This year, the House made education one of the very top priorities. The budget fully funds all-day kindergarten, invests $40 million in early learning scholarships, and adds $234 million on the per-pupil formula. It also sets the ambitious goal of closing the achievement gap, reaching 100 percent literacy by third grade, and 100 percent career and college readiness by graduation — all by 2027.
In addition to increased funding for kindergarten and early childhood, there are also increases the basic funding formula for K-12 schools by three percent over the biennium, an increase of over $234 million, or $156 per pupil. This is much different than the cuts and shifts from education over the past couple years.
A new student assessment system will be implemented that ensures students stay on track and graduate career or college ready, and innovation grants that promote new ways to increase student achievement will be available to schools.
When they’re ready for college, we’ll ensure that they have much more affordable options. In our higher education bill, we are making new investments that will freeze tuition at every state college and university in Minnesota. No matter what community college or university you choose to attend in the next two years, the tuition won’t go up. And we’re increasing funding to the state grant program to make sure low income students can afford even the frozen level of tuition.
Education doesn’t have to be a partisan issue. This year in the House, we wanted to make sure we invested in our students and teachers. Those investments will go a long way to ensuring that our students go on to be well trained workers whether straight out of high school or after an affordable college education.
Sandra Masin