Dear Neighbors,
We are already heading into Labor Day weekend which means summer is coming to a close and teachers, parents, and students are prepping for another school year. With schools starting, I wanted to look back at the investments made to our education system during the 2015 legislative session.
New Classroom-Focused Education Funding
Our bipartisan education bill, which was signed into law in June, allocates $525 million more for our schools over the next two years. Included in this additional money is a $95 million increase for our youngest learners as we work to close the achievement gap through targeted pre-kindergarten, early learning scholarships, and school readiness programs. Furthermore, our bill prioritizes classroom learning by adding two percent on the school funding formula for 2016 and 2017. To put this in a local perspective, the Osseo School District will see an increase of $374 per pupil thanks to this bill. This will give schools the flexibility to spend this funding as they see fit – whether it be to hire more teachers, expand after school programs, or reduce class sizes.
In addition to these new investments, our education plan reduces the amount of mandated testing required – leaving more time for hands-on teaching opportunities. It also makes reforms to teacher licensure guidelines, giving districts the ability to hire great teachers from other states and from the community. I am proud to have worked alongside legislators from both parties to prioritize kids and pass an education budget which will have a positive and direct impact on students across the entire state.
State Fair Fun
The end of summer not only brings about school but also blesses Minnesota with the State Fair. I attended today and, wow, I don’t think I was prepared for all the delicious food! What was even more rewarding than the wonderful fare was my time spent interacting with Minnesotans. I was able to speak to a number of folks about a variety of topics relating to state government. It was great chatting with fairgoers and hearing what issues are most important to the people of our state.
What’s Next
My best wishes for a safe Labor Day weekend as you enjoy the weather and spend time with family and friends. I’ll be visiting a number of meetings in the coming days and will be in touch late next week with another update. During the interim, I’ve received great feedback from you and welcome your continued input in the legislative process. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any ideas you have to improve our state. My phone number is 651-296-5502 or try my email at Rep.Dennis.Smith@house.mn.
Enjoy the Labor Day weekend,
Dennis