Saint Paul, Minnesota – The Minnesota House of Representatives passed the Omnibus E-12 Education Finance and Policy Bill tonight on a bipartisan vote of 83 to 50. State Representatives John Ward (DFL – Baxter) and Joe Radinovich (DFL – Crosby) voted in favor of the legislation. The bill sets the ambitious goal of closing the achievement gap, reaching the nation’s highest high school graduation rate, 100 percent literacy by third grade, and 100 percent career and college readiness by graduation — all by 2027.
The Omnibus E-12 Education Finance and Policy Bill fully funds all-day, every day kindergarten and investing $50 million in early learning childhood scholarships. All-day K and early childhood education are proven tools to improve test scores, close the achievement gap, and prepare students for future academic success.
In addition to increased funding for kindergarten and early childhood, the bill also increases the basic funding formula for K-12 schools by four percent over the biennium, an increase of over $315 million, or $209 per pupil.
“Our budget reverses a decade of disinvestment in education and makes historic investments in efforts and strategies with a proven record of closing the achievement gap, raising graduation rates, and improving student’s career and college readiness,”
said Rep. John Ward (DFL – Baxter). “We’re setting high standards because we can’t give up on even one Minnesota student and we won’t.”
“For generations a good education was the key to upward mobility — the idea that through education and hard work children can be better off than their parents,” said Rep. Radinovich. “We have to turn the tide on a decade of disinvestment and start making the right choices for our students. This bill accomplishes that goal.”
Under this bill, Brainerd Public School District would receive a formula increase of $865,760 or $135 per-pupil in fiscal year 2014 (1.4%), and $2.7 million or $433 per-pupil in fiscal year 2015 (4.4%). Pequot Lakes Public Schools would receive a formula increase of $ 631,456 or $391 per-pupil in fiscal year 2014 (5%) and $1.1 million or $711 per-pupil in fiscal year 2015 (8.9%).
Aitkin Public School District would receive a formula increase of $471,464 or $392 per-pupil in fiscal year 2014 (4.4 percent), and $835,902 or $710 per-pupil in fiscal year 2015 (8.2 percent). Crosby-Ironton Public Schools would receive a formula increase of $163,407 or $144 per-pupil in fiscal year 2014 (1.6%), and $517,353 or $460 per-pupil in fiscal year 2015 (5%).
Hill City Public Schools would receive a formula increase of $104,097 or $380 per-pupil in fiscal year 2014 (3.5 percent), and $195,651 or $722 per-pupil in fiscal year 2015 (6.5 percent). McGregor Public Schools would receive a formula increase of $166,899 or $434 per-pupil in fiscal year 2014 (4 percent) and $289,308 or $765 per-pupil in fiscal year 2015 (6.9 percent).
The Omnibus E-12 Education Finance and Policy 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, and raises and indexes operating referendum levy equalization factors to reduce property taxes.
“For too long, we’ve watched as our local schools have had to increase class sizes, and cut technical education, gifted and talented, arts, and language programs our students need,” added Rep. Radinovich. “This proposal will go a long way to ensuring that a student in Crosby has the same opportunity for success as a student in Edina or Eagan. Every Minnesota child deserves an opportunity to get a world-class education and succeed in a global economy.”
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, many 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.
As part of building the world’s best workforce, the Omnibus E-12 Education Finance and Policy Bill would implement several necessary 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 career and college ready, and innovation grants that promote new ways to increase student achievement will be available to schools.
Tomorrow, the House will take up 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 $850 million owed to Minnesota schools with a temporary surcharge on the wealthiest 0.5% of Minnesotans (joint filers earning more than $500,000 per year). In 2011, the Republican-led legislature enacted record borrowing from Minnesota schools.
“This is a historic day for Minnesota,” concluded Rep. Ward. “Building the world’s best workforce will have far-reaching positive economic impacts for generations to come.