EDUCATION/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT POLICY

Minnesota is approaching the perfect storm in its workforce. Our pool of workers is shrinking and is not expected to stabilize until 2025. Second, a 2010 Georgetown University study projects that, by 2018, 70 percent of Minnesota jobs will be held by individuals with some education beyond high school. Lastly, the fastest growing segments of our population are on the short end of the state's unacceptable achievement gap. More than ever, we need all high school graduates to be ready to enter the workforce or continue their education.

Quality education and quality of life go hand in hand. Students need the best instruction that schools can offer if they are to compete with their peers for jobs. And Minnesota businesses require a world-class workforce to compete in today's global economy.

2012 Legislative Priorities

Teacher evaluations
Use teacher evaluations rather than the practice of "last in, first out" when it comes to layoff decisions. These evaluations also should permit the expansion of performance-based teacher compensation, i.e. Q Comp, to reward teachers who demonstrate the greatest growth in student achievement. Measurements should consider individual, department and school results in a way that encourages the most successful teachers to share knowledge with fellow teachers.

Basic skills test for teachers
Require teachers to pass a basic skills test prior to entering the classroom. Existing law gives teachers three one-year waivers to pass the basic skills test – allowing them to be in the classroom without passing the test.

Accountable principals
Improve training and accountability for principals including assessing their leadership ability prior to hiring. Mandate principal evaluations by the superintendent, and use student achievement data to rate principal effectiveness.

Action Alerts

Click here to send action alerts as these issues advance at the Legislature.
Click here for Legislative Updates.
Click here to track priority legislation being lobbied at the Capitol.

Chair: Mark Hibbs, Barr Engineering Company
Staff: Amy Walstien, (651) 292-4661, awalstien@mnchamber.com, Twitter @MCC_awalstien

» State Agencies
» State Legislature

» Education Reform Powerpoint
» Click here to learn more about your elected officials.