Burnsville Education Roundtable Brings Together State and School Officials

Diamondhead Education Center in Burnsville hosted an education roundtable on Thursday.

Minnesota House Majority Leader Erin Murphy along with state Representatives Will Morgan, Sandra Masin, and Laurie Halverson attended the meeting. They discussed with school administrators, teachers and staff the impacts of 2013 legislative decisions on schools.

The 2013 legislative session made several investments into early childhood through 12th grade education. 

"We made 2013 the 'education session' because a world-class education is the ticket to economic opportunity for Minnesota students," said Majority Leader Erin Murphy in a news release from the Minnesota House DFL Caucus 

"With another school year just beginning, it is exciting to hear from educators in Eagan and Burnsville who are optimistic about the historic education investments we made this year and what that will mean for the future of our kids," Murphy said.

The new budget, according to the release, includes: 

More funding for every school in Minnesota: The budget invests an additional $234 million in the school funding formula, providing schools with an increase in funding in each of the next two years. 

This year the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 will see a revenue change of $1,616,733 in 2014—a 1.5 percent increase. Next year (fiscal year 2015) the school district will see a 5 percent increase at $5,296,527.

All-day kindergarten for every child: The budget invests $134 million to help Minnesota school districts provide optional all-day kindergarten to every student, free of charge. Currently, only 54 percent of Minnesota’s kindergarten students have access to free all-day kindergarten, with thousands of families having to pay out of pocket. 

Early learning scholarships for 8,000 kids: The budget invests $40 million in scholarships that will help thousands more children attend high quality child care and preschool to ensure that children are prepared for kindergarten and beyond.  Families will be eligible for up to $5,000 in scholarships. 

Repaying our schools: The budget accelerates repayment of the money that the state borrowed from our schools in previous years — with first repayments beginning in October.

Testing reform to improve how we measure student achievement: The bill will help move away from punitive, high-stakes testing standards to help districts implement college and career readiness exams. 

World’s best workforce: School districts must adopt a comprehensive, long-term strategic plan to improve teaching and learning that is aligned with creating the “world’s best workforce.” Districts must strive to, among other markers, close achievement gaps, have students reading at grade level by 3rd grade and graduate from high school college- and career-ready.

Said Rep. Morgan, "The investments we made in our students are designed to build the kind of highly-educated workforce Minnesota needs to stay economically competitive. I’m confident that the 'education session' will bring good jobs to our state and spark economic growth for years to come."