School Choice Testimony

3/14/11 – Dr Effrem testified before the MN House Education Finance Committee in support of the idea of school choice for K-12, but against the mandates placed on the private school in the MN House Education Finance Committee (HF 273 – Woodard) (Audio is available here by following the link for the March 14th hearing starting at 2:02:23)

3/17/11 – Dr. Effrem testified in favor of SF 388 (Nienow), because, because unlike its House counterpart (HF 273 above) it offers school choice without imposing the public school tests and standards and other mandates on the private schools.  (Audio is available here by following the link for the March 17th Education Committee hearing starting at 50:48)

Standards Testimony

• 3/16/11 – Dr. Effrem testified before the Senate Education Committee in strong support of SF 622 to prohibit adoption of the common core national standards without legislative approval.  Audio is available here by following the link for the March 16th education hearing here starting at 39:50..

Mental Health/Human Services Testimony

2/14/11 – Dr, Effrem testified before the MN Senate HHS Committee on the dangerous and inappropriate psychiatric screening and drugging of children on Medicaid.  (Audio available here by following  link for February 14th HHS hearing starting at the beginning.  A PowerPoint is available at this link:  The Screening and Drugging of Vulnerable Children)

3/8/11 – Dr. Effrem testified before the Senate HHS Committee on the governor’s budget and the need to promote two parent families and to cut invasive, expensive and ineffective home visiting, mental health, and child care programs.  (Audio available here by following March 8th HHS hearing at 27:00.  A PowerPoint presentation is at this link: HHS Budget0001.)  Here is a more detailed PowerPoint just on the issues with   Home Visiting.

Early Childhood Testimony

• 2/16/11 – Dr. Effrem testified before the MN House Education Finance Committee on the lack of effectiveness of early childhood programs followed by vigorous Q and A with legislators.  (Audio available here by following the link for February 16th hearing at 1:00:40)

• 3/7/11 – Dr. Effrem testified against SF 331. the early childhood bill that increases government control over private childcare and imposes state approved highly subjective and controversial curriculum and assessments over young children via an ineffective and invasive quality rating system.(Audio available here by following March 7th Education hearing starting at 1:06:35)

• 3/11/11 –  Dr. Effrem testified against House version (HF 669) of SF 331, the early childhood quality rating system bill described above.(Audio is available here by following link for March 11th hearing starting at 43:35)

• 3/16 – Dr. Effrem renewed her concerns about HF 669 and adds others that increases government control over private childcare and imposes state approved highly subjective and controversial curriculum and assessments over young children. (Audio is available here by following link for March 16th hearing starting at 1:11:55.  Dr. Effrem follows private citizen and businessman Bill Reichert who also opposed the legislation.)