Rep. John Persell
NEWS RELEASE
Minnesota House of Representatives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Privratsky 651-296-6860
May 18, 2013
Minnesota House Passes Education Budget Making Historic Investments in Minnesota students, future
DFL Budget Fully Funds All-Day Kindergarten, Invests $40 million in Early Childhood Scholarships
St. Paul, Minnesota — The Minnesota House of Representatives passed the conference committee report on the Omnibus E-12 Education Finance and Policy Bill today on a bipartisan vote of 78 to 56. The bill sets the ambitious goal of closing the achievement gap, reaching a 100 percent high school graduation rate, 100 percent literacy by third grade, and 100 percent career and college readiness by graduation — all by 2027.
The Omnibus E-12 Education Finance and Policy Bill fully funds all-day, every day kindergarten and invests $40 million in early learning childhood scholarships. All-day K and early childhood education are proven tools to improve test scores, close the achievement gap, and prepare students for future academic success.
In addition to increased funding for kindergarten and early childhood, the bill also increases the basic funding formula for K-12 schools by three percent over the biennium, an increase of over $234 million, or $156 per pupil.
“These investments will benefit every community in our area,” said Rep. John Persell (DFL – Bemidji). “This new money will help schools better prepare students for college and the workforce.”
The new investments in this education bill mark a sharp difference from the education bills of the past decade. Minnesota has been trapped in a cycle of deficits. And each time, schools, our kids, and our students paid the price. As a result, many Minnesota school districts have moved to 4-day school weeks. The state has slipped from the top 10 in funding to 22nd. Perhaps most alarming, Minnesota is now ranked 47th in the country in terms of classroom sizes.
“Education is one of our top priorities again,” said Rep. Roger Erickson (DFL – Baudette). “As a retired teacher, I know how tough it’s been on our schools these last few years. This bill gets back to what Minnesotans value most, and that’s our students and teachers. It puts them in a position to succeed.”
As part of building the world’s best workforce, the DFL Education Budget would implement several necessary reforms. Schools will be required to develop strategic plans for student achievement and update the public on their status each year. The state will utilize the Minnesota Department of Education’s Regional Centers of Excellence to provide assistance and work with schools to reach their goals.
A much needed new student assessment system will be implemented that ensures students stay on track and that every students graduates career or college ready, and innovation grants that promote new ways to increase student achievement will be available to schools.
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