Column: Education bill addresses needs of students

Staff

Published Thursday, March 29, 2007

By Robin Brown, Capitol Comments

One of the top priorities of this legislative session is to set the budget for K-12 education for the next two years. Parents, educators, community members and students have worked hard to communicate their message to state legislators: if we want to preserve Minnesota's rich tradition of excellence in public education, we need improved funding for schools. On Monday, the members of the K-12 Finance Committee released their K-12 funding bill, designed to meet the needs of our students and our communities.

As a member of three different House education committees, I have been very involved with the development of this legislation. I am a co-author of the all-day-kindergarten component, as well as a bill that increases the growth factor with regard to funding special education. I’m very pleased both of these components were included in the final bill.

The House plan will provide a 3 percent increase in base funding in 2008 and 2009. Our schools are still reeling after the first-ever funding cut a few years ago, followed by years of funding that did not keep up with inflation. This increase provides stable and consistent revenue that will allow every district in the state to provide a good education for their students.

A component of the bill that I co-authored provides money for voluntary all-day kindergarten for every school district that wants it. It has been clearly proven that all-day kindergarten offers a significant advantage to our youngest learners. School districts across the state have tried to implement this program, though it has been difficult for many because of the lack of funding. In some districts, the parents are paying for the additional half-day out of their own pockets.

Unfortunately, the children of parents who cannot afford this do not receive the same educational opportunity. This bill helps correct that disparity.

The bill addresses the growing budget shortfall created by under-funded special education mandates. Back in the 1970s, both the state and federal governments passed laws requiring schools to provide a quality education for students with disabilities. When these mandates were passed, the idea was that paying for the services would be a shared responsibility of the federal government, state government and local school districts. As time has gone by, however, both the federal and state governments have backed away from their commitment to fund special education. For example, when the federal bill was first passed, the federal government pledged to provide 40 percent of the funding. In fact, their contribution has never exceeded 17 percent.

In the 1990s, the state recognized the growing cost of special education and implemented a growth factor into the funding formula to increase the state’s share of the costs. But in 2003, this growth factor was repealed and special education funding was capped to help balance the state budget. As the result, many districts are receiving less this year than they received just three years ago for special education.

The education bill unveiled on Monday directs funds to reduce the gap in unmet special education costs, allowing schools to cover those costs without eating into their general fund. I am especially proud of the role I played in bringing an additional $106 million for special education. This legislation marks the beginning of a return to the days of shared responsibility when it comes to paying for special education.

Other components of the bill include $152 million in a combination of technology upgrades, innovation and reform proposals, gifted and talented programs and funding for school libraries — the first in nearly two decades. Property owners will also benefit from a combination of referendum and debt service equalization aid and funding for operating capital.

I believe this bill addresses many of the concerns and challenges our schools have been facing over the past few years. Please feel free to contact me at any time with your questions and concerns. I can be reached at (651) 296- 8216, 337 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155 or via e-mail at rep.robin.brown@house.mn.

Robin Brown is the state representative for House District 27A.

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