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Local senators author bills identified as Education
Committee's top priorities
While identifying the top priorities, two local legislators have focused on different areas within education
they feel will make a difference.
Sen. Kevin Dahle, DFL-Northfield, is using his experience in the classroom at Northfield High School to
inspire some change at the 2016 Minnesota Legislature, while Sen. Vicki Jensen, DFL-Owatonna, is
focusing on agricultural education.
Dahle and Jensen were joined by Chuck Wiger, DFL-Maplewood, Susan Kent, DFL-Woodbury and Katie
Siben, DFL-Cottage Grove, in doling out the Senate Education Committee's top priorities for the spring
session.
Jensen, who represents a portion of Waseca County, has authored a bill focused on establishing grant
programs to support school districts with paying agricultural education teachers for work conducted over
the summer with high school students in extension programs.
The bill is designed to address the cutting of summer programs and to fix the fact that agricultural
education teachers have chosen to assist in programs without being paid, which Jensen said is not OK.
"A lot of activity goes on in the summer with fairs and we need teachers to help," said Jensen. "A lot are
doing it on their own and that's not right."
While the amount that would go toward the grant program can be scaled up or down, Jensen was
confident the effects would extend well beyond the prototypical agricultural education classes.
"It's not just about traditional things in farming," said Jensen. "What we can see in the future is a science,
technology, engineering and mathematics experience that can go along with some of this agricultural
programming that rural schools have."
According to Jensen, having grants for additional programming also provides an avenue for targeting
students who may struggle in typical science or math classes.
"Agriculture is the second largest job creator in Minnesota. There are jobs in biochemistry and
engineering," said Jensen. "For some students who have trouble in traditional math or science classes,
when they get into a hands-on experience instead of reading out of a book, some kids do better."
The primary focus for Dahle, whose district includes most of Le Sueur County, is addressing a statewide
teacher shortage.
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3/28/2016 Local senators author bills identified as Education Committee's top priorities
"Last year, 56 percent of school districts said they would find hiring special education teachers `very
difficult,"' Dahle said in a statement. "Schools across the state are struggling to find qualified applicants
for a variety of positions — from math, science and special education to agriculture and career and tech
education."
He went on to describe his Teacher Shortage Act bill, which aims at increasing teacher development and
evaluation aid for schools, while also providing grants to student teachers who are training to teach in a
shortage area
"I am proud of the bill we've put together which addresses this statewide problem by attacking it on
several fronts," he said. "By combining new grant money and loan forgiveness with greater investment in
programs we know work already— I am confident we can ease the burdens on school districts."
Education Committee Chair Wiger noted the teacher shortage as one of the group's top concerns before
listing several others.
"Our state's poor student-to-counselor ratio is also a priority this session; we know that when students
get the supports they need, they'll do better in the classroom. Finally, expanding early childhood
education is another focus this year. We are clear on the need for pre-k; how much we can expand this
critical program this year will depend on how much money we have to invest," he said.
Kent, meanwhile, is working on legislation to get more students counselors into Minnesota schools, as
Minnesota ranks 46 out of 50 states with its "abysmal student-to-counselor ratio," according to Kent.
Sieben is authoring a bill to bring pre-K to more of Minnesota four-year-old children. Sieben is a mother,
and said that she's seen the benefits of high quality pre-school in her own district.
"All children, regardless of income, should be able to attend a high quality pre-school program. We don't
say that children can only attend third or fifth grade if they can afford to pay for it, and families shouldn't
have to make that difficult decision for their four-year-olds," she said.
The education bills are in the early stages of committee review, and will eventually join together in an
education omnibus bill before reaching House and Senate floors. The Legislature ends its session no
later than May 23.
Daniel covers Faribault government, business and public safety. Reach him at 507-333-3128 or on
Twitter @Dan ielBorgertpoepping.
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3/28/2016 Local senators author bills identified as Education Committee's top priorities
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