ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota House of Representatives passed a comprehensive K-12 Education Finance and Policy omnibus bill last night by a vote of 83-50.
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.
“2013 will go down in Minnesota history as the Education Session,” said Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL—Balsam Township). “The investment we’re making in our kids follows in the footsteps of leaders like Rudy Perpich. I’m proud to play a role in helping Minnesota reclaim its status as a national leader in educational excellence.”
Under the bill, school districts in the area are set to receive sorely-needed funding increases in Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015. The increases are as follows:
-
$461 per pupil in FY14 (5.3%) and $763 per pupil in FY15 (8.6%) for Grand Rapids Public Schools.
-
$371 per pupil in FY14 (4.1%) and $697 per pupil in FY15 (7.7%) for Greenway Public Schools.
-
$406 per pupil in FY14 (4.3%) and $750 per pupil in FY15 (7.9%) for Pine River-Backus Public Schools.
-
$156 per pupil in FY14 (1.1%) and $509 per pupil in FY15 (3.8%) for Northland Community Public Schools.
-
$424 per pupil in FY14 (4.2%) and $740 per pupil in FY15 (7.3%) for Deer River Public Schools.
The House DFL education bill also contains a new strategy to close the revenue equity gap and reduce property taxes. The bill enhances the equity formula guaranteeing all districts at least $300 per student of equity and referendum revenue. It also 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.
“Lawmakers at our state capitol shortchanged our youngsters for far too long,” said Rep. Anzelc. “Our plan puts an end to the era of cuts and instead makes the kind of investments that will keep Minnesota competitive for decades to come. Building a well-educated workforce will attract more companies to set up shop in our state. This is a bill that will have a long-lasting positive economic impact throughout Minnesota. I am very pleased to report that the Legislature has responded to the needs of low property wealth schools.”
As part of building the world’s best workforce, the House DFL Education Budget would implement several reforms, such as requiring schools 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 career and college ready, and innovation grants that promote new ways to increase student achievement will be available to schools.
“The House DFL education bill is going to make a big difference for countless students in northern Minnesota,” said Rep. Anzelc. “Our future is very bright.”
Rep. Anzelc encourages his constituents to contact him with any questions about the House K-12 education bill. He can be reached by phone at (651) 296-4936, by email at rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn, or by postal mail at 517 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.