Minnesota House Democrats propose a 3.3-billion-dollar increase for E-12 education over the next four years — with a focus on closing funding gaps in special education and English-learner programs. House Speaker Melissa Hortman says by contrast, “Minnesota Senate Republicans clearly believe our schools don’t need much in the way of help.” Senate Republican leaders weren’t immediately available to comment, but their focus is on back-to-basics and parental rights, including choice options which Democrats label as school vouchers.
Minneapolis Representative Jim Davnie says House Democrats’ proposal also addresses student mental health — the number-one concern he says they hear around Minnesota. “We provide 475 million dollars going forward to fund 11-hundred new school support personnel in schools: counselors, social workers, psychologists and nurses,” Davnie says.