ST. PAUL—The House has released the Omnibus Education Finance and Omnibus Higher Education bills. The bills seek to reverse a decade of disinvestment in education, from early childhood through college.
The education finance proposal makes historic investments in efforts to close the achievement gap, raise graduation rates and improve student career and college readiness.
“We have spent weeks in committee looking at how to really strengthen Minnesota’s education system so that we have the best workforce in the word,” said Rep. Dorholt (DFL-St. Cloud). “Education has historically made us a leader and through these investments we can continue that tradition.”
The House Education Budget fully funds all-day, every day kindergarten and invests $50 million in early learning childhood scholarships. The budget also increases the basic funding formula for K-12 schools $209 per pupil.
“We know that investing in early learners is one of the best ways to ensure students are academically successful in later years,” commented Rep. Dorholt. “St. Cloud has all-day kindergarten but parents are footing the bill. Making this investment at the state level will free up more money for families and could reduce property taxes.”
The education bill also includes a new strategy to close the revenue equity gap and reduce property taxes. The bill guarantees 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.
“After a decade of rising property taxes, we need to do everything that we can to ensure that we are providing a solid framework in which local governments and school districts can meet their needs,” said Rep. Dorholt. “It’s also important that we provide equal funding to schools to ensure that students are able to succeed in Greater Minnesota and the metro.”
Reforms are also included in the education budget, including strategic plans for student achievement, a new student assessment system and innovation grants.
“These reforms will boost student achievement,” said Rep. Dorholt. “We need to be innovative if we’re going to produce the world’s best workforce.”
The Higher Education Omnibus Bill includes funding that will directly benefit students by freezing tuition at both the University of Minnesota (U of M) and the Minnesota State Colleges and University system (MnSCU). Last year, the legislature made record cuts to higher education in the state budget. Tuition has nearly doubled at state colleges and universities in the past decade.
“This is the largest investment in higher education in over 10 years,” said Rep. Dorholt. “Poor decisions in the past and a rough economy have caused a serious increase in state tuition rates. Now is our opportunity to play catch up and to once again make these crucial investments in higher education and our college students.”
Over $120 million of the $150 million increase in funding will go towards tuition relief that will benefit students at SCSU and across the state. The bill is a product of hearings held by the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee, on which Rep. Dorholt serves as vice chair.
“The goal of our committee work was to see how the Great Recession has impacted higher education here in Minnesota,” said Rep. Dorholt. “Over that time, the state made historic cuts and tuition and student debt rose considerably. Freezing tuition costs seems to be a logical step towards improving our higher education funding and making college more accessible and affordable for all Minnesotans.”
Rep. Dorholt can be reached by phone at 651-296-6612 or by email at rep.zachary.dorholt@house.mn.
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