Saint Paul, Minnesota – Yesterday the House DFL unveiled their plan to put Minnesota’s kids on the path to the world’s best workforce with a House Education Omnibus Finance bill that calls for historic investment in education. The budget sets the ambitious goal of closing the 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 — all by 2027.
The House DFL Education Budget invests in what works: fully funding 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. The House DFL Education Budget 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. The school shift payback will be included in the House Taxes bill.
“After a decade of disinvestment and borrowing from our schools, our House Education Budget invests in what we know works: all-day kindergarten and early childhood,” said Rep. Sawatzky (DFL – Willmar). “Building a world-class education system and workforce will lead to a world-class economy. Education is absolutely essential to our long-term success.”
Under the House DFL Education Budget, the Willmar Public School District would receive a formula increase of $742,228 or $181 per-pupil (1.8 percent) in fiscal year 2014 and an increase of $2.2 million, or $527 per-pupil in fiscal year 2015 (5.2 percent). The New London-Spicer School District would receive an increase of $140,249, or $100 per-pupil in fiscal year 2014 (1.1 percent) and an increase of $619,922 or $448 per-pupil in fiscal year 2015 (5.2 percent). The Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School District would receive an increase of $58,808, or $79 per-pupil in fiscal year 2014 (0.8 percent), and an increase of $372,772, or $451 per-pupil in fiscal year 2015 (4.5 percent).
The House DFL Education Budget 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.
As part of building the world’s best workforce, the House DFL Education Budget 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.
“Every new dollar going to our schools has to produce results for our students, communities and state, and that’s where these policy reforms are essential,” said Rep. Sawatzky. “Rather than punishing our schools and students, we need to partner with them, coach them, and help them stay on track. This plan is great step forward for our education system. As we move through the legislative process I’ll continue working to ensure Minnesota remains a nation leader in education.”
The bill was presented in the House Education Finance Committee today, with public testimony on Thursday and a committee vote on Friday. The House Education bill can viewed here: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/docs/H0630Delete-all.pdf.
The House Education funding spreadsheet can be viewed here: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/docs/HF0630Delete-allspreadsheet.pdf
The school district runs for the House Education bill can be viewed here:
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/docs/HouseProposalApril92013_1.pdf
Rep. Sawatzky encourages constituents to contact her with any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas on any legislative topic. Rep. Sawatzky can be reached by phone at 651-296-6206 or by email at rep.mary.sawatzky@house.mn. Constituents can also visit Rep. Sawatzky’s AreaVoices blog, legislative page and sign up for email updates.