PRESS RELEASE
March 27, 2018
ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton today called on the Minnesota Legislature to protect prekindergarten programs from being eliminated for 4,000 students at more than 59 school districts and charter schools across the state. These schools stand to lose state funding unless the Legislature takes action to protect prekindergarten investments for Minnesota four-year-olds.
Read full press release.
Back to top
ACTION ITEMS
During the 2017 Minnesota legislative session, an appropriation of $1 million was made to establish a foster care transportation pilot project to provide reimbursement to eligible LEA/child welfare agency partnerships for qualifying transportation expenses at the end of the school year. In order to submit the application, please review the information sheet, and return the signature and assurances page along with a copy of the approved and enacted interagency transportation agreement to Beth Chaplin. Applications must be submitted by April 10, 2018. Applicants will receive notification of the receipt of the application, as well as when the application has been processed and approved. Application and instructions to participate in the pilot project. For additional assistance with the application, please contact Beth Chaplin.
Back to top
Do you want an opportunity to ensure more of your graduating students enroll in postsecondary education? Founded by a 2012 Hopkins High School graduate, The Universal Scholarship Application (TUSA) is a one-stop solution for graduating high school students to manage the financial aid and scholarship application process.
Applying to college can be challenging for students — figuring out how to pay for it shouldn't be. TUSA is a new initiative designed to help students find scholarships, apply using a common application, and tally up the government and institutional aid so that they are more financially informed in the college decision-making process. TUSA is a completely electronic platform that will also allow school staff to streamline the scholarship search and marketing process. TUSA is looking for metro area school districts to participate in the 2019-20 pilot program in order to provide a great service to your students and to gather feedback during the development process.
For more information on how your district can participate, visit the TUSA website and enter “Minnesota” as the password. Contact Mimi Aboubaker with any questions.
Back to top
Join Commissioner Cassellius and the Minnesota Department of Education staff for an important discussion about school and district accountability, reporting and recognition as we prepare for implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act this fall. Meetings will be held throughout the state during the month of April. Topics will include statewide priorities, equity, accountability, school support and improvement, and communicating with your community about ESSA. View the flyer for more information and register now!
Back to top
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Three updated operating referendum reports have been posted on the MDE website under District, Schools and Educators > Business and Finance > School Finance > General Education > Referendum. All three reports have been updated to include the calendar year 2017 election results.
-
Referendum Phaseout Details Through Calendar Year 2017 Elections now has information regarding the amount of voter approved referendum authority that is phasing out. On the report tab you can scroll down to the middle of the report and look at the year the voters approved the authority. The last three columns provide the phaseout amount and in the case of inflation (CPI) adjusted authority an estimated renewal amount based on the most recent CPI numbers is listed.
-
Operating Referendum Simulation Through Calendar Year 2017 Elections provides a tool to estimate referendum revenue. The yellow highlighted fields can be used to change data including pupil information. It allows a district to add additional referendum authority and calculates new projected referendum revenue.
-
Operating Referendum History 1991-2017 provides historical information regarding referendum elections in the state.
Please review these reports. If you have any questions contact Michael Schwartz, 651-582-8399.
Back to top
Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 was the first year of Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) revenue. Please read the Request for FY 2017 Additional Documentation for Final LTFM memorandum which includes links to two excel spreadsheets (LTFM Approved vs. Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting System (UFARS) Cost Reconciliation and LTFM Interim Aid Entitlement) for review and reconciliation of FY 2017 approved LTFM expenditures versus final, audited UFARS expenditures. Carefully evaluate this information and follow the steps outlined in the memo to ensure the accuracy of final LTFM revenue.
Please note that the additional documentation must be submitted no later than April 26, 2018, to be considered in final LTFM revenue authority.
A separate notification will be sent to business managers. For questions in regards to the FY 2017 LTFM Revenue Reconciliation Memo, please contact Sarah C. Miller.
Back to top
WEBINARS AND TRAININGS
On Thursday, April 5 users with access to Secure Reports will be able to download secure rosters with consistent attendance data, including school- and district-level summary data that will be used in the new accountability system under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). A summary of the consistent attendance calculation and an FAQ are currently available on MDE’s ESSA webpage.
A webinar will be held the following Monday, April 9 at 10 a.m. for those interested in learning more about the calculation or with questions.
Access webinar
Access code: 804 497 831
US toll free number: 844-302-0362
US toll number: +1-206-596-0378
Back to top
Black students represent 10.7 percent of Minnesota’s total student population; however, black students account for 38.8 percent of suspensions, expulsions and exclusions. Special education students represent 13.8 percent of the total student population and 42.1 percent of suspensions, expulsions and exclusions. As part of Minnesota’s focus on equity and addressing inequities in our education systems, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) in partnership with the Midwest Comprehensive Center will be offering a number of new supports for districts. These activities are open to all districts, and are designed to support districts as they work to who are working on or beginning to work on addressing disproportionate rates of suspensions and expulsions for students of color, American Indian students and special education students.
Kickoff Webinar
MDE will offer a kickoff webinar titled “Resourcing and Aligning Strategies for Addressing Disproportionate Suspension and Expulsion Rates with WBWF Plans” on April 24 at 11 a.m. In this webinar, Stephanie Graff will provide examples of funding sources for district strategies to address disproportionalities. Stephanie will also provide guidance for how districts can connect their disproportionalities work with other initiatives and activities in their World’s Best Workforce plans. The webinar will also include an overview of other upcoming supports for districts and schools.
Webinar Information
Topic: Resourcing and Aligning Strategies for Addressing Disproportionate Suspension and Expulsion Rates with WBWF Plans
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 24, 2018, 11 a.m.
Event number: 801 324 471
Register for the webinar
Minnesota Disproportionalities in Suspensions and Expulsions In-Person Convening
The Midwest Comprehensive Center will be hosting two in-person convenings in May for district teams regarding addressing disproportionalities. Districts are invited to send teams of superintendents, principals, teachers, district personnel and community members. Teams at the convenings will:
- Learn MDE’s new equity definition.
- Meet representatives from exemplar districts who have addressed disproportionalities in their districts and charter schools.
- Learn data and root cause analysis strategies to support identification, monitoring, and evaluation of disproportionality in suspensions and expulsions.
- Access resources and subject matter experts to address disproportionalities in their districts and charter schools.
Review the draft agenda for the convenings.
The convenings are scheduled for:
May 2 at 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at MDE, 1500 Highway 36 West, Roseville, MN in Conference Center B, Room 16
May 16 at 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at Cragun's Conference Center and Legacy Courses, 11000 Craguns Drive, Brainerd, MN
District teams can register for either convening.
Back to top
|
