Minnesota Legislature Approves Education Bill, Includes All-Day Kindergarten Funds

A $15.7 billion education package that will "make life easier" for working parents, according to the bill's supporters, now awaits Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton's signature as work begins to wrap up on the 2013 Legislative Session. 

The omnibus bill, which means one version of the bill was introduced in each chamber, was approved with small support from Republicans over the weekend, picking up five GOP votes in the state house and four more in the senate. 

Sen. Ann Rest of New Hope was the lone "no" vote from the DFL (Democrat) side of the aisle in the senate, creating the 41-26 margin. 

The bill raises the state's method of funding local schools by $156 per pupil for a total of nearly $235 million in new money over the next two years.

The bulk of that is spent on a new all-day, everyday kindergarten program funded at the state, with $134 million appropriated to a program that "will provide funding for districts that want or need it." 

"Currently, 17 percent of Minnesota kindergartners attend all-day programs that are fee-based," said Sen. Greg Clausen, a democrat from Apple Valley. "Traditionally, that cost has been $300 to $400 per month. This creates inequity in our schools, giving only some who can afford the cost the opportunity for all-day, everyday kindergarten." 

School districts such as St. Michael-Albertville (ISD 885) have said they would switch to state-funded kindergarten versus a tuition-based system. 

"This is a bill which better prepares all students for college and career in Minnesota," said sponsor Sen. Chuck Wiger. 

In the House, the bill passed on a 78-56 vote. Rep. Connie Bernardy (DFL-Fridley) said the bill creates history with all-day kindergarten and a series of funding changes.

"The funding and reforms in this bill will help our students succeed from early childhood to college and career," she said. 

Over the past decade, the state has slipped from 10th in the nation in education funding to 22nd. Class sizes, according to state DFL numbers, are 47th in the nation in teacher-to-student ratio.

Funding for the education bill is also tied to the Omnibus Tax Bill, which also passed through the House over the weekend on a party line vote.