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State Representative John Ward

375 State Office BuildingState Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4333

For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877

Posted: 2008-04-07 00:00:00
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LEGISLATORS UNVEIL "NEW MINNESOTA MIRACLE"

St. Paul, MN – State Rep. John Ward (DFL-Brainerd) joined members of the bipartisan Education Finance Reform Task Force on Monday to unveil the "New Minnesota Miracle", a creative new plan to fund public education.
According to Ward, this plan is the product of months of work by the task force, and offers a simplified funding mechanism that will not only increase school funding, but will also reduce property taxes and bring fairness and balance in funding schools across the state.
"The school districts in our area are good examples of the pitfalls of our current school funding system," said Ward. "Where operating levies fail because property owners have had enough, schools are required to make cuts, both in staff and programs.
This new funding plan invests equally in the education of every student in the state, not just in those districts where operating levies are passed."
According to Ward, the new plan provides enough money to fairly fund the needs of every student in the state. Under the new proposal, school funding will increase by $1.7 billion beginning 2010, while at the same time reducing property taxes by $600 million. The plan phases in an equalizing pupil weighting system for students in kindergarten through high school to 1.0. It also enhances compensatory aid and funding for English language learners, fully funds both voluntary all-day kindergarten and state special education costs by removing existing caps, and accounts for declining enrollment in every geographic region of the state.
"This bill signifies a return to our state's rich tradition of adequately funding public education, "said Ward. "It also provides districts with the flexibility to use new and proven practices to improve student achievement."
The bill includes a requirement that a district use at least 1.5 percent of its basic revenue for innovative, research-based programs to improve academic performance. Under the provision, districts not meeting performance targets will be required to submit a plan for using the innovation revenue to meet those targets with the commissioner of education.
"Instead of just telling districts how they have to do things, this bill gives them the flexibility to choose their own path to success," said Ward.
The plan also provides schools with the flexibility to fund early childhood programs, which have been proven to increase a student's chances for success, according to Ward.
"This bill recognizes that learning begins well before a young child starts school," said Ward. "Improved funding for early childhood education should be included in a comprehensive, effective education funding bill."
The new legislation is supported by a broad coalition of rural, suburban, metro education advocates and parents from across the state. According to Ward, the New Minnesota Miracle will be a priority for the next legislative session.
"Our state was once a leader when it came to funding public education, as was demonstrated by the success of our students," said Ward. "The new "Minnesota Miracle" will once again make sure that every student in our state is given the tools they need to succeed, without breaking the banks of property owners."
For more information on the "New Minnesota Miracle" contact Rep. John Ward at 651-296-4333, or by e-mail at rep.john.ward@house.mn.

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