St. Paul, Minn. – Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton released his proposed two-year budget for the Legislature’s consideration. The budget lays out many of his key objectives for the legislative session, including a bold increase of funding for K-12 education, adding 2 percent to the per-pupil formula each of the next two years.
State Rep. Julie Sandstede (DFL – Hibbing) issued the following statement afterward:
“This Governor, like no other, has been an absolute champion for public education! Gov. Dayton has worked to make sure our young people have the opportunity to experience a world class education so that they can reach their full potential. As a teacher, I’m so pleased to see this commitment reflected in his budget.
“During his tenure, he has pushed to increase funding for schools every year – no excuses, and no exceptions. I applaud him for calling for such a significant investment again this year, and with this am hopeful we can expand opportunities to all learners. This budget puts us in a prime position to expand access to pre-K, recruit and retain more excellent teachers, invest in special education and make meaningful progress in closing the achievement gap.
“The foundation of a sound economy is a sound education for all children, and I look forward to the Governor’s continued leadership in this area.”