The legislature has been on break the past week and will resume session tomorrow, April 6. With only six weeks left in session, MREA is advocating important issues like:
- Pushing for 2% and 2% on the formula
- Extending authority for school districts to offer distance learning through the 2021-22 school year
- Mitigating enrollment decline and compensatory loss in funding
- Providing funding for summer programming opportunities
- Stopping unfunded mandates and policies
- Renewing School Readiness Plus 4-year-old slots
- Funding Concurrent Enrollment Grant Program
- Making the CTE Consortia grant a statewide opportunity
- Allowing rural cooperatives the same opportunity as intermediates to access dollars for building/leasing facilities
We Need to Hear Your Voice
Our push to ensure funding for pupil/compensatory loss did not get results before the break and will likely cause districts to have to lay off staff, unless a resolution is finalized soon. Not passing a bill on summer school money will put districts in a time crunch if they are seeking money to provide programing for children during the summer.
As we return to session this week, Districts should continue to push their legislators for issues that are important to them. One of the best ways to stay informed is to join MREA’s Sam Walseth on our Tuesday morning advocacy briefings. These meetings are hosted every other week. The next Advocacy Briefing for superintendents is April 6th, for board members is April 13th, and teachers is April 27th. Join us at 7:00 am to hear updates on current issues happening at the legislature. School Board members and Teachers will receive a special email invitation to join us.
