With March officially upon us, we’ve nearly reached the halfway point for the 2015 legislative session. I wanted to give you an update on some of the education bills that I’ve been working on during the first two months. As a longtime teacher, I was excited to be appointed to the Education Finance Committee, and to serve as the vice chairwoman of the Education Innovation Policy Committee. I am doing my best to put my years of teaching experience to use, helping to improve Minnesota’s education system for teachers and students alike.

Next week I plan to introduce a bill to reduce the number of tests mandated by the state for Minnesota students. Any teacher, parent or student can tell you that kids are being asked to take too many tests, and teachers are being asked to spend far more time than ever before preparing students for tests, taking time away from their regular curriculum.

I agree with Gov. Dayton’s assessment during his 2014 State of the State address that Minnesota “went backwards” by adding additional tests in 2013, and believe there will be bipartisan support for streamlining and reducing the number of state-mandated tests for our students.

One other bill I’ve been working on is a bill to address Minnesota’s teacher shortage. Some school districts have struggled in recent years to find qualified teachers to fill certain positions in various subject areas.

My bill, HF1170, would create a loan forgiveness program for teachers who teach in areas identified by the commissioner of education as a “teacher shortage area.” It’s a shame that some students don’t receive a well-rounded education because their districts can’t find teachers to teach certain subjects. This bill will work to fix that.

Lastly, I wanted to update you on a bill coming to the House floor next week. House File 2 has been a hot topic among teachers, and I’ve been receiving a number of calls and emails about the bill from teachers, school boards and parents.

House File 2 (HF2) will help schools retain the most effective teachers in their district in the unfortunate event of a teacher layoff. Under current law, seniority is the default consideration for school districts across the state, a policy known as “Last In, First Out” (LIFO), where the last teacher hired is the first teacher let go.

This bill would require teacher effectiveness to be considered as a part of that layoff process, along with seniority and any other locally determined factors. School boards and teacher bargaining units will negotiate their own local plan.

This is not an attempt to eliminate tenure, or make it easier to fire teachers. I have been a teacher for more than 30 years, and would not support any bill that eliminates tenure entirely, or puts good teachers at risk. This bill modifies tenure and gives flexibility to local school districts to keep their most effective teachers, which is ultimately what is best for students in the long run.

I also feel strongly that teachers should have a strong voice in what their local plan looks like and I am happy that this bill gives teachers a voice in that process.

I’ve been involved as a co-author on this bill because I think we need to be rewarding effective teachers, and be proactive about changing Minnesota’s status as one of a very small number of remaining states that use “last in, first out” teacher policies. Most states across the country, whether it be through legislation or legal action in the courts, have moved away from LIFO policies.

HF2 also addresses Minnesota’s teacher shortage by making a transparent and streamlined plan for teachers to come to Minnesota from out-of-state, simplifying Minnesota’s reciprocity laws with other states. We also are changing the way variance laws work, allowing schools to decide to hire a community expert to fill a position if they have searched and been unable to find a licensed teacher to fill that position.

I’m passionate about improving Minnesota’s education system for all teachers, parents and students. Every child in all parts of the state deserves a great teacher and a great education. A great education helps students unlock their potential and can set them on a path toward future success. These are the goals I keep in mind when working on education bills and goals I will continue to try to address in my work here in St. Paul.

 

Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, is the House representative for District 27A.