The Minnesota State Senate passed an E12 education budget bill that infuses $18.5 billion to support Minnesota students, teachers, and schools. Led by Sen. Carla Nelson (R-Rochester), chairwoman of the Senate E12 Finance Committee, the finance bill spends an additional $1.14 billion compared to the previous budget.

“Education is the great equalizer. In a significant sense, it is the moral, racial, and economic issue of our day,” said Sen. Nelson. “By providing opportunities for all Minnesota students to receive an education that prepares them for the jobs of tomorrow, our children have brighter futures and employers can better meet their hiring needs.

“This bill focuses on students by putting over 90% of the new funding into the classroom. It focuses on teachers by getting qualified educators into the classroom more efficiently and rewarding teachers and districts growing their own effective teachers, including teachers of color.”

The bill’s increase of $1.14 billion over current spending represents an increase of 4.8% and includes $300 million over the projected base funding. It includes:

• $350 million to fully fund the projected enrollment growth of 35,000 new students statewide
• $330 million in additional funding for special education growth in numbers and services
• $4 million in increased debt service aid, which help districts pay off construction bonds
• $6 million in increased funding for Adult Basic Education, helping adults get the education needed for self-sufficiency
• $5.4 million in increased funding for school food programs
• $131 million in increased funding for long-term facilities maintenance
• $275 million in increased per-pupil funding

In addition, the bill contains important policy measures aimed at prioritizing programs that will yield long-term results such as early literacy and creating a dyslexia specialist at the Department of Education.

“88% of students who do not graduate from high school were struggling readers in third grade. And 89% of low income students who do graduate on time were proficient readers in third grade,” said Sen. Nelson. “Clearly reading well by the end of third grade is a key to closing our stubborn nation-leading achievement gap and providing opportunity for all.”

The bill passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support. It awaits action by a joint House and Senate conference committee, which is expected to take place near the end of April.

Sen. Nelson has long been in a leader in education. A child of a high school principal and special education teacher, Nelson became an educator herself. She is an elementary and middle school teacher, special education teacher, reading specialist and earned a Master of Education in Teacher Leadership from the University of Minnesota.

Sen. Nelson is in her third term representing Senate District 26, which includes students in Byron, Chatfield, Dover-Eyota, Hayfield, Plainview, Rochester, Stewartville, and St. Charles school districts in Olmsted County. She serves as chairwoman of the Senate E12 Finance Committee.