While identifying the top priorities, two local legislators have focused on different areas within education they feel will make a difference.A

Sen.

Jensen has authored a bill focused on establishing grant programs to support school districts with paying agricultural education teachers for work conducted over the summer with high school students in extension programs.

The bill is designed to address the cutting of summer programs and to fix the fact that agricultural education teachers have chosen to assist in programs without being paid, which Jensen said is not OK.

“A lot of activity goes on in the summer with fairs and we need teachers to help,” said Jensen. “What we can see in the future is a science, technology, engineering and mathematics experience that can go along with some of this agricultural programming that rural schools have.”

According to Jensen, having grants for additional programming also provides an avenue for targeting students who may struggle in typical science or math classes.

“Agriculture is the second largest job creator in Minnesota. “Schools across the state are struggling to find qualified applicants for a variety of positions a from math, science and special education to agriculture and career and tech education.”

He went on to describe his Teacher Shortage Act bill, which aims at increasing teacher development and evaluation aid for schools, while also providing grants to student teachers who are training to teach in a shortage area

“I am proud of the bill weave put together which addresses this statewide problem by attacking it on several fronts,” he said.

Education Committee Chair Wiger noted the teacher shortage as one of the group’s top concerns before listing several others.

“Our stateas poor student-to-counselor ratio is also a priority this session; we know that when students get the supports they need, theyall do better in the classroom.