Minnesota Senate Education Committee Chairman Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes) today announced that legislators and Gov. Walz have reached an agreement on a two-year education budget that invests in students, adds virtually zero new mandates, and focuses on student literacy, and adds more teachers of color.

Senator Chamberlain issued the following statement:

“Our philosophy has been consistent from the first day of session: we are going to focus on students, not systems; on parents and families, not lobbyists and institutions. I am proud to say this education budget achieves those goals.

Some highlights:

• Funding: We delivered the largest student funding formula increase in 15 years — the number one ask from Minnesota schools. 

• Mandates: We added almost no new mandates so teachers will have the flexibility to do their jobs. 

• Teachers of Color: We provided a significant increase to Teachers of Color, so we can recruit, hire, mentor, and develop more teachers of color and American Indian teachers in our schools. 

• Literacy: We added funding for the incredibly successful LETRS teacher training program, which is the consensus approach for teaching reading to young students — particularly students with dyslexia.

• Mental Health: We increased suicide prevention training and grants, included funding for student digital wellbeing, and launched new outreach training to address how to manage screen time and the devastating impact of social media on children.

This is a fantastic bill that is a huge victory for Minnesota students, families, teachers, and local schools, and I look forward to getting it passed as soon as possible.”