SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Yesterday, the Minnesota House Education Finance Committee discussed HF 8, authored by Rep. Kaela Berg (DFL - Burnsville). The bill allocates ongoing, sustainable funding for mental health and other supports in public schools and charter schools across Minnesota.
“House DFLers are committed to prioritizing the complex needs of every student across the state,” said Rep. Berg. “HF 8 is a critical step towards ensuring our schools have the resources they need to address the mental health challenges of our students. Our kids often come to school with unseen trauma, and we know that they can’t learn while they’re struggling. Minnesota needs 6,000 more student support personnel to achieve the recommended amount of support staff in our schools and to be on par with other states. I am so grateful for the coalition we built around HF 8 and for the heartfelt support of my colleagues as we work to ensure our kids are healthy, that they feel and are safe, and have the opportunity to thrive.”
Vice President of Minnesota School Counselor Association, Keela Kuhlers; President of School Nurses Organization of Minnesota, Tara Cliff; St. Croix River Education District’s Director of Special Education, Nicole Woodward; Minneapolis Public Schools social worker, Emily Goodhue; and Roseville Area High School student Lilah Heiny all testified in support of the bill. The Senate’s companion bill is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Education Finance Committee.
The committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion in a future E-12 Education funding package.
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