SciMathMN

Policy work is the backbone that shapes what and how students learn in the STEM disciplines. Those who make decisions that affect student learning also affect the future learning opportunities students will experience and the economic viability of Minnesota businesses. Basing policies on a strong understanding of learning in the STEM fields is critical.

Policy

2020 Election Preview

The Election is just around the corner, November 3rd and a lot of choices are on the ballots of Minnesotans.  The absentee ballot process in Minnesota has been expanded due to COVID and already over 1 million Minnesotans have cast their ballot.  There are significant races both at the State and Federal levels that will impact our schools and education system.

All 201 Minnesota legislators are up for election this fall, and which puts control of both the House and Senate up for grabs.  The House currently has a DFL majority of 75 seats (68 is needed for control) and they are looking to hold on to their gains from 2018 and add pick up some seats in the outer suburban areas.  The GOP House Caucus is hoping to capitalize on the outstate support of President Trump to win districts in greater Minnesota and take back some of the suburban seats they lost in 2018.

Republicans hold a slim two seat majority in the Senate (35-32).  They will try to expand that number by also looking to seats in the outstate areas the increase their total.  The DFL is looking at seats in the suburbs, specifically in Plymouth, Maple Grove, Burnsville, and White Bear Lake in hopes of flipping the Senate to DFL control.

The projected significant state budget deficit and how it is resolved will be the biggest task in front of the new legislature when it convenes in January.  Additionally, and importantly for the next decade the next legislature will be tasked with redrawing legislative district lines.   A sweep by one party could have big impacts.

Federally, we have all 8 congressional seats, Tina Smith’s Senate seat and of course the presidential election. For Congress seats several seats are being closely watched nationally. In southern Minnesota Congressional District 1 sees first term congressman Jim Hagedorn (GOP) with a rematch against Dan Feehan (DFL).  Hagedorn has been plagued by ethics complaints in his first term but Feehan will need to overcome a district previously carried by Trump.  Congressional District 7 along the western border has longtime Congressman Colin Peterson (DFL) being challenged by former State Senate Michelle Fischbach (GOP).  Peterson will be challenged to once again try and prevail in an area that will likely be carried by a President Trump in wide numbers.

Finally, the Presidential race between President Trump and Joe Biden.  Minnesota was closer than many expected in 2016 but current polls show Biden with a significant lead in the state and nationally.

 

Education Commission of the States Releases Updated Report on Computer Science in High School Graduation Requirements

The Education Commission of the States, a 50 state compact that researches education policy on the state level, recently released a 2016 update to its previous report reviewing how different states are approaching computer science as a graduation requirement for high school students. While some states allow districts to require computer science for their students graduation others require it for all students in the state.  According to the original 2015 report 14 states allow a computer science class to substitute for a state math, science, or foreign language graduation requirement, two allow districts to substitute computer science for a math requirement, and at least four states allow computer science classes to be used to be used to qualify for a special diploma or endorsement on their diploma.

Policymaker Briefing Features R.T. Rybak and Leading Education Legislators

More than 160 stakeholders heard from leading education leaders at SciMathMN’s Policymaker Briefing on March 4, 2014 at St. Thomas.


Watch the program online or check out the presentations below.

Program:

  • “SciMathMN Overview” – Steve Walvig, Chair, SciMathMN Board of Directors
  • “The State of STEM in Minnesota: Cradle to Career” – Marilee Grant, Boston Scientific and Allison Liuzzi, Wilder Foundation will discuss what the data is revealing about STEM from the groundbreaking MN Compass initiative;
  • R.T. Rybak, Generation Next, will discuss how this broad coalition of leaders will advance educational excellence and narrow the achievement gap; and
  • Legislative Panel, moderated by Steve Kelley, U of MN Senior Fellow:
      • Rep. Sondra Erickson, Republican-lead, Education Policy;
        Sen. Carla Nelson, ranking minority member, Education Committee;
        Sen. Patricia Torres-Ray, Chair, Education Committee
        Sen. Greg Clausen, Vice Chair, Higher Education and Workforce Development

SciMathMN Second Annual Policymaker Briefing

February 13, 2008

A Decade of Action – Setting Priorities for STEM Education in Minnesota: A Synthesis of Recommendations for a 21st Century Workforce
The 2008 Policymaker Briefing was keynoted by Dr. Rodger Bybee, Director Emeritus of BSCS, a nationally known, nonprofit education research organization. BSCS commissioned the report, A Decade of Action – Setting Priorities for STEM Education in Minnesota: A Synthesis of Recommendations from Business, Industry and Government for a 21st Century Workforce. The conclusions and recommendations in this report can assist Minnesota policymakers in setting priorities for the urgency that surrounds STEM education. The report identifies the changes that will most impact the development of a high quality K-12 STEM education system to move student achievement forward in the critical STEM fields.
Documents from the Policymaker Briefing (PDF):

Overall program sponsors included:  ADC Foundation, 3M Community Giving, Medtronic Foundation, Minnesota Science Teachers Association, Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics and Minnesota Technology Education Association.

Growth & Justice held a forum in the fall of 2007 to look at how to invest in education to create greater economic growth for Minnesotans.  Various presentations and recommendations from the forum, Smart Investments in Minnesota’s Students, are archived on their site.

Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy
Housed at the Humphrey Institute, the Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy, focuses its activities primarily on issues relating to energy, the environment and climate change. It offers courses in this area and sponsors conferences and symposia on issues within these areas.  Two publications of interest are “The Nanotechnology-Biology Interface: Exploring Models for Oversight” and “Moving Toward Sustainable Energy Systems: Exploring Global Pathways to a Common Destination”.

SciMathMN First Annual Policymaker Briefing

January 10, 2007

Developing World Class Students through World Class Standards in Mathematics: Do Minnesota’s Standards, Students and Teaching Measure Up?
Minnesota policymakers gathered on Jan. 10, 2007 to hear former TIMSS Coordinator, Bill Schmidt, talk about Education in a Global Context. SciMathMN believes that students who graduate from Minnesota high schools need to be well grounded in the mathematics that elevates the achievement of Minnesota students from being among the best in the United States to being among the best in the world – a goal we have not yet reached.

  • Minnesota needs world class standards to support the state economy and prepare future citizens
  • Knowing and understanding contemporary mathematics is a key competency for a highly qualified workforce and citizenry
  • To be effective, standards must be part of a world class system, which also includes textbooks and other learning materials, instruction, assessments, preparation of teachers, and ongoing professional development for practicing teachers – all aligned with the standards

Documents from the Policymaker Briefing (PDF):
Education in a Global Context, by William H. Schmidt,
Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University.

Videotape of Prof. Schmidt’s presentation to 3M employees on 1/10/07

Developing World Class Students through World Class Mathematics Standards: Do Minnesota’s Standards, Students, and Teaching Measure Up?, created by SciMathMN

Global Strategies for Workforce Development, by Alex Cirillo, Jr., Vice President, 3M Foundation

Mathematics for World Class Standards, by Matthew Richey, Professor, St. Olaf College

Curriculum Specialization, by Donna Studer, Associate Superintendent, Anoka Hennepin Schools