EdAction
Maple River Education Coalition PAC
105 Peavey Rd, St 116 
Chaska, MN  55318 
952-361-4931
http://www.EdAction.org
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Update from the Capitol: Contact Legislators Now!

March 2, 2000

This year's legislative session is short, two months shorter than usual.  So activity at the Capitol is wilder and less conventional. This flurry tends to create unusual political maneuvering.

The Profile of Learning, in the estimation of MREDCOPAC, seems to have a predetermined future. The predetermination appears to be in the minds of Rep. Harry Mares and Sen. Larry Pogemiller. From various statements by both education committee leaders, there does not appear to be the will or the desire to replace the Profile of Learning with anything else, including the Northstar Standard. Both maintain they want the Profile "fixed."

On Tuesday, February 29^th, men and women from across Minnesota testified before the House Education Committee, chaired by Rep. Mares. (Our Testimony.  Our Report on the Hearing.)  Most of the testimony expressed some degree of displeasure with the Profile of Learning, from incidentals to major objections. Not all testifiers specifically stated their support for one of the ten Profile of Learning bills currently on the table. However, from the testifiers that did support a specific bill, the Northstar Standard was overwhelmingly the one most endorsed.

We know that you have been calling the Capitol. We know that you have been doing your part. We know that you have been supporting the Northstar Standard. Emails are pouring in but many legislators are not looking at them.

There are ten Profile of Learning bills sitting in the House education committee. It appears the committee leadership will pick his favorite from those ten bills and next Tuesday they will amend it until they get something that will pass the committee. We have to have a bill we can support come out of that committee. Rep. Tony Kielkucki’s "Northstar Standard" is the only bill that does not buy more time for the Profile of Learning.

The Senate, in the meantime, may take up the Profile of Learning at any moment. Senate Education Committee Chairman, Senator Larry Pogemiller has a habit of giving little prior notice.

There is also talk they may take their favorite version and simply add it to the K-12 Omnibus Finance bill. If a Profile of Learning bill is attached to the K-12 Omibus Finance bill which includes some much needed vocational funding, it will be hard for legislators to vote against it, good or bad. MREDCOPAC would like to see the Profile of Learning bill, whatever it is, stand alone. It gives a clearer picture of each legislator’s position on this issue by his or her vote.

What to do:

We are asking you to get your friends together, give them this information, and immediately call or visit both the House and Senate leadership. In the House, that is Speaker of the House, Rep. Steve Sviggum, and Education Committee Chair Rep. Harry Mares. In the Senate, that is Senate Majority Leader, Senator Roger Moe and Senate Education Committee Chair, Senator Larry Pogemiller.

It is time for citizens of Minnesota to make their personal pilgrimages to the state Capitol. We need time face-to-face with these political leaders, with members of the education committees and with our own legislators. This includes personal meetings or personal notes left on their desks, so they know you were there. Set up an appointment, if you can, before Tuesday, March 7.

We must tell them:

It is time to deliver what the people of this state have been told they would receive from the Profile of Learning: genuine academics, an end to social promotion, local control, and public accountability! Rep. Tony Kielkucki's "Northstar Standard" /HF3768/SF3561/ is the only piece of legislation that will deliver what we have been promised.  We do not want the Profile of Learning in any form.  It is not fixable.  It is outcome-based education, it allows students to pass without true knowledge, it takes over the local school district, and has no accountability to the taxpayer.

We will only support Rep. Tony Kielkucki's "Northstar Standard" /HF3768/SF3561/!

Your personal visit or your call to the Capitol must be made by next Tuesday, March 7. It is important to refer to this bill with Rep. Tony Kielcucki’s name because they could take another bill and call it the Northstar Standard even if it continues the Profile of Learning. Contact Legislators now!

Thank you all for your continuous steadfast dedication to your children and to children all over this state. Thank you for the support you have given teachers. Thank you for the warm letters of support that we receive. Thank you for your financial contributions and most importantly thank you for your prayers.

Sincerely,

Renee T. Doyle,
President
Maple River Education Coalition Political Action Committee

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