E-12 education policy omnibus bill takes shape

Taking a deliberate step toward easing burdened school districts from more requirements, lawmakers are focused on education policies that would refine existing programs and empower local districts to succeed.

Sponsored by House Education Innovation Policy Committee Chair Rep. Sondra Erickson (R-Princeton), HF1376, the “do no harm” omnibus E-12 education policy bill, was approved as amended Thursday by the committee. It now heads to the House Education Finance Committee.

The companion, SF1222, sponsored by Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake), awaits action by the Senate E-12 Policy Committee.

“This is a proposal to set the stage for our students, teachers, school boards and parents to have a year in which they can take a breath and refine what we have asked them to do in previous years,” Erickson said.

WATCH Committee discussion on the bill 

A pair of amendments offered by Rep. David Bly (DFL-Northfield) to alter the “E-learning days” provision in the bill were not adopted. It would have allowed a district to opt out of using the days if it hadn’t reached its limit of snow days needed to meet the required amount of instruction hours.

Erickson said she would work with Bly to find compromise language going forward.

An amendment offered by Rep. Drew Christensen (R-Savage) that would create a youth sports concussion working group was withdrawn.

The committee adopted amendments that would:

• align the term “disabilities” with other state statutory definitions;
• require that an online learning provider not limit enrollment to discriminate against any group;
• mandate the Department of Education adopt the most recent Society of Health and Physical Educators benchmark standards for physical education;
• make corrections to teacher data disaggregation collection dates and requirements; and
• require a district to make “cultural competency” training opportunities available to teachers.

What's in the bill?

The following are select bills that have been incorporated in part or in whole into the omnibus K-12 education policy bill:

• HF836 (Erickson)
• HF877 (Erickson)
• HF1083 (Anselmo)
• HF1339 (Erickson)
• HF1398 (Jessup)
• HF1421 (Drazkowski)
• HF1966 (Peterson)