Transcript Highlights:

• Similarly, on line 103, the student support personnel workforce pathway was renamed from the student
• <00:28:49.120> and<00:28:49.360> volunteer the Kerry paraprofessional and volunteer
• assistance to the paraprofessional when completing the competencies.
• <00:53:37.920> when for to the paraprofessional when for to the paraprofessional when completing
• <01:01:21.280> um change the name pipeline to pathway um change the name pipeline to pathway

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:14.240> program your own adult pathways program your own adult pathways program efforts
• opportunity to create career pathways opportunity to create career pathways for<00:59:14.240>
• reliance on the traditional pathways.
• traditional pathways traditional pathways so<01:15:21.600> mr<01:15:21.920> chair
• And the last piece of our pathway is the classroom portion.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Education Finance Committee met remotely on February 16, 2022, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the previous day by voice vote. Chair Dabney said the committee was spending the week on public school staffing shortages, especially efforts to increase and retain BIPOC teachers, and introduced testimony on the Collaborative Urban and Greater Minnesota Educators of Color Grant Program (CUGMEC) and the broader Increasing Teachers of Color Act. Testifiers from St. Thomas, Augsburg, and Hopkins described the history and impact of the legacy educator-of-color programs. Kathleen Campbell said the original Q program was created to address underrepresentation, remove financial barriers, and provide mentorship and culturally relevant support; she argued that when the grant became competitive in 2017 without additional funding, support was spread too thin and student capacity dropped. Audrey Lensmeyer described Augsburg’s East African Student-to-Teacher Program, rooted in community advocacy in Cedar-Riverside, and said it has produced strong completion and licensure outcomes. Keenan Jones shared his path from paraprofessional to teacher and district leader, emphasizing the importance of scholarships, mentorship, and outreach to high school students, including a statewide co-enrollment Intro to Teaching course. Representative Hassan then presented House File 3079, saying the bill aims to attract, prepare, complete, and retain more teachers of color and American Indian teachers through several grant and program changes, including Closing the Educational Opportunity Gap grants, Cook Mac funding, teacher mentorship and retention updates, and revisions to CUGMEC. He said the bill responds to a severe shortage of BIPOC teachers and that the requested investment is small relative to the state surplus. Student and educator testimony followed, including a third-grade student from Crookston and Ava Roots, both of whom described the importance of having teachers who reflect students’ cultures and experiences. Natalia Benjamin, the 2021 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, also testified about retention challenges for educators of color and racialized workplace treatment. The committee indicated it intended to lay over HF 3079 for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill, and Representative Richardson moved the bill to be laid over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• So under this bill there will be another pathway for all paraprofessionals to demonstrate how they meet
• paraprofessionals in title one programs. paraprofessionals in title one programs.
• > to pathway for all paraprofessionals to pathway for all paraprofessionals to demonstrate<02:
• This adds to a pathway that needs.
• Our pathway across all across Minnesota.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened under call, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then took the roll, establishing a quorum. The chamber received a House message announcing passage of Senate File 3720, a workers’ compensation bill adopting 2026 recommendations of the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, and then moved through routine author changes and motions, including sending House File 3825 to the Finance Committee and advancing House File 3298, which was described as funding the removal and replacement of underground tanks to protect water supplies. A major floor item was Senate File 4282, the education forecast-adjustment bill. Senator Kunish explained that the conference committee updated appropriations to reflect forecast changes, added language on highly qualified paraprofessionals for Title I special education, provided tribal contract aid if a permanent school fund amendment passes, allowed districts to use operating capital for utility costs, extended grants for gender-neutral bathrooms, and made two school district fund transfers. The Senate adopted the conference report and passed the bill 34-33. The Senate then considered House File 3489, which would establish a felony offense of grooming, require reporting to licensing boards, update school and mandated reporter rules, and add funding for investigators. Supporters framed it as a child-protection measure based on a survivor’s testimony and a teacher-abuse case; one member also spoke in favor, while another offered a strongly partisan critique of public education. The Senate adopted the A11 amendment, gave the bill third reading, and passed it 66-0, then recessed briefly to honor guests in the gallery. After recess, the Senate took up House File 5074, the annual claims settlement bill. Senator Clark said it appropriates just over $5.1 million for claims including exoneration payments and a permanent injury claim, highlighting compensation for James Lamar Davis, Clayton Douglas Groves, and Marvin Haynes. The bill drew some debate over the Haynes payment and the calculation for an ankle injury claim, but it ultimately passed 64-2. The final item was House File 4074, the 2026 omnibus pension bill, described as improving public safety and other public employee retirement benefits, removing a COLA delay, creating work groups on duty disability, and addressing pension provisions for probation officers, 911 telecommunicators, St. Paul teachers, and other groups; the discussion was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some highlights this past year, or this current year, is again to provide that paraprofessional
• <00:09:23.680> that<00:09:23.839> have<00:09:23.960> taken paraprofessionals that
• have taken paraprofessionals that have taken training<00:09:25.400> is<00:09:25.600> over<
• trainers in that paraprofessional trainers in that paraprofessional {slash}<00:09:37.720> kind
• ,<00:31:36.760> uh through a non-traditional pathway, uh through a non-traditional pathway

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the first ever state investment in high quality educator prep pathways provided by House
• Also, not been spoken about as much, paraprofessionals.
• I have paraprofessionals who work in my office.
• Without a willing district partner, child care programs have no pathway to engage.
• We must also include a policy lever giving eligible children in child care programs a direct pathway

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• autism service providers, qualified autism service professionals, and qualified autism service paraprofessionals
• In current statute, behavior analysts qualify autism service paraprofessionals and qualified autism service
• provider qualifications requirements for qualified autism service providers professionals and paraprofessionals
• I'm here on behalf of Advanced Behavioral Pathways in support. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to talk about the Pathway Sticker Opportunity Grant, or PEAK Aug, which is the primary mechanism
• workforce program that has been funded by you all and supported across the state to scale another pathway
• Many of our other state colleges are looking at the specialized transfer pathways as well and how to
• I'm, I guess, a paraprofessional or someone that is just entering this program.
• As a paraprofessional working in the school district that's a participating employer, they would receive

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead of working on public education, the pathway for all of us to reach the middle class, what keeps
• In particular, for us, the livelihoods of teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, and other support
• chance when they go to advocate because their principal or their school district has pulled the paraprofessional
• This action leads the children of America down a dark, dangerous, and destructive pathway that isn't

Keywords: public education, Department of Education, funding, Trump, Kassar, Elon Musk, education policy, youth advocacy, billionaire influence

Summary: This was a press conference organized by student advocates and Texas Democratic lawmakers to oppose efforts by the Trump administration and allies to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and to criticize Texas voucher proposals. Speakers argued that the department and its Office for Civil Rights are essential for enforcing civil rights protections, supporting special education, Title I, Pell Grants, career and technical education, and other federal education programs. They said eliminating the department would weaken oversight, shift power to states that have a poor record on student protections, and harm marginalized, low-income, disabled, and rural students. Congressman Greg Casar framed the issue as a transfer of public money from schools to billionaires, tying the department fight to federal budget and tax-cut debates and to Texas voucher efforts. State Representative Gene Wu said Texas public education is already near collapse and warned that losing federal support would worsen school closures, staffing shortages, and class-size increases. Representative Gina Hinojosa highlighted Texas’s past special education cap and attacks on Section 504, and said she filed bills to route federal block grants directly to schools if federal policy changes move forward. Representative Vicki Goodwin said the state should fund schools rather than vouchers and noted underfunding of special education and inflation pressures. Round Rock ISD trustee Melissa Ross and Texas AFT president Zef Capo emphasized that federal oversight protects students and that Texas has a history of underfunding and mishandling special education, meals, and other services. The final speaker, Westwood High School senior Eliza Abert, said the loss of federal education support would most harm low-income and middle-class students and called on attendees to oppose the changes. No votes were taken; the event ended with a call for public pressure on lawmakers and continued advocacy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Decades of reading research shows us how the brain develops the neural pathways necessary for children
• Additionally, software and applications are used by administrators, paraprofessionals, and parents to
• communicate, send notices... ...administrators, paraprofessionals, and parents to communicate, send
• ... ...local education agencies to provide for substantial teacher and paraprofessional involvement and
• Our mission is rooted in advancing educational equity as a pathway to social and economic mobility.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard AB 84, a charter school accountability measure focused on non-classroom-based charter schools and fraud prevention. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to respond to the A3 charter fraud case and related scandals by strengthening audits, transparency, authorizer oversight, and funding determination rules, while ensuring public education dollars are used for public education. Supporters included FCMAT, CSEA, CTA, and CSBA, who argued the bill would improve oversight and protect taxpayers. Opponents, including the California Charter Schools Association, Green Dot, many charter parents, educators, and charter operators, said the bill was too broad, would impose major new costs and bureaucracy on all charter schools, and could reduce options for families, especially those using flexible, homeschool, or special-needs charter programs. After extensive testimony and committee discussion, the bill passed on a 5-1 vote and was sent to Appropriations, with the item left open for additional votes. The committee then approved a consent calendar of 11 education bills, including AB 542, AB 563, AB 731, AB 753, AB 784, AB 964, AB 988, AB 1034, AB 1233, AB 1255, and AB 1381, all moving to Appropriations. The consent calendar passed unanimously. Later, the committee heard AB 1454, a literacy and reading instruction bill authored by Assembly Members Rubio and Revis. The bill would require the state to create professional development resources for evidence-based literacy instruction, update English language arts and English language development instructional materials, and revise administrator preparation standards to include literacy training. The authors and a broad coalition of supporters, including CTA, EdVoice, Families in Schools, Decoding Dyslexia, school administrators, and parent advocates, described the measure as a compromise aimed at improving reading outcomes and addressing California’s literacy crisis. There was no opposition testimony at the hearing, and members voiced strong support for the bill and its collaborative approach.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE USE OF A VALID CERTIFICATE AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD FOR CERTIFICATION OF TEACHER EXCELLENCE AS A PATHWAY
• THIS IS A GOOD BILL AND I'M HOPING WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PARAPROFESSIONALS SPECIFICALLY THOSE
• SPECIFICALLY SENATOR OSGOOD I LOVE TO WORK MORE WITH YOU ON THAT SUPPORT FOR PARAPROFESSIONALS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we want high-quality educators, we need more investment as well as pathway reforms. Thank you.
• If we want high-quality educators, we need more investment as well as pathway reforms. Thank you.
• If we want high-quality educators, we need more investment as well as pathway reforms. Thank you.
• Waving in support is Nathan Hoffman. as well as pathway reforms. Thank you. Thank you.
• So we’re restoring that eligibility pathway in the amendment.

Bills: S1062, S1718, S7038

Keywords: speech education, debate, high school, Florida Debate Initiative, civics, competitive teams, student participation, educational advancement, educator preparation, certification, professional development, temporary certificate, military service, collaboration, teaching effectiveness, education, Florida College System, tuition waivers, vocational rehabilitation, state universities

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met to consider several education bills and the proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 Department of Education budget. The committee first took up CS/SB 1062 on speech and debate, which would formalize Florida’s Speech and Debate Week, strengthen the partnership between the Department of Education and the Florida Debate Initiative, require annual public reporting, and support statewide speech and debate programming. The bill drew extensive supportive testimony from students, alumni, and advocates who said debate improved civic engagement, literacy, confidence, and school performance, while also noting the need for equitable access and funding for travel and competition. The committee adopted a delete-everything amendment and then reported the bill favorably as amended by a unanimous vote of members present. The committee then heard SB 1718 on educator preparation and certification, which expands access to educator preparation coursework, broadens eligibility for temporary certification for some formerly certified professionals, and allows prior subject-area exam results to satisfy requirements. Public testimony largely supported easing barriers for experienced educators while emphasizing that certification changes are only a partial solution to teacher shortages and should be paired with better pay, retention, and professional respect. The bill was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered SB 7038 on education, which included a wide range of higher education and workforce-related changes, including a tuition waiver for Florida State Guard members, residency clarifications, oversight changes for blind services and vocational rehabilitation providers, licensure updates for private colleges, dual enrollment and assessment revisions, scholarship and funding changes, and reserve-fund requirements. An amendment restored the Classical Learning Test as a qualifying option for a grandparent tuition waiver, adjusted a Pell Grant performance metric, changed accreditation timing, and made other technical revisions. A dental education stakeholder raised concerns that one provision could disrupt long-standing exemptions for dental assisting programs, and the Florida Dental Association said it was working with the sponsor to avoid unintended impacts. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as amended. The final major item was a high-level review of the proposed pre-K-12 budget, totaling $34.9 billion with local funds. Highlights included $30 billion for public schools and K-12 scholarships, a $50 increase in the base student allocation, a 1.64% increase in total funds per FTE, $4.5 billion for family empowerment scholarships as a separate FEFP categorical, $25 million for districts facing future enrollment declines, $65.3 million to help districts with current-year enrollment losses, $432.8 million for VPK, and $30.4 million for regional education consortia. Senators asked about reductions or flat funding in some allocations, teacher pay, declining enrollment support, Schools of Hope funding, and support for non-teaching school staff. Public testimony on the budget focused heavily on concerns about charter and voucher funding, especially the $6 million for Schools of Hope, with speakers urging more investment in traditional public schools, teacher compensation, and school infrastructure. The committee concluded the meeting by adjournment after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• justice system. ...the intersection of school discipline practices, zero-tolerance policies, and pathways
• I've seen an increase in the needs of those students: more one-on-one need, more paraprofessionals are
• We cannot hire paraprofessionals that we need because we can't pay them.
• We're fighting right now for a dollar more an hour for our paraprofessionals that are engaged in physical
• We cannot hire paraprofessionals that we need because we can't pay them.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a hearing focused primarily on special education-related bills, with testimony centered on two major themes: transition planning for students aging out of school-based services at age 22, and the fiscal strain special education costs place on districts. Committee members explained hearing procedures, noted the House was in formal session, and periodically stepped out for votes while staff recorded testimony. A separate bill on special education due process was also taken up briefly, along with a bill on special education finance and another on equitable access/data reporting. On House Bill 752 and Senate Bill 313, witnesses from the Arc of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, the Developmental Disabilities Council, families, self-advocates, and Senator Comerford described the “Turning 22” transition as a crisis point that often leaves families without adult placements, services, or clear communication. Testimony emphasized earlier planning, more accountability, better data collection, and a commission to improve coordination and residential placement. Several parents and advocates shared personal accounts of traumatic transitions, delayed placements, and the need for plans to begin at least a year before age 22. The committee later closed testimony on these bills after hearing from all signed-up speakers. House Bill 4217, on special education due process, drew support from Representative Sullivan-Almeida, parents, and advocates who argued that the burden of proof should shift from families to school districts. Testimony described costly legal battles, delays, and parents having to become experts in reading instruction or hire advocates and attorneys to secure services. Brody Dwyer, a 10-year-old student with dyslexia, and his mother described how evidence-based instruction helped him after years of struggle. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 546/Senate Bill 317, which would require DESE to publish cross-tabulated data on race, disability, gender, income, and other factors; advocates said this would better expose disparities and help address the school-to-prison pipeline. Finally, on House Bill 691/Senate Bill 430, school leaders, educators, and union representatives testified that special education costs are outpacing district budgets and that increasing circuit breaker reimbursement and creating a commission to study long-term sustainability would help prevent staffing cuts and service reductions. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee repeatedly closed testimony on individual bills as speakers finished and moved through the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• autism service providers, qualified autism service professionals, and qualified autism service paraprofessionals
• Under current statute, behavior analysts, qualified autism service paraprofessionals, and qualified autism
• provider qualifications requirements for qualified autism service providers, professionals, and paraprofessionals
• the parent of a young man with autism who benefited from ABA, and on behalf of Advanced Behavioral Pathways

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several measures, including SB 402 by Senator Valadares, which would move existing qualification requirements for qualified autism service providers and related professionals from the Health and Safety Code and Insurance Code into the Business and Professions Code without changing the standards. Supporters said it was a technical cleanup that would improve consistency and legislative oversight, while an opponent argued the bill was unnecessary and could create access issues; another witness urged inclusion of the QABA credentialing board. The committee approved SB 402 on a due pass motion to the Committee on Health. The committee also heard SB 378 by Senator Wiener, aimed at online platforms that facilitate sales of illicit cannabis and intoxicating hemp products. Supporters, including labor, local government, and cannabis industry representatives, said the bill would help protect consumers, minors, legal businesses, and tax revenue by creating accountability for online marketplaces. Opponents from the hemp industry and TechNet argued the bill was overly broad, could sweep in legitimate platforms and payment services, and should better distinguish bad actors from compliant hemp businesses; members discussed implementation, enforcement through a private right of action, and coordination with AB 8. The committee passed SB 378 to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. Senator Arreguín presented SB 779, which would establish minimum enforcement fines for Contractors State License Board citations where minimums are currently very low or absent, and would raise the board’s reserve cap from six months to 12 months. The sponsor said the changes would better match penalties to violations and help support consumer protection and board operations during economic downturns. There was no opposition, and the committee approved SB 779 as amended to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar, which included SB 344 and AB 652, both sent to Appropriations. SB 508 was not heard because it had been pulled by the author.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 3 is from Senator Clark's Senate File 3368 regarding the paraprofessional qualifications and
• commissioner for the paraprofessional commissioner for the paraprofessional credential.<00:34:34.480
• paraprofessional paraprofessional qualifications<00:34:50.080> and<00:34:50.240> competencies
• proposals included in paraprofessional proposals included in this<00:54:17.320> bill.
• and will give the preparation pathways and will give the next<01:32:11.040> generation<01:32:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our paraprofessionals worked hand-in-hand with me, right alongside me every day.
• more than 70% of the paraprofessionals in the district at that time were five-niners.
• Kristen from Elk River says she's been a special education paraprofessional for almost 20 years.
• I know because I'm a mentor every year talking to other paraprofessionals about the summer."
• Unemployment is a huge asset to paraprofessionals."

Transcript Highlights:

• , opportunity, another learning pathway, opportunity, another learning pathway, and<00:42:21.119>
• you however many hours that paraprofessional works with your student.'
• you however many hours that paraprofessional works with your student.'
• you however many hours that paraprofessional works with your student.'
• You would be funding a portion of six paraprofessionals based on the number of hours the paraprofessional

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• paraprofessional, an ARC school, an archeological survey school.
• Part Of the federal waiver is when you have cascading events, you are able to use a paraprofessional
• And that is really must be on the pathway to replace it. And we are Greg.
• Val Romero Leggett and that whole constellation of pathway programs.
• And we believe that we should be on a pathway to become an accredited school of public health.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• OEQA adopted new rules allowing paraprofessional experience to count toward educator preparation program
• Unlike a single data product, this change creates a durable, repeatable pathway that districts and educator
• from paraprofessional roles to full teacher certification.
• We want to be able to look at not multiple pathways, right?
• Whether they're going through a para pathway or an alternative pathway or their standard pathway or even

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are going to continue to look at paraprofessional support specialists in the Department of Education
• We will continue to add additional aid in the sped pathway grant and ensure that e-tap funds are available
• <00:02:05.960> support to look at paraprofessional support to look at paraprofessional support
• continue to add additional aid in the continue to add additional aid in the sped<00:02:15.600> pathway
• grant and ensure that e-tap sped pathway grant and ensure that e-tap funds<00:02:19.080> are<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to talk about the pathways to career opportunities.
• I want to talk about the Pathways to Career Opportunity Grant, or PECOG, which is the primary mechanism
• And this has been a great tool in helping to create another pathway for individuals to enter into the
• And many of our other state colleges are looking at these specialized transfer pathways as well and how
• Can you walk me through, kind of start to finish, if I'm, I guess, paraprofessional or someone that is

Summary: The Higher Education Appropriations Committee met for its first meeting of the session and heard presentations focused on workforce education in the Florida College System and district technical colleges. Members introduced themselves and discussed their personal connections to higher education, then heard from Department of Education senior chancellor Kevin O’Farrell, South Florida State College president Fred Hawkins, and Pinellas Technical College representative Mark Hunt. O’Farrell outlined the department’s budget request, including increases for adult education, Florida College System program funds, workforce development capitalization grants, apprenticeship and teacher apprenticeship programs, Open Door scholarships, and CAPE industry certification funding. He emphasized record growth in enrollments, completions, dual enrollment, and program offerings, and described grant-funded expansion in fields such as health sciences, manufacturing, logistics, aerospace, and AI-related programs. Committee members raised concerns about whether current programs match actual labor-market demand, how artificial intelligence may reduce future human labor needs in some fields, and how the state should avoid unwarranted duplication of programs. O’Farrell said the department uses economic forecasts, employer demand data, and a CTE audit process to review programs and phase out those that do not meet performance thresholds. Members also asked for more detail on the teacher apprenticeship model, the transition from technical college clock hours to college credit, job placement and salary outcomes, and the LPN-to-RN pathway. O’Farrell said he would provide additional information later. Hawkins described South Florida State College’s rural service area, low college-going rates, and difficulty recruiting and retaining faculty and staff because salaries lag behind local market alternatives and nearby school district pay. He said the college has had to turn away students in high-demand programs due to staffing and operational limits, while also noting strong outcomes in nursing, dental hygiene, EMT/paramedic, and radiography. Hunt said Pinellas Technical College serves about 5,000 students annually, including many dual-enrolled high school students, and reported a placement rate above 90% and strong local economic returns. He said many programs have waiting lists and that additional operational funding is needed to meet demand, maintain equipment, and keep pace with salary and cost increases. The meeting ended after public comment was opened and no further business was brought before the committee, and the committee adjourned.