medication at a number of locations in the metro area.
You can learn more about National Take Back Day here.
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If you need assistance on a matter related to state government, or have questions, comments or suggestions about what is happening in the Legislature, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. I am here to serve you!
Sincerely,
Jenifer Loon