The Minnesota Department of Education recently released the breakdown on funding increases for each Minnesota school district. The legislature enacted a budget that included a $485 million increase in K-12 education funding.
South St. Paul Public Schools (Special District 6) will receive a formula increase of $441,898 or $133 per-pupil (1.4 percent) in fiscal year 2014 and an increase of $1.7 million, or $507 per-pupil in fiscal year 2015 (5.2 percent).
The West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School District (ISD 197) will receive an increase of $687,913 or $148 per-pupil in fiscal year 2014 (1.4 percent) and an increase of $2.3 million or $508 per-pupil in fiscal year 2015 (4.7 percent).
The Inver Grove Heights School District (ISD 199) will receive an increase of $678,146 or $178 per-pupil in fiscal year 2014 (1.9 percent) and an increase of $2 million or $534 per-pupil in fiscal year 2015 (5.6 percent).
“Over 90% of Minnesota school districts now have voter-approved local levies in place to fund their schools, including all of our local communities,” said State Rep. Joe Atkins. “Hopefully, this increase in school funding will lessen the need for local school referendums and property tax increases.”
Along with funding increases, the budget implements several 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 to help students stay on the path to being career and college ready, and innovation grants that promote new ways to increase student achievement will be available to schools.
In addition, the budget includes funding for all-day kindergarten for the first time in state history. Starting in the fall of 2014, every Minnesota kindergartener attending public school will have the option of going to all-day kindergarten.
The budget also increased funding for early childhood education scholarships. The $40 million over the biennium will provide scholarships up to $5,000 per year to young children for early learning and child care at QRIS-rated programs with any rating on the one- to four-star scale in fiscal years 14-15, and at 3-star and 4-star rated programs only beginning in fiscal year 2016. Finally, the new budget accelerates the pay back of the money borrowed from schools in the last budget cycle.