State Sen. Rick Olseen, DFL-Harris, has been named as co-chair of the Senate Education Subcommittee on Student Transportation. The Education Committee has established six subcommittees for the interim to study education policy issues and set the stage for the 2008 Legislative Session.

Each of the subcommittees will focus on an area of education policy: accountability, achievement, early childhood, literacy, technology, and transportation. The subcommittees intend to work with their counterparts in the House of Representatives to develop policy recommendations for the 2008 session.

"Being appointed co-chair of this subcommittee seems like a natural fit," said Sen. Olseen. "I've already worked quite a bit in the area of student transportation, as I authored the school bus safety provisions that were included in this year's education bill."

The Student Transportation Subcommittee, which Sen. Olseen will co-chair with Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, will study the different transportation needs across the state. They will also examine current student transportation policy and recommend any necessary changes.