Commentary; Posted: 5/15/02

Common sense solutions for education

Sen. Jane Krentz
Guest Columnist

Monday, April 22nd, was one day that I was grateful for a bicameral legislature. The Senate came very close to accepting a House amendment to a relatively non-controversial bill that would have had serious consequences for the state.

The principle of checks and balances was clearly demonstrated.

Graduation standards and the Profile of Learning have been one of the more controversial issues we have dealt with in my time at the Legislature. There is wide-spread agreement that we need to have high standards.

There is also general consensus that we should require students to demonstrate what they have learned, rather than simply granting a diploma based on seat time. However, that seems to be where the agreement ends.

As a former teacher and mother of three, I have been concerned that the Profile of Learning has been riddled with serious implementation problems. There have been numerous concerns about excessive paperwork, the number and placement of required standards, the cost of implementation, a lack of recognition of the quality teaching in place prior to the Profile, and over-regulation.

Unfortunately, there have been those who would draw a line in the sand and refuse to consider any alternatives. It has been frustrating to be caught between the two extreme positions which either want to completely eliminate the Profile of Learning, or keep it exactly as it is.

Year after year I have introduced legislation to amend the Profile and make some common sense changes based on teacher and student input. I met with the Commissioner of Children, Families and Learning and had numerous meetings with her staff. Unfortunately, the two extreme positions ended up creating gridlock instead of meaningful change.

Recently, the House of Representatives passed an amendment to an unrelated Department of Health bill that not only repealed the Profiles of Learning and the 3rd and 5th grade tests, but required that the Legislature approve all rules adopted by state agencies after January 1, 2002.

Talk about creating legislative gridlock! State agencies adopt rules regarding the routine operations of state government, and requiring legislative approval of all rules is simply irresponsible and would cost the state thousands, if not millions, of dollars in wasted time.

Surprisingly, many in the Senate voted to accept the House version of the legislation without sending the bill to conference committee. The issues in this bill are too important for these types of games.

Fortunately, after this motion was defeated, the Senate made the proper decision to send the bill to conference committee where the issues can be properly debated.

I hope that members who supported the legislation will consider the ramifications of their actions. In light of the federally mandated testing passed by Congress in late 2001, Minnesota will be soon forced to test all students in grades 3 through 8, annually.

While I remain adamantly opposed to that un-needed, underfunded federal mandate, the fact remains that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act has passed, and Minnesota will have to examine its entire assessment and accountability practices to adhere to these new laws, or risk losing federal funding for Title I and Special Education.

Additionally, the instant repeal of all graduation standards would cost Minnesota over $200 million annually, at a time when our schools are already struggling with budget cuts.

I remain committed to working towards common sense solutions, and I will continue to do so. I hope that reasonable legislators will be willing to work together and seriously debate this issue. We owe that to the people of Minnesota. We owe that to our children.

Writer Jane Krentz is State Senator from District 51. She lives in May Township and represents the Forest Lake area.

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