Education-related legislation overview for the week of January 16 

• Legislators discussed banning suspension of students in grades K-3 and to increase the number of teachers of color and American Indian teachers. 

• In the Senate Education Finance committee, on Jan. 17, there was a brief introduction to the Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Willie Jett and the completion of a fiscal overview presentation left incomplete at a previous committee hearing. On Jan. 19, the committee discussed legislation pertaining to supplemental aid for transportation, nutrition, English learner services, and special education. 

• On Jan. 18, in the House Education Finance committee, they discussed legislation  requiring school districts to provide menstrual products and they heard an overview from Minnesota Public Libraries about the work of MPL. In the House Education Finance committee, on Jan. 19, legislators also had a “Student Voices Day.” 

• In Senate Education Policy, legislators discussed a bill that would make Juneteenth an official state holiday as well as legislation requiring school districts to provide access to menstrual products. 

• Aside from Teachers of Color and American Indian Teachers legislation and the suspensions-related legislation, House Education Policy also discussed legislation to establish Indigenous People’s Day as a state holiday, interpreter requirements, and sharing educational data of tribally enrolled or descendent students with Tribal nations. 

Legislature schedule for the week of January 23: 

• Jan. 23 -
  At 12:30 p.m., the Senate Education Policy committee will discuss a bill pertaining to student discipline. 

• Jan. 24 -
  In the Senate Education Finance committee, at 8:30 am., other legislation on student discipline and the establishment of and appropriation of funding for student support personnel aid will be discussed. At 10: 30 a.m., House Education Finance will discuss a bill providing school breakfast and lunch for all Minnesota students. At 3 p.m. in House Education Policy, several bills will be discussed. These include a bill pertaining to the hiring of teacher of color and American Indian teachers, a bill pertaining to student discipline, and a bill prohibiting “malicious and sadistic conduct involving race, gender, religion, sexual harassment, sexual orientation and sexual exploitation.”

• Jan. 25 -
  In the Senate Education Finance committee, at 8:30 a.m., a bill pertaining to property tax levies will be discussed. In the House Education Finance committee, at 10:30 a.m., a bill pertaining to menstrual product access will be discussed. In the House Education Policy committee, several bills will be discussed. These include a bill pertaining to lead testing and remediation, a bill pertaining to mental health services, and a bill to “establish a pilot program to improve educational outcomes and accountability.” 

• Jan. 26 -
  On Jan. 26, in House Education Finance at 10:30 a.m., the governor’s budget for education will be presented to the committee. 

This schedule is subject to change.