Eden Prairie Local News
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Sunday, February 5
    • About
      • About EPLN
      • Team
      • EPLN in the News
      • Policies
    • Contact
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Subscribe
    Eden Prairie Local News
    • Home
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Public Safety
    • City
    • Calendar
    • Donate
    • Subscribe
    • More
      • Construction
      • Outdoors
      • Politics
      • Health
      • Spirituality
      • Community Service
      • Legacy
      • Obituaries
      • Arts
      • Family
      • Holidays
      • Letter to Editor
      • Listen
      • Jobs
    Eden Prairie Local News
    Home»Politics»Proposed gifted education bills tie funding mandate to achievement gap concerns
    Politics

    Proposed gifted education bills tie funding mandate to achievement gap concerns

    By Grace Ersfeld OBrienJuly 9, 2021Updated:July 16, 20214 Mins Read
    Minnesota State Capitol building, St. Paul, MN.

    A series of proposed bills (HF 1994, SF 1700, SF 2523, SF 2530, and SF 2408) seek to increase and mandate funding for gifted programming by tying in with efforts to address the achievement gap in Minnesota schools. 

    The proposed package of legislation seeks to incentivize Minnesota districts to implement programs for gifted learners by tripling funding. It also mandates school districts apply that money exclusively towards the expansion of gifted programs. 

    Ignite Instruction: Ignite Learning! (IIIL), an organization promoting the bills is meeting with Minnesota legislators to gain their support. The IIIL board is composed of former gifted coordinators, business owners, school board members, and students. The initiative to forward the legislation is led by IIIL co-chairs, Bill Keilty, Ed. D., and Terry Friedrichs, Ed. D. and Ph. D.

    The legislation argues that critical and creative thinking skills integrated into the tenets IIIL advocates will benefit the entire student population and better serve them as they adapt to the changing workplace environment of the future. According to Keilty, the proposed legislation push will add engagement for students and provide the long-term benefit of a more adaptable and productive workforce.

    Advertisement
    Ad for Washburn-McReavy

    The bills targeted student populations include, but are not limited to, gifted students. It also aims to mandate how districts use the funding based on the bills’ provisions. The IIIL website also suggests that the Minnesota Department of Education enforce district collection of long term data via the K-12 Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) to track growth and as evidence of a successful, or unsuccessful, implementation of programming.

    Senator Cwodzinski: Bills feasibility tied to fiscal practicalities and timelines

    Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, DFL-Eden Prairie noted he taught the first enriched class at Eden Prairie high “about 35 or 36 years ago” which later became gifted and talented at EPHS. Cwodzinski also taught gifted children at Eden Prairie high school for around 25 years, said he supports closing the achievement gap and improving student engagement. He said legislative efforts in education are heavily focused on closing the achievement gap “Certainly, Covid-19 has exacerbated that gap.” Moreover, concerning gifted learners he considers it “likely that these kids are struggling in school because they are lacking challenge.”

    However, he also voiced reservations about the fiscal practicality of the bills. It’s more feasible to “use those resources for everyone or for those with the highest need, because funding is so finite.”

    Advertisement
    Ad for Eden Prairie Schools Strategic Planning World Cafes

    Says Cwodzinski, “because we’re currently in the process of putting out the finalized educational legislation, anything not on those bills right now–such as IIIL’s legislation–won’t have a great impact on the foreseeable future.”

    In fact, a series of current education bills nearing completion do the opposite of what IIIL advocates, noted Cwodzinski. These bills favor “money, not mandates,” and are set to “allow school districts to decide how the money will be spent.” 

    Effort on bills to renew in Fall 2021

    On hiatus until the fall, IIIL will return to the House and Senate to seek support. For the time being Keilty says he is broadening his network of support and looking forward to the session ahead. He acknowledges that convincing Senators to support the legislation will require persistence. 

    He intends to seek funding for the IIIL legislation from the post-pandemic surplus. “Tax revenue has grown… there’s now a 2.8 billion surplus we can compete for.”

    (Editor’s Note and Update: This article has been corrected to reflect Sen. Cwodzinski’s statement involving his role in teaching the first enriched class at Eden Prairie high school, not founding the EPHS gifted program.

    As part of EPLN’s mission to promote critical thinking and ethical journalism EPLN provides internships to a select number of secondary and university students. The author Grace Ersfeld-O’Brien is an EPLN intern.)

    Be Informed
    Sign up for the FREE email newsletter from EPLN
    Subscribe

    Comments

    Comments aren’t allowed on our site, but we do offer several ways to provide feedback, and have your voice heard. If you believe the story has an error, or would like to get in touch with the author, please contact us. If you would like to respond directly to this article, we welcome and encourage Letters To the Editor. You can find details on how to submit a letter on our contact page.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleEden Prairie 4th of July: Round Lake Park celebration reconnects community
    Next Article Eden Prairie nonprofits can apply for 2021 Brewfest Choice Grant

    More to READ

    12 Mins Read

    Why Budget Day (days, really) was so much fun for Gov. Tim Walz and how surplus spending will make Minnesota history

    January 25, 2023
    1 Min Read

    2023 legislative outlook is topic of Jan. 21 panel discussion

    January 16, 2023
    5 Mins Read

    Kotyza-Witthuhn predicts party line vote will pass new abortion rights law in Minnesota

    January 12, 2023
    Subscribe to get EPLN in your inbox for FREE!
    Recent Articles

    Sports update: Eagles upset Benilde-St. Margaret 2-0

    February 4, 2023

    A thrilling finish to emotional night for Eagles girls hockey

    February 4, 2023

    EP nonprofit is part of sled dog’s overcoming-great-odds story

    February 4, 2023

    Story update: Eagles win in overtime

    February 3, 2023

    Tavern 4 & 5 to close temporarily for upgrades, reopen on Feb. 13

    February 3, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Eden Prairie Local News is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 85-4248265 | Copyright © 2020-2023
    • About
    • Policies
    • Jobs
    • Contact
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Donate

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.