Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jeanne Poppe (DFL)

Back to profile

Rep. Poppe Praises Historic Investments in House Education Bill

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota House of Representatives passed a comprehensive K-12 Education Finance and Policy bill today on a vote of 83 to 50.

The bill is designed to create the world’s best workforce by closing Minnesota’s achievement gap, reaching a 100 percent high school graduation rate, 100 percent literacy by third grade, and 100 percent career and college readiness by graduation.

In order to meet those goals, the bill fully funds all-day, every day kindergarten, invests in early learning childhood scholarships, and increases the basic funding formula for K-12 schools by over $315 million.

“In order to compete in an increasingly global economy and attract more businesses to set up shop in Minnesota, we need a well-educated workforce,” said Rep. Jeanne Poppe (DFL—Austin). “Over the past decade, it’s become clear that we cannot cut our way to economic growth. I’m pleased we’re moving forward in a new direction by putting resources into our classrooms so students can obtain the skills and knowledge that lead to greater academic success.”

Under the education package, school districts in Rep. Poppe’s legislative district are set to receive sorely-needed funding increases in Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015. The increases are as follows:

  • $154 per pupil in FY14 (1.5%) and $517 per pupil in FY15 (5.1%) for Austin Public Schools.
  • $145 per pupil in FY14 (1.4%) and $444 per pupil in FY15 (4.4%) for Grand Meadow Public Schools.
  • $187 per pupil in FY14 (1.8%) and $500 per pupil in FY15 (4.7%) for Lyle Public Schools.
  • $123 per pupil in FY14 (1.2%) and $393 per pupil in FY15 (3.6%) for LeRoy Public Schools.
  • $108 per pupil in FY14 (1.1%) and $460 per pupil in FY15 (4.7%) for Southland Public Schools.

In addition, the House P-12 education package contains a new strategy to close the revenue equity gap and reduce property taxes. The bill enhances the equity formula by guaranteeing all districts at least $300 per student of equity and referendum revenue, and raises and indexes operating referendum levy equalization factors to reduce property taxes.

The new investments in this education bill mark a sharp difference from the education bills of the past decade. Minnesota has been trapped in a cycle of deficits. And each time, schools, our kids, and our students paid the price. As a result, a number of Minnesota school districts have moved to 4-day school weeks. The state has slipped from the top 10 in funding to 22nd. Perhaps most alarming, Minnesota is now ranked 47th in the country in terms of classroom sizes.

“At the end of the day, the investments in our P-12 education bill give Minnesota a competitive economic advantage in the long run,” added Rep. Poppe. “This bill lays the groundwork for long-lasting shared prosperity for the people of our state.”

As part of building the world’s best workforce, the Omnibus Education Finance and Policy bill implements several key reforms. Schools will be required to develop strategic plans for student achievement and update the public on their status each year. The state will utilize the Minnesota Department of Education’s Regional Centers of Excellence to provide assistance and work with schools to reach their goals.

A new student assessment system will be implemented that ensures students stay on the path to being college and career ready. In addition, innovation grants that promote new ways to increase student achievement will be available to schools.

Tomorrow, lawmakers will vote on the House Tax bill, which includes the final piece of the House DFL education plan. The tax bill will include a provision to pay back the $854 million owed to Minnesota schools after the Republican-led legislature enacted record borrowing from schools in 2011. It enacts a temporary surcharge on the wealthiest 0.5% of Minnesotans (joint filers earning more than $500,000 per year).

Rep. Poppe encourages her constituents to contact her with any questions about the House K-12 education omnibus bill. She can be reached by phone at (651) 296-4193, by email at rep.jeanne.poppe@house.mn, or by postal mail at 487 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.