The original House E-12 Education budget included a $900 million increase this biennium, and would have provided a 3% and 2% increase to the general education formula, significant funding to decrease the special education cross-subsidy, historic funding to diversify our classrooms, post-secondary education opportunities (both college and career/technical), and funding to help schools meet the specific needs of students.
The Senate’s E-12 Education budget did not come close to matching the House investment, and would have provided only 0.5% and 0.5% increases to the general education formula, resulting in teacher layoffs, larger class sizes, program cuts, and higher property taxes.
“All Minnesota kids deserve a world-class education and that requires honest investment,” said Representative Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis), Chair of the Education Finance Division. “While there’s still more work to do for Minnesota students and teachers, House Democrats fought for the critical funding students need and deserve.”
The E-12 education budget includes $543 million of new funding, and would:
- Increase the per-pupil funding formula by 2% in the first year and by another 2% in the second year of the biennium.
- Deliver one-time funding for school safety resources.
- Freeze the special education cross-subsidy.
- Extend for an additional two years access to voluntary Pre-K programs for 4,000 children.
- Continue funding for Tribal Contract Schools and links funding levels to future increases.
- Give schools tools to recruit and retain more teachers of color and American Indian teachers.
The E-12 education budget also includes policy reforms that will:
- Reduce special education paperwork.
- Require dyslexia screenings for all student who are not reading at grade level in grades K-2.
- Require school districts to test for lead in drinking water.
The bill can be found here and the spreadsheet is available here.