Federal E-12 Issues

MREA collaborates with rural education representatives to advocate on behalf of Greater Minnesota schools on a federal level and improve the state of the rural education across America.

MREA each year also personally visits with federal lawmakers in Washington D.C. on key education issues and helps shape the national rural E-12 platform. MREA is a member of the NREAC, a national coalition of state and national organizations advocating for educational opportunities for children who live in the rural areas of the United States.

The NREAC, which MREA is a member of, currently has four key priorities:

  • Preserve critical federal funding for rural schools
  • Expand and improve federal programs to address teacher shortages in rural communities
  • Fully fund IDEA
  • Protect rural schools from privatization schemes

Each of these goals fits well within the needs of rural schools in Minnesota.

Resource Center

The U.S. Department of Education has a Rural Education Resource Center. See resources.

Monthly Federal Updates

U.S. Department of Education, Education Almanac

View the latest update

Recent News on Federal Issues

Week 12: TRA and The READ Act Updates

| Achievement & Assessment, Federal, Funding Student Needs, Other Rural News, 一 Featured, 一 HP Funding Student Needs | No Comments
Week 12: TRA and The READ Act Updates Modest TRA Changes Advance Last week, the House passed an omnibus pensions bill, HF 5040, which includes modest changes to various state...

Week 11: Senate Business Stalls While Sen. Mitchell Ethics Probe Launched

| Achievement & Assessment, Federal, Funding Student Needs, Other Rural News, 一 Featured, 一 HP Funding Student Needs | No Comments
Last Wednesday was set for a return to legislative business after a few days off for the Passover religious observance. By now most are aware the State Senator Nicole Mitchell...

Week 10: Legislative Session Enters Final Phase

| Achievement & Assessment, Federal, Funding Student Needs, Other Rural News, 一 Featured, 一 HP Funding Student Needs | No Comments
Week 10: Legislative Session Enters Final Phase Four weeks from today, the Minnesota legislature will be heading home for the summer. This is a short week due to the Passover...

MREA Map: Compensatory Changes – Impact and Projections

| Achievement & Assessment, Federal, Funding Student Needs, Other Rural News, 一 Featured, 一 HP Funding Student Needs | No Comments
MREA Map: Compensatory Changes - Impact and Projections MREA has been digging into how districts are affected by the changes to compensatory from the 2023 Legislative Session.  There are many...