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State Representative John Benson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9934
For more information contact: Charlene Briner 651-296-5809
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HOUSE PASSES E – 12 EDUCATION FINANCE BILL
ST. PAUL – In a strong display of bi-partisan support, the Minnesota House passed its E – 12 Education Finance bill early today on a vote of 119 to 13. State Representative John Benson called it a balanced bill that delivers much-needed support for Minnesota's students, parents, and teachers.
"In the last few years we've seen school districts turn to property taxes to fund basic programs, and still they're forced to make painful budget cuts," Benson said. "This bill finally provides schools with the resources they need to give kids across the state access to a good education without putting a bigger burden on property taxpayers."
The bill provides a 3% increase in each year of the biennium, both 2008 and 2009, $95 million for voluntary all-day Kindergarten, and $106 million to reduce the gap in unmet special education costs that have eaten into school's general funds. It provides $152 million for a combination of technology upgrades, innovation and reform proposals, gifted and talented programs and funding for school libraries. It also gives property tax relief using a combination of referendum and debt service equalization aid and funding for operating capital. In order to align with the Senate education bill, components of the Early Childhood bill, including funding for ECFE, Head Start, School Readiness and other provisions were merged into the bill.
Benson was especially pleased with the inclusion of several provisions he authored including one that gives some additional money to suburban school districts with higher-than-average cost of living expenses, and another that increases the amount schools are reimbursed for school lunches.
"While not a big cost in terms of this larger bill, the school lunch increase will allow districts to restore kindergarten milk breaks, purchase healthier food items for student lunches, and reduce their dependency on low-nutrition snacks," said Benson. "And inclusion of the location equity aid means teachers and staff who have higher costs of living, like those in our districts, can be equitably and fairly compensated."
The bill also includes several reform proposals including the creation of an independent office of educational accountability and teacher development.
"We have a good, balanced bill that sets the bar high for our schools and our students and that gives them the resources they need to meet their goals," added Benson.
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