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MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Today MinnCAN: The Minnesota Campaign for Achievement Now Executive Director Daniel Sellers released the following statement in response to the fiscal note that was attached hours before H.F. 2 was scheduled for a debate on the House floor this afternoon:
"More than four years ago, the Legislature passed and Gov. Dayton signed a bill with the intent of streamlining the process by which experienced and licensed teachers from other states could bring their talents to Minnesota classrooms. Since then, almost nothing has happened to clarify or improve that process, and by many accounts, it's actually gotten more confusing and frustrating for both local school districts and out-of-state educators.
"H.F. 2 would finally provide clarity to our licensure process for out-of-state teachers and elevate the teaching profession by acknowledging that educators' time, experience and success in the classroom—including classrooms in other states—matter. We have long advocated for such a policy, and we continue to hear daily from teachers who would benefit from its' passage. We're encouraged that this bill has already passed in both the House Education Finance and Education Policy Innovation committees, and that efforts to attract great teachers to Minnesota have bipartisan support in both chambers.
"Above all, we want a solution that will work for students, teachers, parents and administrators. We support providing resources to the Board of Teaching and the Minnesota Department of Education to ensure that, unlike the 2011 bill that was passed but never implemented, any new legislation passed this year is actually rolled out, with fidelity and urgency.
"We're disappointed that today's last-minute fiscal note delayed meaningful consideration of H.F. 2. However, we're hopeful that the Legislature will soon be able to discuss the merits of the bill and pass a comprehensive solution to a problem it thought it solved in 2011. Our schools and students certainly can't wait another four years."
For more information on MinnCAN, or for interviews with Daniel Sellers, contact Ariana Kiener: 612-666-3066 or ariana.kiener@minncan.org.
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About MinnCAN: Launched in 2011, MinnCAN: The Minnesota Campaign for Achievement Now is an education advocacy nonprofit. MinnCAN is a movement of nearly 12,000 Minnesotans–and growing–dedicated to creating the political will to enact smart public policies to ensure that every Minnesota child has access to a great public school. Learn more at www.minncan.org.