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Update for April 23-27, 2007 — From Mary Cecconi, Executive Director
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Today Parents United is five years old!
This month we celebrate the fifth anniversary of Parents United for Public Schools. We have come a long way and hope you agree that our work has been worthwhile for Minnesota's schools. As a member of the Parents United database, you are part of a large and powerful statewide, grassroots organization of informed parents and citizens who are committed to Minnesota's leadership in quality public education. This update is being received in all 134 legislative districts in Minnesota--we are absolutely reaching every corner of the state.
We do not charge for our work and are fortunate to have received start-up funding from several area foundations. But 25% of our budget depends on folks just like you and your support is critical for our work to continue. If you believe our work is of value in the debate over education funding and policy, please consider a donation.
What is happening at the Capitol?
The education conference committee is working to negotiate one bill that can pass through both bodies and be sent on to the Governor for his signature.
The Senate bill concentrates on paying down the special education cross-subsidy and on reinstating the growth factor, which was repealed in 2003 and has contributed to this enormous problem.
The House bill pays a portion of the cross subsidy, adds 3% on the formula, funds a portion of All-Day-K and has a variety of policy changes. Highlights from both of these bills can be found at our website.
I want to make sure that when you hear numbers you understand that each of these bills may also include property tax reductions. An example is House Bill HF6, which totals $919 million, but $125 million of that is for property tax reductions and does not represent an increase to schools.
I also want to note that each body has been very conservative about using any one-time money to inflate their bills. The Governor's budget DOES use one-time money to increase the per pupil formula for 3R schools by 2%, in addition to other initiatives. The problem with using one-time money is that it cannot be used for ongoing programs. Our closer look at the Governor's budget can be found at our website.
Caution: Editorializing ahead
Just to make it crystal clear, schools would need both the Senate and House bills just to break even. Deciding which of the bills' provisions should prevail is a situation worthy of Solomon. The Senate bill (SF 2095) aims to pay the unpaid cross subsidy and work on early childhood initiatives, and the House bill (HF 6) aims to pay a smaller portion of the cross subsidy, giving increases to the per pupil formula and All- Day-K, and expanding some wonderful programs that would help close the achievement gap.
BUT, at the end of the day, if schools receive a combination of $800 million, they will only be able to MAINTAIN. Notice I use the word maintain. The passage of a bill even at $800 million is simply bread and butter: it does not make it possible for schools to add programs, substantially reduce class sizes, or expand programs, especially in early childhood. It may be possible to reinstate some programs that have been lost since 2003, especially programs for early intervention and extended day, which can help to reduce the achievement gap. But to be truly honest, schools need a substantial infusion of dollars (the John Myers study determines a need for $1.8 billion) if we truly mean to Leave No Child Behind.
Parents United believes that public schools drive the economic vitality of the state as well as for individual potential, and as such needs to be well funded. What is happening at the Capitol today is a direct result of last year's elections. I believe this is what people asked for during the elections-a legislature that will work to stabilize our public schools. And that is what they are trying to do.
I know it sounds like the same old thing, but it works: Come visit the Capitol and watch the Conference Committee work! Encourage their work and help them know what Minnesotans think. Call or email me and I will be happy to meet with you or any group of parents here or in your home district!
Growth and Justice, a progressive think tank, demonstrates how investment in the state leads to prosperity with their "Invest for Real Prosperity" initiative. In addition, their Invest in Minnesota campaign is taking on steam and if you are interested in joining on with thousands of others--adding your name to their petition--you'll find it here.
The following is a message from Growth and Justice: "The next weeks are critical to Minnesota's future. The governor and state legislators will determine the size of the fiscal pie for the next two years, and where and how to invest. No matter which issue is most important to you, a larger discussion needs to happen before there's any real change - where will the revenue to fund these initiatives come from? This is where the rubber meets the road. Lots of great work is already happening around the revenue raising question, and we hope to continue the momentum.
"Today, we invite you to join a coalition of advocacy groups who want to take it to the citizens. Join us in organizing and mobilizing citizens around investing more in Minnesota's future. Our goal: to get 10,000+ citizens to sign up online in the next few weeks, and then to take that message public to help influence the debate at a critical time."
- Critical Moments -- Joint targets for the legislative conference committees and committee members.
- Impact of the proposed Governor's budget: Race and Budget Matters in Minnesota, a project of the Organizing Apprenticeship Project.
- A new report on making education a top budget priority at the federal level, Budget Response FY 2008, from Committee for Education Funding.
- From the Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Leaders Recommend Changes to NCLB.
- And a new study points to a gap between U.S. high school curriculum and college expectations -- ACT National Curriculum Survey, 2005-2006.
Questions? Email Mary Cecconi
Parents United for Public Schools
1667 Snelling Avenue N., St. Paul, MN 55108
651-999-7391
www.parentsunited.org
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