by Richard Wassen

FOR THE FIRST TIME, more Minnesota legislators identify “education” as their primary occupation than any other profession. Many were new to the legislature in 2008, and they used the opportunity to develop innovative approaches to policy and fiscal issues that affect Minnesota schools and human service organizations. They tried multidisciplinary approaches that combine education and human development perspectives (e.g., discussing solutions to childhood obesity in both the education and public health committees and bringing the two committees together). Members also increased their awareness of Minnesota’s rapidly evolving multicultural population in an effort to create culturally relevant legislation.

The college is dedicated to building upon its legacy of assistance to legislators by improving how it “translates” research into policy. The role of college experts is to provide research-based input on relevant issues rather than to advocate.

This past session, legislators asked a number of CEHD faculty and staff to collaborate with work groups, comment on draft legislation, and testify at committee hearings.

Highlights in 2008 included input on:

• Changing the school “report card” system to include college preparation measures and student engagement indicators
• Recommending new approaches to mental health services for all ages
• Creating new strategies to address the achievement gap that use proven models to enhance student outcomes
• Identifying new approaches for improved reading/literacy instruction, including a more in-depth definition of best practices
• Forming a better system for early childhood education by adopting research-based practices
• Increasing the supply of teachers of color through grants to support teacher preparation

Summaries of legislation that was passed (or then vetoed by the governor) can be found at Session Summaries on the Minnesota Department of Education Web site. Contact Richard Wassen, r-wass@umn.edu, external relations liaison in the Office of Research and Policy, with questions about the college’s interaction with policy makers.