Greetings,
Went to Nest Fest Saturday at Eagle's Healing Nest in Sauk Centre and was pleased by the strong attendance at their annual celebration. That organization does a lot to help our veterans and we in the Legislature continue working hard to help the cause.
A new two-year budget for K-12 education is among the large number of new laws we passed this last session that are taking effect. The funding increase translates to an average of $458 more per student in the vast majority of District 12B. This money does not have red tape attached to it, meaning local school officials will be able to direct it toward their specific areas of need. This is good news for our part of the state.
There also is a new $95 million investment in early learning initiatives for pre-K children. This includes scholarships and school readiness aid, targeted to help children and families who need it most with the goal of getting them on track for success at a young age. Some folks, namely the governor, were pushing for a universal pre-K package, but the plan we passed will make better use of tax dollars by directing money toward the people who need it most.
Many reform measures also are now in place. This includes fewer mandated tests to increase classroom learning time, as well as streamlining out-of-state teacher licensure reciprocity. Minnesota’s teacher licensure process has made it challenging for even the best teachers from other states to fill vacancies, despite the fact some districts continue to face teacher staff shortages. This is especially important in Greater Minnesota.
Hope you are having a good summer and wish you the best this Labor Day weekend. Please be safe if you are out on the roads and take extra caution since buses are back out and more children are walking to and from school.
Sincerely,
Paul