Senator Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes) released the following statement responding to the House DFL proposal for education spending: 

“Schools and students received historic funding in last year’s budget. It’s obvious now that the worst thing for kids was the isolation and mandates that kept them out of the classroom. But sending billions of dollars into more administration isn’t the solution.  

“Our top priority reducing burdens and mandates, stabilizing classrooms, getting kids back in school, and addressing our failing test scores: 40% of kids in Minnesota cannot read at grade level. Reading is equality and we are focused on proven solutions to get kids reading at grade level as soon as possible.”  

Last year’s education budget funded 2 years of historic increases totaling more than $1 billion. This state funding was in addition to the $2.6 billion schools received through federal COVID dollars last year.