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State Representative Michael Beard
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8872
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NEWS RELEASE
LOCAL SCHOOLS STAND TO RECEIVE MORE FUNDING ~House plan also includes accountability measures~
ST. PAUL – Schools in Shakopee and Prior Lake will see dramatic per-pupil funding increases thanks to a K-12 finance bill passed by the Minnesota House late Wednesday.
State Representative Mike Beard, R-Shakopee, voted in support of the finance plan, which boost overall K-12 spending by $622 million.
“Our schools have asked us for more money after two years of flat funding,” Beard said. “Today I think we sent the message that we agree with their need for deeper resources.”
Shakopee schools will receive $649 additional per pupil while Prior Lake will see a $641 increase.
In addition to automatic funding increases, local schools have the option of gaining as much as $280 more per pupil if they adopt the QComp plan included in the House K-12 finance bill. QComp – Quality Compensation for Quality Teachers – would require districts to pay their teachers based on student performance and professional development instead of the traditional seniority system. Emmer said QComp is the key part of a House plan to reward quality schools with higher funding.
“QComp is the governor’s initiative to not just improve funding, but to improve quality as well. It is a credible plan and I think we made the right move in voting to give school districts the opportunity to participate and test the results,” Beard said.
The bill contains a provision to revoke the driver’s license of students who frequently miss school without a valid excuse. The plan helps send the message that students who want the privilege of driving need to stay in school.
“I think students who lose their driving privilege will realize they made a mistake in not attending their classes,” Beard said.
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