SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Wednesday, the Minnesota House of Representatives advanced a supplemental education budget plan to deliver over $3 billion worth of new investments to support students, families, public schools, and school staff.
“Minnesota’s excellent public schools have long been a crown jewel for our state, but we know the difficulties our districts have faced, especially as a result of the pandemic. With a historic budget surplus, students, families, and educators are counting on lawmakers to respond with investments to meet this moment,” said Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth). “Our House DFL education budget includes significant new funding to stabilize class sizes, hire critical support staff, and address unacceptable disparities in the classroom.”
The bill addresses the more than $700 million funding shortfall for special education services, as well as the nearly $150 million deficit in English Language Learner services. The proposal provides more than $500 million annually over the next three years to reduce the amount school districts pay to make up for these shortfalls, reducing the special education “cross-subsidy” by over 55%, and would eliminate the English Language Learner cross-subsidy by 2026.
The House Democrats’ bill expands opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and people of color to pursue a career in teaching by expanding the Grow Your Own Teacher Training Program, which benefits students of color and Indigenous students to see themselves in their educators. The bill ensures access to ethnic studies curriculum and replaces Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day. It also improves literacy and increases the use of non-exclusionary discipline and prevents the suspension and expulsion of students through grade three, except in situations where the student creates an immediate and substantial danger to self, surrounding persons, or property.
Opportunity gaps begin long before kindergarten. Access to early learning is one of the best ways to prevent them in the first place. The plan expands Early Head Start and awards early learning scholarships to more than 20,000 low-income and vulnerable infants and toddlers. Once these children turn four, they’ll have access to a statewide, voluntary pre-kindergarten program through local schools, Head Starts, and licensed child care providers. Together, these investments will put thousands of children on the path to success in kindergarten, school, and life.
The House DFL proposal uses Minnesota’s historic budget surplus to provide $1.15 billion in additional education funding in fiscal year 2023 and $2.12 billion in fiscal years 2024 and 2025. In comparison, Senate Republicans have included 0.35% of the state’s $9.25 billion budget surplus to fund the resources Minnesota students and schools are counting on.