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ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 13, 2015 – Education Minnesota President Denise Specht responded to the decision by the majority of the House Education Innovative Policy Committee on Thursday night to endorse House File 2, which includes changes to teacher licensing and layoffs.

“The committee is starting down a dangerous path that leads to unqualified teachers in classrooms by transferring licensing authority for so-called community experts from the state to local administrators,” Specht said. “No other employer grants licenses to their employees – not hospitals for doctors, law firms for lawyers or even hair salons for barbers and stylists.”

“The committee endorsed the notion that the Legislature can be the HR department of Minnesota schools and write strict new layoff regulations that will work from St. Louis Park to St. Louis County,” said Specht. “Educators agree the state has a role to play in improving teacher quality, including funding the Teacher Development and Evaluation law, but the bill the committee passed Thursday night will not improve the teaching of any educator or the learning of any student.”

About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota represents 70,000 professionals working together for excellence in education for all students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO