DFL, GOP Draw Official Battle Lines Over Education

Last week it was public safety. This week, Democrats and Republicans at the Minnesota Legislature are officially drawing battle lines over how to spend the state’s nine-billion-dollar budget surplus.

On education, Republicans are blasting House Democrats’ proposed three-point-three-billion-dollar increase for E-through-12 education over the next four years, which focuses on closing funding gaps in special-ed and English-learner programs, plus beefing up mental health services for students. Minneapolis D-F-Ler Jim Davnie says, “the House D-F-L is ready to meet the moment, step up to our responsibilities — and I invite the Senate to join us.”

Republican Senator Roger Chamberlain says their top priorities are “reducing burdens and mandates, stabilizing classrooms, getting kids back in school, and addressing our failing test scores” — noting 40 percent of Minnesota children can’t read at their grade level.