This column was originally published in the Faribault Daily News.
Latest K-12 bill makes affordable education a priority
My office has received a lot of questions about what Minnesota is doing for education now that conference committees are starting their work on budget deals. I’m proud to say that under Senate Republican leadership, Minnesota’s commitment to K-12 and higher education is stronger than ever.
Our K-12 bill makes it a priority that every student is able to receive a great education, and that schools receive the tools they need to be successful. Our plan increases education funding by $1.1 billion over the last budget – a total investment of $18.5 billion.
Most of this new money is for increases to the per pupil formula. Schools in different areas of the state have different needs, and per pupil funding increases give school districts the flexibility to spend money the best way they see fit. Each school district in our area would get a sizeable increase in per pupil funding under the Republican plan.
Greater Minnesota districts in particular will benefit from long-term facilities maintenance aid. This program helps with facilities upgrades in school districts with smaller tax bases. Every student, regardless of where they live, should be able to go to school in safe, reliable buildings.
Republicans are focused on fixing the teacher shortage problem that is impacting Minnesota. Our onerous licensing process is making it too difficult for skilled teachers to get licensed here. We passed a bill that makes it easier for committed, passionate, experienced individuals to become licensed teachers, whether they are entering the profession from another career, or simply moving to Minnesota after teaching somewhere else.
Like our K-12 budget, the Republican higher education budget puts students first by focusing on college affordability. Our plan provides $3.2 billion in funding to our colleges and universities − a $100 million boost from the last budget.
It’s getting harder and harder to afford college. Our budget eases these cost pressures by allocating more money to the state grant program, which provides crucial financial aid to students. In addition, we are implementing a tuition freeze at Minnesota State campuses and we’re asking the University of Minnesota to do the same.
Colleges and universities will have to prioritize their spending, but our budget makes sure they have the funding they need to do their jobs. We allocated $53 million to Minnesota State schools for their operations, with $3 million in grants focused on institutions outside the metro. The University of Minnesota would receive $27 million under our proposal.
Finally, our higher education budget makes important investments to spur innovation, including $4 million for advanced cancer research at the U of M, $6 million for spinal cord and traumatic brain injury research, and $2 million for the Natural Resources Research Institute for agriculture, forestry, mining and water resources research.
Next, we will negotiate with the House and the governor to reach compromised budgets for education and higher education. There is still a long way to go, but I’m glad both parties are committed to continuing our legacy of great K-12 schools, colleges and universities.