First, thanks to all of you who have been responding to the Action Alerts to call and email all Senators about the three provisions in S.F. 867 that are significant problems – the moratorium, the CAP and the requirement that personnel involved in administrative, supervisory or instructional leadership positions in schools over 350 students have a valid administrator license.
Our team at the legislature is being told by Senators that they are receiving calls and emails – your efforts are making a difference. All through the past week there have been countless meetings with Senators about these issues and other provisions regarding the Charter School Reform and Accountability Bill – including a number of conversations and meetings with Senator Saltzman on the full range of issues contained in the bill.
On Wednesday (March 25th) the Senate E-12 Education Committee will take up the bill and hear amendments … it is anticipated that the Committee will adopt some version of the bill and then lay it over for consideration in the Omnibus Education Bill.
If that is done, it will mean that there is a charter school reform and accountability bill which has passed both a policy and finance committee in both chambers - the deadline for policy bills to have passed a policy committee is Friday, March 27th.
While this may sound like we are nearing the end of the process, it just means that we will be entering the next phase of the legislative process. Remember, we still have two months before the legislature adjourns and K-12 is almost always the last bill of the last day of the session. The legislative process is like a rollercoaster ride: there are highs and lows – moments of exhilaration and other moments when you panic – but unless the ride goes off the track, you do survive even though you are somewhat shaken by the experience.
Final Comment
Speaking of being shaken, last week we heard some disturbing reports that there are some Minnesota folks who are spreading word around the country that the legislative situation involving charters schools is “dire” – because of the moratorium and CAP proposals. While there are serious and potentially crippling proposals in the Senate version of the bill that we are and must be doing everything to defeat, to spread the word nationally that the situation is “dire” demonstrates a lack of political acumen and a disregard for the consequences of such statements.
The challenges we face in the legislative process are serious … and they need serious, thoughtful and timely action – not hysterical comments to folks around the country that the sky is falling.
Eugene Piccolo