MREA SUMMER CONFERENCE
AND ANNUAL MEETINGS
Billings Petroleum Club
June 17-18, 2013
Featuring:
- Comprehensive review of legislation recently passed by the 2013 Legislature and the potential impact on Montana’s public schools
- Health Insurance Updates on the dramatic changes about to affect every school across the state
- Paperwork and reporting challenges facing our rural schools: A discussion—looking for solutions with representatives of OPI
- MREA’s Annual State Awards and Election of Officers
- Time to Network with Education Leaders, Legislators and Other State Policy Makers
Click Here for a Printable Version of the Conference Agenda
Click Here for Online Conference Registration
The 2013 Legislative Session:
Post Session Summary
Click on the link below for a summary of key legislative bills developed by the K-12 Public Education Advocacy Groups. Additonal information will be sent directly to our members in follow-up to the recent legislative session.
Post Session Narrative and Bill Summary - April 2013
State Education Groups Release Mid-Session Voting Records
The Montana School Business Officials, MEA-MFT, Montana Rural Education Association, Montana Quality Education Coalition, Montana School Boards Association and School Administrators of Montana have “broken the mold” and collaborated in new and exciting ways in the 2013 Legislative Session. We have undertaken these efforts based on our shared goal of increased academic achievement for children in our public schools and based on our shared belief that public schools in Montana are succeeding, improving, innovative, efficient, supported by voters throughout Montana and in need of adequate funding to continue their good work with children. We have put aside our collective differences to pursue the dual strategy of supporting Senate Bill 175 by Senator Jones and opposing privatization and other legislation that would harm our public schools if passed.
Download the 2013 FULL Mid-Session Voting Records Document
Download the 2013 Mid-Session HOUSE Voting Records
Download the 2013 Mid-Session SENATE Voting Records
Download the 2013 Mid-Session Voting Records Narritive
School Privatization (aka “choice” by some….)
Our association continues to monitor the development of a large number of legislative proposals that would essentially provide state funding for private school programs and services. MREA continues to believe that any successful proposal must address the mandates in our state constitution regarding the role of the elected board of trustees, and local control. Recently, the CEO’s of our various state educational groups have joined together in writing two Op-Ed articles being featured in news publications across the state.
The State and Federal Reporting/ Paperwork Attack on Small/Rural Schools
It is hard to believe, but THREE YEARS have passed since MREA along with MTSBA spearheaded a series of discussions with OPI officials about the state and federal reporting/paperwork challenges facing Montana’s small and rural schools. Since that time, MREA members are reporting that the problem has gotten much worse instead of better. MREA is commited to continuing to work with OPI and state-level policy makers in addressing these concerns.
State-Wide Poll of Public Opinion on K-12 Education
In follow-up to the very successful MTSBA/MREA Poll that was conducted before the last legislative session, we are now working with MTSBA, SAM, MASBO and MEA-MFT on a joint poll of public opinion in preparation for the upcoming session. Details on this new poll are posted on this website.
"Essential Truths" - State Poll of Public Opinion -Prepared for the 2013 Legislative Session
