June 2020

Revised Appropriations Conference Report Passed

UPDATE: A revised conference report for pre-k through grade 12 appropriations for FY2021 passed both chambers this afternoon. Only one change was made – adding to MDE general education funding a $4.7-million reappropriation that had been left out of the original conference report. Facing a difficult budget year, lawmakers spared public schools to the extent possible. […]

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K-12 Funding Conference Report Passed, Recommitted

The conference report for pre-k through grade 12 appropriations for FY2021 passed both chambers today but was recommitted later in the day for further work by the conference committee. While most state agencies saw budget cuts that averaged around 5%, lawmakers spared public schools to the extent possible. The conference report, as it passed earlier today,

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Important Distance Learning Bills

Yesterday, the Senate took up and passed SB 3044, the Equity in Distance Learning Act, which creates a grant program to assist school districts in purchasing computer devices and covering other COVID-19-related expenses. The current Senate plan would allocate $150-million in CARES Act funding for this purpose. Another bill, SB 3046, the COVID-19 Connectivity Act, was assigned

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Update on Education Bills

The House and Senate have made significant progress on education bills. This morning, the House passed the ESA Voucher bill, SB 2594, with no amendments that expand the program or weaken accountability. Thank you for your work on that! The bill has been held on a motion to reconsider, which means that it must be dealt

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Need Calls on Voucher Bill

Today was the deadline for committees to act on bills that originated in the opposite chamber. The teacher pay raise (SB 2001) and community schools (HB 1139) fell victim to the economic downturn. The Early Learning Collaboratives bill (SB 2286) has had a reverse repealer added, ensuring that legislators will give it another look as

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