The House Education Policy Committee last week heard from a broad range of education advocates, including MREA, about meeting the needs of students as they recover from COVID-19 related educational loss.

A House bill is moving forward to respond. HF4, sponsored by Rep. Hodan Hassan (DFL-Mpls), would help stabilize school revenues by using pupil counts from the previous school year if the district saw a decline in pupil counts this year.

The bill would also fund a broad range of extended time and after school programs, math and reading recovery programs and prioritize special needs students as schools bring students back to in person learning.

What’s Next

The House Education Finance committee will advance HF 4 this Thursday. Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-North St. Paul), who also the minority lead on Senate E-12, is carrying the companion bill.

It’s unclear if the Senate GOP majority will advance a similar state funded educational relief package in the short run as the House appears poised to do.