Latest news with #MonicaByron
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rochester Public Schools is waiting to see the outcome from the $7 billion of federal funds in limbo
Jul. 3—ROCHESTER — Although The U.S. Department of Education has withheld nearly $7 billion in funding from schools across the country, it's not yet clear what kind of impact that will have for Rochester Public Schools. On June 30, the U.S. Department of Education sent a notification to state agencies, notifying them that the release of the funding was still under consideration. That update began sounding alarm bells for schools and education advocates alike. "This is not just a budget cut — it's an assault on the rule of law and our commitment to every child's right to a quality education," said Monica Byron, president of Education Minnesota, which is the statewide teachers union. "By withholding funding that Congress has already approved, the Trump administration is playing politics with our children's futures." According to the publication EducationWeek, the federal funding that has been withheld from schools amounts to $6.8 billion. RPS Communications Director Mamisoa Knutson said the district is monitoring the situation and "waiting to see what that means" for local programs. Although federal funding doesn't provide the bulk of Rochester Public Schools' budget, it still represents millions of dollars for the district. In 2024-25, federal funding comprised 4% of the district's budget, which amounted to $17.08 million. The Minnesota Department of Education provided a copy of the notification it received from the federal government to the Post Bulletin. According to MDE Communications Director Sam Snuggerud, the federal government issued an individual notice for the funding associated with each program. However, the notifications only differed in the name of the program. They read: "Given the change in Administrations, the Department is reviewing the FY 2025 funding for the [Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A, IV-B] grant program(s), and decisions have not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for this upcoming academic year. Accordingly, the Department will not be issuing Grant Award Notifications obligating funds for these programs on July 1 prior to completing that review. The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President's priorities and the Department's statutory responsibilities." Even before the federal department issued the notice, state agencies were beginning to worry about the delay in the funding. On June 26, The Minnesota Department of Education sent a letter to its federal counterpart, asking when it could expect to receive information on the matter. MDE Commissioner Willie Jett's letter listed a number of programs that rely on the funding. They include those that aid English-language proficiency, support teacher development and retention, and provide academic enrichment opportunities "outside of school hours for students who attend low-performing schools." "At this writing, Minnesota has not received critical information for school districts to obligate federal funding in time for a July 1 deadline," Jet wrote in his June 26 letter. "While the most recent state tables posted on ED's website include updated figures, these programs are notably absent. Without this information, and with July 1 approaching, it is not possible for schools, districts, and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to complete the steps needed to begin obligating these funds as scheduled."
CBS News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Education uncertainty for new leader of the Minnesota teachers union
For the first time in 12 years, the 84,000-member Minnesota teachers union, Education Minnesota, will have a new president. Monica Byron will be MEA's first president of color at a time when the president of the United States, Donald Trump, is warning of funding cuts unless all DEI programs are banned. Byron says Minnesota teachers will fight to keep DEI-focused programs. "Right now, we have support at the local level and the state level to continue to make sure that when it comes to inclusion and it comes to those types of programs that we will have support," says Byron. She also takes the helm as schools across the country have come under fire for low test scores in the aftermath of the pandemic. The latest test scores show just under 50% of Minnesota students are proficient in reading, just over 45% are proficient in math. Only 31% of Black students are proficient in reading and 21% in math. While critics, especially Republicans, say the current education system is failing students and families. Byron and MEA feel the low test scores result from a critical statewide teacher shortage, and more students are choosing to opt out of tests. "What we are seeing there are fewer students taking the test and that actually impact the proficiency score," said Byron. Byron says those new test scores also don't reflect the impact of the $110M READ Act, which calls for schools statewide to go back to teaching reading through phonics. Byron says teachers are still being trained. "I think the best practices help all students, so I am hopeful that it will help reach all of our students and especially our children of color," said Byron.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Q&A with new president of Education Minnesota, the state's largest union
Monica Byron, president of Education Minnesota, poses for a portrait outside of the Education Minnesota headquarters Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) Education Minnesota, the state's largest union representing more than 86,000 members, elected its first Black president on Saturday. Monica Byron ran unopposed to replace Denise Specht, who led the union since 2013. Byron started her career as a homeschool liaison for the Richfield Public Schools in 1995 before earning her teaching license. She taught elementary school in Richfield for 24 years, most recently as a math coach. In 2022, she left her teaching job when she was elected vice president of Education Minnesota. Bryon takes over one of the state's most influential unions at a critical juncture for public schools. More than 8 in 10 schools report having a shortage of teachers, and the union wants to increase pay to fill the ranks. But a looming budget deficit is tying the hands of state lawmakers who might otherwise support robust increases in school funding. At the federal level, the Trump administration has threatened to eliminate the Department of Education while also attacking unions. This conversation was edited for length and clarity. I ran for president because I believe in the power of our union and to protect and strengthen things that matter most, like professional pay, secure pensions, affordable health care and respect for all of our educators. I am really proud and honored to be the first Black president of Education Minnesota. I believe that I'm able to bring a unique and fresh perspective and voice to not only Education Minnesota but to the labor movement. I'll be able to advocate not only for educators, but for our students and our community. And I'll be able to ensure that all educators, but especially our educators of color, will have a voice. Education Minnesota has been publicly defending against the attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion and the other attacks from Washington, D.C. We are going to ensure that we have freedom to read. We're going to make sure our history isn't whitewashed. We're just going to make sure that our students and our educators are able to teach and do all the things that they need to do. Right now, I think it's just been the chaos and the executive orders coming. We have great partners though, from our national allies and our other labor allies. I think it's just the unknown and the threats to the unions as a whole. But we are positioned well to be able to respond. For me, the question is what resources and what other things our educators need. I believe that we need to ensure that all educators are equipped with those resources. They have the time to be able to teach and that we ensure that when it comes to class sizes, those teachers are able to reach each of those students. Education Minnesota has worked closely with Gov. Walz. President Speck is in charge when it comes to working with Gov. Walz. So as vice president, I've been able to watch and follow her lead. So I don't have a grade at this time. Right now, our top priorities have been around professional pay, which includes a starting pay for our entry educators and $25 per hour for our ESPs. We have a pension bill, which would ensure that we have a career rule for our teachers. And we also have a bill around health insurance, so that our educators have quality health insurance. It would start a health insurance pool for our educators across the state. And we also are looking to protect the inflationary rule on education that we won last year.
