MSC Legislative Platform

  • The nine Minnesota Service Cooperatives collectively represent One Minnesota. With over forty years of history working with local governments, educational institutions, and many other organizations, they understand the regional nuances and needs across the diverse corners of Minnesota.

    These board-governed agencies fulfill their statutory charge each day by developing innovative collaborations that support local government and education in service to the state’s residents and students. The Service Cooperatives can convene and assemble strategic partnerships to solve problems and implement statewide initiatives.

    By leveraging resources in areas such as cooperative purchasing, administrative sharing and risk management services, the Service Cooperatives continue to save taxpayers dollars and improve local services.

    The Service Cooperatives stand ready to support the Governor and Administration, and the Legislature, on implementing initiatives bridging gaps in education, workforce, and public health across Minnesota’s geographic regions.
     
     

How MSC Can Help The State

    • Continuous educational improvement initiatives in partnership with the Center for Applied Research and Education Innovation (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota
    • Enhance leadership capacity in schools, cities, and counties
    • Facilitate regional partnerships between workforce agencies and employers to solve workforce needs by expanding CTE programs
    • Offer public employees cost-effective insurance solutions

MSC Recommended Legislative Solutions

    • Create consistent deferred maintenance funding options so school districts can address the needs of their Cooperative facilities
    • Funding to assist local governments with safety and mental health needs
    • Expand the rural Career & Technical Education (CTE) consortia grants to include the SC regions not listed in the current grant program
    • Expand funding for additional teacher cohorts to attain graduate credits to teach concurrent enrollment courses in high school
    • Financial support for regional ‘grow your own’ programs to address teacher shortages
    • Enhance the Regional Centers of Excellence (RCE) model through the MDE
    • Support the Rural Broadband Coalition’s request for the financial resources needed to expand community broadband access
    • Expand alternative licensure programs for teachers and administrators