Transcript Highlights:

• This is from the MDE language.
• <00:25:59.320> on uh the language on uh the language on 26.8<00:26:01.600> is<00:26
• language other than English. reported on um the target language of reported on um the target language
• language other it's reporting on that language other than Thank you, members.
• Section 6 is the language applicable to a Tier 2 license and the corresponding language for the Tier

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Yeah, there is statutory language on that.
• >> Yeah, there there is statutory language >> Yeah, there there is statutory language
• Budget language junior and senior year.
• > courses must have had all those English courses must have had all those English courses taken
• <02:10:47.679> diversity, the use of the language diversity, the use of the language diversity

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:00:00 Approval of Minutes: 0:01:45 Federal Education Updates 0:02:12 Dual Credit Updates: 0:43:38 Kentucky State University's Doctoral Program Request: 01:27:08 Postsecondary Accreditation: 1:49:05 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations: 2:14:48 Adjournment 2:16:31, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the previous meeting minutes, and heard a presentation from Austin Reid of the National Conference of State Legislatures on education-related provisions in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). Reid said the law is projected to increase the federal deficit over 10 years, with major savings coming from Medicaid, student loan changes, and SNAP. He focused on how those changes could affect schools, including possible effects on free and reduced-price meal certification, state funding formulas that use SNAP as a proxy for low-income status, and Medicaid-funded school services for students with disabilities. Reid also outlined the new federal scholarship tax credit, which gives a dollar-for-dollar credit for donations to qualifying scholarship-granting organizations. He said families up to 300% of area median income may benefit, the program begins in 2027, and states must opt in and designate eligible organizations. He noted unresolved questions about whether states can add their own criteria and said Treasury regulations will be important. He also described the expansion of 529 plans to cover more K-12 and postsecondary expenses. On higher education, Reid explained a new workforce Pell grant option for short-term programs, with states and governors playing a role in determining eligible programs. He said the programs must meet placement, completion, and earnings measures and that implementation is expected to be tight before the July 1, 2026 effective date. He also reviewed student loan changes, including lower institutional loan limits, prorated borrowing for part-time enrollment, new caps on graduate and Parent PLUS loans, and a new earnings-based accountability standard that could make some programs ineligible for student loans if graduates earn too little. No votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• increase in excused absences among all students, but a 417% increase among students whose first language
• <00:17:31.919> is<00:17:32.080> not<00:17:32.320> English,<00:17:33.520> 116%
• <00:17:34.559> increase language is not English, 116% increase language is not English, 116%
• is not English, are the very students who on average have the most academic ground to gain in Rochester
• My students are birth to five years, so I have the literal youngest and first learners in our district

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The meeting focused on the impact of recent ICE enforcement activity in Minnesota, especially on schools, students, and families. Speakers, including legislators, superintendents, a school board chair, teachers, parents, and a student, described fear in immigrant and non-immigrant communities, increased absenteeism, disrupted school routines, and broader trauma affecting children’s mental health and learning. Several speakers said students were staying home, families were avoiding bus stops and public places, and educators were taking on extra duties such as transporting students, delivering food, and helping with housing and remote learning options. Testimony included specific examples from Columbia Heights, Fidley Public Schools, Rochester, and Maple Grove. Speakers reported detained students and family members, canceled in-person classes in some districts, expanded virtual learning, and sharp attendance declines; one superintendent cited more than 530 additional daily absences in Rochester and large increases in excused absences among multilingual, low-income, Asian-American, and Latino students. A parent and student speaker described organizing neighborhood safety efforts and a planned student walkout to demand safe busing, suspension of a policy that unenrolls students after 15 consecutive absences, and a pause on standardized testing. The speakers repeatedly called for ICE to be removed from schools and from Minnesota, and urged elected officials to act to protect children and educators. One senator reflected on democracy, liberty, and freedom from fear, linking the situation to the purpose of public education. No formal committee vote or legislative action was taken during the excerpt; the session ended with a transition to questions and a call for community responsibility and support.

Transcript Highlights:

• The same way, you know, our languages are dying, and we're speaking more English, so I just encourage
• Navajo language than any other language that they're aware of.
• So the Navajo Nation does have its language as the official language.
• Our low-income families, our children with disabilities, our English language learners, and those are
• English language learners, low-income students, and students with disabilities' constitutional rights

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a whole program, ELL, for English language learners.
• We have a whole program, ELL, for English language learners.
• It has also impacted our teachers in world languages when they record students for language.
• But I don't have any language in my language that says, um, that they should be disclosing or should
• have any language in my language<00:43:32.640> that<00:43:32.960> says<00:43:34.079>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My English name is Mary Owen.
• <00:02:46.120> name<00:02:46.280> is blh my clink name is my English name is blh my
• clink name is my English name is Mary<00:02:46.760> Owen<00:02:47.239> I<00:02:47.319>
• Learners are telling us loud and clear they're ready to learn 24/7. They need different devices.
• are telling us loud and 24/7 Learners are telling us loud and clear<00:55:32.000> they're<00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the administration's freeze on over $6 billion of education. funding for six programs related to English
• Agricultural work includes Title 3A programs, which support instruction for English learners to help
• students, including immigrant children and youth, achieve English language proficiency so that they can
• Or language assistance, which have been predominant.
• Executive order announced about two weeks ago to make English the national language of the United States

Transcript Highlights:

• I have so many fears when I was trying to acquire the English language that even when I had a master's
• I HAVE SO MANY FEARS WHEN I WAS TRYING TO   275 ACQUIRE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE THAT EVEN WHEN
• Our second language, in this case English, like you, this is still for me a work in progress.
• But it is a work in progress even with our native language, because sometimes with the native language
• you are a perfectionist, and when we try to acquire the second language...

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered two PCS bills. PCS for HB 1059, by Rep. Booth, would designate the first week of November as Florida Speech and Debate Week to recognize speech and debate programs and the educators, coaches, judges, and school districts that support them. Supporters, including students and advocates, testified that speech and debate builds critical thinking, civics knowledge, confidence, and respectful civil discourse, and several members praised the students’ testimony and the program’s value. The bill was reported favorably by a 14-0 vote. The committee then heard PCS for HB 851, by Rep. Long, which requires each school district’s professional learning system to include at least one annual autism-specific training opportunity for teachers and school-based administrators, developed with the Center for Autism and grounded in evidence-based practices. The sponsor said the bill is intended to give educators practical tools to support students with autism, while members asked questions about scope, virtual training, charter schools, and the relationship to existing law. Public testimony and member debate largely supported the bill, with speakers emphasizing the need for better educator preparation and inclusion for students with autism. The bill also passed unanimously, 14-0, and was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, members and the chair offered brief closing remarks thanking colleagues and staff and reflecting on the committee’s work, with the chair noting it may have been the committee’s last meeting of the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not every school has English language learners. Every school has a bottom 25%.
• Not every school has English language learners. Every school has a bottom 25%.
• Not every school has English language learners. Every school has a bottom 25%.
• Not every school has English language learners. Every school has a bottom 25%.
• State Board of Education adopted increased new standards for both math and English language arts and

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the point of that language is >> I see.
• She has a master's degree in English education.
• We met overseas as English education.
• language arts.
• identify and support dyslexic learners. identify and support dyslexic learners.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Education met on February 17 and announced it would limit public testimony to one minute because more than a thousand testimonies were expected on one measure. The first bill heard was HB 1934, relating to the Imagination Library of Hawaii. The state librarian and Friends of the Library supported the bill, saying the program is a proven, cost-effective way to improve early literacy and should be expanded statewide for children ages 0 to 5. Friends of the Library said the current 50/50 match requirement would be too difficult to meet immediately and asked for state funding for the first few years to help launch the expansion. Testimony included eight supporters and one opponent, and members asked whether the proposal was an expansion of an existing program; the state librarian said it would expand service beyond currently targeted communities. The committee then heard HB 20004, which would extend the floating librarian pilot program. The state librarian, Department of Education, HSTA, and several individuals testified in support. Supporters said the program helps address staffing needs and improves student readiness, especially for college and information literacy. One retired community college librarian said school librarians help students prepare for college and are increasingly important in teaching critical evaluation of misinformation and AI-generated content. Members asked about implementation of the existing pilot, including recruitment of certified librarians for neighbor island and Oahu complex areas; DOE said those positions had been identified and recruitment was underway, and existing funds remained intact. The final major discussion was HB 2398, which clarifies the library system’s role in RNMSP-related projects and public library construction on or near school land. The state librarian and public library system supported the bill, while the Department of Education and Attorney General’s office raised concerns about vague language, especially the phrase “land controlled by the board,” and suggested amendments. In questioning, the state librarian explained that the bill was prompted by conflicts on shared or adjacent school/public library sites, including traffic, pickup and drop-off access, and other operational issues. DOE described significant disruption from one project’s traffic changes and said planning for such projects should involve early coordination and formal agreements. The state librarian responded that the new bill would clarify oversight and help avoid delays and disputes over property control and future renovations.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we see several kinds of learners. And so in our school, we did much like Orange County.
• But also making sure that the parents, because a lot of times if they don’t speak English, they can’t
• help their students with their English homework.
• So also extending some of those dual-language programs to the parents to help them also be more helpful
• But believe it or not, 45% of our children come from non-English-speaking homes, which a lot of people

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met to review Florida’s cell phone and social media literacy law, with Representative Brad Yeager describing the 2023 policy as aimed at removing classroom distractions and teaching students how to use social media responsibly. He said the law was intended to keep phones out of classrooms unless used for instruction, require social media literacy education, and limit access to certain sites on school Wi-Fi and government devices. Yeager said feedback since passage has been mixed: many teachers support it and some have adopted inexpensive shoe-organizer or pouch systems, but implementation varies by school and administrator enforcement. He said he is not currently pursuing a broader statewide mandate. Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez and Timber Creek High School Principal Mr. Wasco described Orange County’s approach as bell-to-bell phone restrictions, while Pasco County’s Dr. Zetchy described a similar policy with some flexibility during lunch or passing periods at the high school level. Both districts said the policy was implemented with parent communication, town halls, surveys, and transition periods, and that concerns about emergencies were addressed by allowing phones to be returned at the end of the day and by establishing procedures for parent contact. They reported few theft problems and said discipline issues related to phones have generally been manageable, though some teachers still struggle with enforcement or with students trying to evade the rules. A major portion of the discussion focused on social media literacy instruction. Orange County said it uses counselor-led programs, Canvas courses, resiliency days, and curriculum materials to teach students about cyberbullying, human trafficking, privacy, and the permanence of online posts, with progress tracked through the learning platform. Pasco said it has some resiliency modules but lacks a fully built-out, pre-made social media curriculum and would welcome more guidance from DOE, especially for high school classrooms where instructional time is limited. Members also asked about student anxiety, 504/IEP accommodations, caregiver students, and parent education; the districts said exceptions are handled through school committees and that parent academies and district resources are being used to help families set boundaries and understand the risks and benefits of phones and social media. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We built it in the same assessment portal that they use for the English language arts, the science, or
• On page 1132, accounting unit 2516 is our Title III English learners.
• language learner kids, so that's all in that historical documentation, and then you can see how much
• <04:51:25.160> language special education English language special education English language
• That language Mickey has.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division II committee heard a Department of Education budget presentation from Commissioner Frank Edelblut and CFO Tammy Valen-cour. The department outlined its organizational structure and emphasized that it functions largely as a flow-through agency for school funding. The commissioner reviewed general fund and Education Trust Fund items, including state aid, dropout prevention, special education, building aid, lease aid, charter schools, Education Freedom Accounts, and the district adequacy calculation. He also highlighted the public school infrastructure fund, saying the state has invested well over $50 million in school safety since 2018 for measures such as access controls, locks, and window film, and argued that safety spending should be ongoing rather than reactive. Members asked about the variability in the school infrastructure line, special education aid, and the Discovery Education learning platform. Edelblut explained that some safety funding had come from one-time surplus appropriations rather than the agency line, and said special education aid was underappropriated because districts submitted more invoices than expected; he said the governor added $16 million to address the shortfall. He also described CTE renovation funding, noting four projects were initially proposed but only Jaffrey and Milford were still moving forward, with local votes required and the state covering 75% of costs. He said Milford’s project was omitted from the governor’s budget by oversight. The department also reviewed enrollment trends, noting public school enrollment has fallen from about 230,000 students in 2002 to about 185,000 today. Edelblut clarified that charter students are not eligible for Education Freedom Accounts, while EFA students attending non-public schools are counted as EFA students. He described several one-time surplus-funded initiatives, including Student Clearinghouse, MTSSB work, civics curriculum development, computer science education, and adult education. He also discussed a $4 million CTE tuition and transportation grant, saying it was kept as a competitive grant rather than a formula grant to avoid creating an ongoing maintenance-of-effort commitment that could jeopardize federal Perkins funding. In the final portion, Edelblut identified prioritized needs in the department’s budget, especially funding for a state administrator for assessment to support the legislatively required civics assessment, and additional support for the Discovery Education platform. He said every school in the state is using the platform and cited more than 1.5 million educator engagements, while a member raised concerns about mixed reviews and uneven district awareness of the program. No votes or formal actions were taken during the presentation and question period.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether they're acquiring their English language skills or earning a high school equivalency credential
• It's just clarifying some language on the existing plans in the schools.
• And we're just adding this language and clarifying this language.
• This is cleaning and clarifying language, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, gentlelady.
• We are clarifying and making the language more appropriate for these plans.

Bills: HB111, HB103, HB60, HB108, HB120, HB145, HB154, HB164, HB291, HJR6, HR1, HJM2, HJM3, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50, HB38, HB47, HB63, HB64, HB127, HB165, HB184, HB200, HM20, HM51

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that was really a conversation about the language of the state constitution.
• learner progress, suspension rates, and college and career readiness.
• One was how to implement a high-performing, learner-centered, future-ready education system.
• learners.
• Bilingual programs, language development supports, and qualified bilingual teachers.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate Education and Budget Committee hearing focused on Governor Newsom’s education governance proposal, which would reorganize state K-12 education leadership by shifting day-to-day management of the Department of Education from the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction to a governor-appointed education commissioner, while giving the superintendent a more policy-focused role and voting seats on the State Board of Education and the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Brooks Allen, for the State Board of Education and Governor’s office, argued the change would reduce fragmented authority, improve accountability, and align California with other states that use appointed chief education officials. Amber Alexander of the Department of Finance outlined the budget-neutral staffing transfers and transition timeline, and LAO analyst Sarah Cortez said the LAO supports the shift to an appointed commissioner but recommends Senate confirmation, clearer statutory duties, preserved legislative oversight, and a cost-neutral fiscal plan. Committee members raised substantial concerns about timing, constitutionality, voter expectations, and whether the proposal would actually improve student outcomes. Senator Cabaldon argued the change would effectively alter the meaning of the constitutionally created superintendent office during an election year without voter approval, and questioned whether governance restructuring has evidence of improving achievement or should instead yield savings. Other senators asked how the new structure would work in practice, who would be accountable if it failed, whether a governor-appointed commissioner was the best model, and whether local districts would truly see clearer lines of authority. Allen responded that the Legislature retains plenary authority over education, that the transition would be minimally disruptive, and that the proposal was designed to create a single line of management and clearer communication for local districts. The discussion also covered the Legislature’s role in curriculum and education policy. LAO staff explained that the Legislature has broad authority over education and can direct curriculum-related policy, though it has generally delegated detailed curriculum work to the State Board and the Instructional Quality Commission. Several senators said the current system already creates confusion for voters and local educators, while others argued the proposal adds another layer of bureaucracy and overpromises on results. No vote was taken at this hearing; members continued questioning witnesses and indicated the proposal would be examined further in later panels, including testimony from local education leaders.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second one based on English as a<00:21:05.120> second<00:21:05.360> language.
• And the English as a second language is very small. The special ed is not being ignored.
• as a second And uh the the English as a second language<00:40:13.680> is<00:40:14.000> very
• language learners.
• <01:16:41.679> language special education and English language special education and English

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And, um, as an English teacher, much.
• <00:58:40.319> This<00:58:40.640> is only in English. This is only in English.
• However, of all of the languages spoken by Minnesota's multilingual learners, only 10% have national
• The section also strikes language on lines 19.16 and 19.7, as that language already appears in lines
• > that Instead, we recommend language that Instead, we recommend language that maintains<01:36

Bills: HF3698, HF3067, HF3730

Keywords: libraries, electronic books, digital audiobooks, licensing agreements, public access, paraprofessional, paraprofessional qualifications, education support staff, teacher aide, teacher assistant, special education, Title I, federal personnel qualifications, Minnesota Department of Education, school district, charter school, cooperative unit, Read Act, reading instruction, math instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• Nationwide young learners losing interest in skilled labor.
• We speak 21 languages at Ruvos and that naturally happened. I remember I asked a question one day.
• I said, how many languages we speak here? I speak Spanish and English, and we did a survey.
• It was 21 languages which were very diverse company. Family is extremely important to us.
• I came home and told all my kids, y'all to think about that so for my English degree daughter.

Transcript Highlights:

• the administration has now formally recommended to Congress that it terminate funding for TRIO, uh, English
• learners under Title II, adult education, and migrant student education.
• page 5, Daniel, where that same section, the administration recommends eliminating funding for TRIO, English
• language acquisition, adult education, migrant students, how much of our budget is that?
• Um, English language acquisition Title II is about $5 million a year that we get from the federal government

Transcript Highlights:

• institutions, discovery, certain other workshops, you know, such as AI clinics that reach students and learners
• It is machine learning is large language models and all of those techniques have different applications
• We have English majors right history.
• Our workforce system also supports adult learners. And those are individuals.
• And Florida's adult learners are rising to the challenge and the 24 25 years. 71.2 7% of adult general

Transcript Highlights:

• So, determine whether compensatory revenue concentration formula—the language isn't evaluate the best
• isn't evaluate the best uses I language isn't evaluate the best uses I guess.<00:42:05.440> So
• learner aid, we have truancy, we're doing all these other things to get to certain students, and we
• learner aid, we have truancy, we're doing all these other things to get to certain students, and we
• Because we have all the, I mean, we have English learner aid, we have truancy, we're doing all these

Bills: HF1048, HF1049, HF745, HF2210

Keywords: charter schools, education funding, revenue calculation, general education revenue, special education, school library aid, education finance, school districts, funding eligibility, compensatory revenue, task force, free meals, school funding, education equity, HF2210, school unemployment aid, Minnesota Department of Education, general fund appropriation, unemployment insurance, unemployment claims