Senate Education Committee Chair Mary Kunesh Secures Funding for Minnesota Schools, Students, and Educators
ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Thursday, the Senate Education Finance Committee passed its education finance omnibus bill (SF 2684), securing $2.2 billion in funding for Minnesota schools to continue their work educating and empowering students in every ZIP code. Education Finance Committee Chair and chief author Senator Mary Kunesh (DFL-New Brighton) and Education Policy Committee Chair and co-author Senator Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-Eden Prairie) release the following statement:
“As educators with more than 50 years of experience between us, we worked diligently to craft this legislation, which will invest in schools like never before; support our students and educators; ease special education and English language learner cross-subsidies; and fund adult and community education programs for lifelong learners. Throughout the session, we’ve heard from more students than the past six years combined, and their insights and testimony—as well as the insights of educators, school administrators, and other leaders in education—guided the creation of this bill. Their energy and leadership built this budget that will support Minnesota’s students, educators, and schools for the next two years and set a precedent for the future.”
Some highlights of the bill include:
- $270 million for expanded early learning scholarships for children before they enter kindergarten
- $71 million to increase the number of teachers of color and American Indian teachers
- A 4% and 5% formula allowance increase, which would raise the per pupil formula to $7,138 in the 2024-2025 school year and $7,495 in 2025-2026 school year
- $49 million for student support personnel aid to fund additional school counselors, nurses, social workers, and mental health experts
- Providing 60% of the special education cross subsidy and 75% of the English Language Learner cross subsidy by the 2026-2027 school year
The committee passed the omnibus bill and referred it to the Taxes Committee.
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