House Passes Education Finance Bill
Long Debate and Partisan Vote. Fifteen amendments and just over six hours of debate later and the House omnibus education finance bill passed on a party-line vote of 68-61. Two of the amendments–both offered by the majority–went on the bill. The first was Representative Edelson’s amendment that updates the READ Act by pushing the deadline for teacher training out one year to 2026. Although the effort to improve literacy is bipartisan, there are distinctly different approaches to the goal that exist between the caucuses and that played out in great detail during the debate. Representative Mueller offered an amendment that failed that advocated a somewhat different path that proposed in Representative Edelson’s. Representative Bennett also has strong feelings about the teaching of reading that she has voiced in both the House Education Policy and House Education Finance Committtees. Much of the discussion centers around a perceived difference (which may not be a substantive difference) between the terms “evidence-based” and “Science of Reading.”
The second amendment that was adopted was offered by Representative Youakim–the House Education Finance Committee Chair–and amended by Republican Representative Nolan West. The amendment deals with the Office of Inspector General that has been tasked with investigating the Feed Our Future scandal that surfaced right before the 2022 general election. This is an issue that will be discussed in conference committee given the political charge that it carries.
There were a variety of other amendments, most notably amendments to either elimnate the ethnic studies requirement that is in the works or to postpone the implementaion of the new social studies standards that include an ethnic studies requirement. This is clearly a hot issue and we will continue to hear about it as the session continues.
There were several amendments offered that would take money from the construction budget for the renovation of the State Office Building for a variety of purposes, particularly adding to Long Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) revenue to allow for roof replacement. The current formula does that generate enough revenue so that a district must do a roof replacement in stages instead of in one fell swoop. There was also an amendment that proposed to implement the adjustment on operating levies for seasonal/recreational property in districts with high concentration of this property type.
More than anything, the debate last night provided a preview of what Republican candidates will be talking about in terms of education on the campaign trail. The points they will stress the need for more flexibility for districts and the need to accelerate progress in improving literacy scores.
Education Policy Conference Committee Wraps Up Its Business. The education conference committee finished up its work on Monday and we await the final meeting where the conferees will officially approve the final document. I will post the document as soon as it becomes available.