Governor’s Budget is Here!

In this Corner . . . Weighing in at over 450 pages is . . .  No, not Andre the Giant, but instead a jumbo-size education budget unveiled today by Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan.  One great thing about electronic documents is that I won’t have to be lugging around a document this size throughout the session.  I don’t know if I can manage a forklift that ably.

The Governor released the highlights of his education budget last week and none of that has changed.  Among the highlights are:

• 4% increase in the general education basic formula for the 23-24 school year ($7,138/PU) and an additional 2% for the 24-25 school year ($7,281/PU).
• 50% reduction in the special education cross-subsidy ($328.4 MM in 23-24 and $394.2 MM in 24-25)
• No Cost School Breakfast and School Lunch ($189.9 MM in 23-24 and $198.5 MM in 24-25)
• Maintenance of Existing 4,000 Targeted Voluntary pre-Kindergarten and School Readiness Plus Slots and Considerable Expansion in Next Biennium.
• $90 MM per Year in the base for Early Learning Scholarships.
• Increase in EL formula ($13.5 MM in 23-24 and $15.4 MM in 24-25).
• Base Funding for Student Support Personnel–Counselors, School Social Workers, School Psychologists, School Nurses, and Chemical Dependency Counselors ($24.8 MM in 23-24 amd $28.8 MM in 24-25).
• $35 MM per Year in the base for the BOLD Literacy Plan.
• $163 MM per Year beginning NEXT Biennium for Unemployment Insurance for Certain School Employees (Largely hourly workers–ESPs. Bus Drivers, et. al.).
• $14.7 MM per Year in the base for Paid Student Teaching Opportunities.
• $17.5 MM per Year in the base for Grow Your Own Programs including expansion.
• $20.3 MM per Year in the base for MTSS and COMPASS programs.
• $32 MM one-time money in 23-24 school year to expand competency-based education opportunities.
• $3.2 MM per Year in the base to expand rigorous coursework opportunities.
• $50 MM funding pilot to hold districts harmless for students using PSEO.
• $30 MM in 23-24 school year to expand career and technical education opportunities.
• $1 MM annual increase for expanded Early Childhood Screening.
• $4.4 MM in 23-24 school year and $5.1 MM in the 24-25 school year for special education students placed in Level 4 and above settings.  Money in base beyond.
• $4.5 MM in 23-24 school year and $5.1 MM in the 24-25 school year to extend transition age for special education students to 22.
• $573 annually to facilitate change in specific learning disability eligibility criteria.
• $45 MM for 23-24 school year to establish after-school community learning grant program.
• $14.5 MM for 23-24 to expand full-service community schools.
• Increase in Long Term Facilities Maintenance Revenue for 299 districts without unlimited authority.  $30.0 MM in 23-24 and $36.5 MM in 24-25.  All Aid.  Need to see details not in budget document for better description.  Money appears to be in base.
• $50 MM in 23-24 to for building and cyber security grant program.
• Expanded but not complete authority for school boards to renew existing operating referendum by board approval.
• Increased investment in State Ed-Fi data collection system.

There are myriad other changes, but mostly are internal to operations at MDE.

It is a massive document and there are some surprises.  A number of programs I believed would net greater investment did not, but most of the programs here are ones I expected to have at least some presence in the budget.  I have posted a link to the Governor’s budget recommendations for E-12 education.  Beware of the table of contents.  The page numbers don’t quite line up with the individual budget proposals.

Governor’s Education Budget Recommendations FYs 24 and 25

Tuesday Committees.  Three of the four education-related committees met today.  I have been so engrossed in deciphering the details of the Governor’s budget that I will catch up on that tomorrow.