2013-2014 Wrap Up: Education

Now that the hustle and bustle of the legislative session has ended and we’re moving into the summer, I thought it would be a good idea to summarize what we accomplished in greater detail on specific issues, starting with education.

As Minnesotans, we understand that a world-class education system is the gateway to a world-class economy. We value our schools and want the best for our children, but we watched as our schools have struggled with cuts and borrowing by the state.

Before I was sworn-in, our state had fallen to 47th in the nation in class sizes making it next to impossible for students to receive the individualized attention they need to be successful. We were in the top 10 in school funding, but had slipped to 22nd. Worst of all, the previous legislature majority had borrowed $2.4 billion from our schools to paper over another budget deficit.

Because education is critical to our long-term economic growth and a solution to so many societal problems, we changed course and made historic investments in education for all of our learners and set the goal of building the world’s best workforce.

New Funding for E-12 Education: Invested $525 million in Minnesota’s E-12 education system, providing needed funding for schools to reduce class sizes and boost student achievement. This resulted in a two-year increase of $15 million for District 196.

Paying Back Our Schools: The previous legislature borrowed $2.4 billion from our K-12 schools. To make our schools whole again, our budget paid back the IOU in full. I heard loud and clear from you that the borrowing done by past legislatures was unacceptable and I wholeheartedly agreed, chief-authoring a bill to pay them back. I’m very pleased we were able to pay our schools back in full.

All Day Kindergarten for Every Student: Every child will now have access to free, all-day Kindergarten. This new measure will narrow our state’s achievement gap and help prepare every child for success in school and life.

Early Childhood Scholarships: Thousands more young learners will gain access to high-quality early learning in preschool and child care. This initiative will deliver a 16 to 1 return on investment, and prepare our kids for success in school and life. I was proud to also chief-author increased funding for the Early Childhood Family Education program.

Freezing Tuition for Minnesota College Students: Recent budgets have slashed higher education funding, leaving students to pick up the tab for skyrocketing tuition and burying families in debt. We invested $250 million in higher education allowing the University of Minnesota and MnSCU systems to freeze college tuition for two years.

Safe and Supportive Schools: Rather than worrying about being bullied, students should be spending their days learning, making friends, and thinking about their futures. Schools should be a place where all students are safe and valued. The Safe and Supportive Schools Act strengthens the ability of local communities to create their own anti-bullying policies, provides a framework to protect all students from abusive behavior, supports staff in their efforts to prohibit bullying, and will support improved student achievement by providing a safe school environment.

Protecting Students: This session, I chief-authored legislation to keep e-cigarettes out of the hands of children. The new law bans e-cigarettes on public school property and makes selling e-cigarettes to minors a misdemeanor crime. Scientific research in recent months has continued to show growing evidence that e-cigarettes are dangerous to public health. E-cigarettes also come in candy flavors that appeal to children — a tactic the tobacco industry has historically used to target kids. Like regular cigarettes, we need to ensure e-cigarettes aren’t getting into the hands of children.

Ensuring No Child Goes Hungry: Our students should have access to a nutritious lunch, regardless of family circumstances. We all know that going hungry without a hot lunch not only impacts student health, it negatively impacts a student’s ability to learn. Our budget increases funding for reduced price lunches, ensuring students won’t be turned away at the lunch line.

The legislature made huge strides in education this session, but there is more work ahead. We need to ensure all 3 and 4 year olds have access to quality early education and continue to address the problem of rising student debt for our college students. I look forward to continuing the work of ensuring that every Minnesota student has access to a world-class education.

If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for the honor of serving you in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Sincerely,

Laurie Halverson

State Representative

District 51B