Supplemental aid provided for transportation, nutrition, English learners, and special education; and money appropriated.
Impact
If enacted, HF340 will increase financial support for school transportation by adjusting the pupil transportation adjustment significantly. It aims to provide 100 percent coverage for transportation costs, which is a substantial increase over previous percentages. Additionally, the bill includes supplemental nutrition aid for schools participating in federal breakfast and lunch programs, ensuring that schools can meet the needs of their students more effectively, particularly those from low-income households.
Summary
House File 340 is an education finance bill aimed at providing supplemental aid for various educational services, including transportation, nutrition, support for English learners, and special education. Through this legislation, the state of Minnesota seeks to address some of the funding disparities that exist among school districts, particularly for fiscal year 2023. The bill includes provisions for one-time appropriations to aid school districts in covering their operational and service-related costs adequately.
Contention
While the bill appears to have broad support based on its intent to improve educational resources, there may be debates regarding the allocation of funds and whether the one-time appropriations will be sufficient to meet ongoing needs. Critics might express concerns about the sustainability of such funding increases in subsequent years. Furthermore, the emphasis on special education and aid for English learners could lead to discussions about how best to distribute these funds to ensure equitable access to resources across all school districts.
English learner program revenue increase and indexing requirement; statewide English learner parent and community advisory council establishment; microcredentials for teachers and administrators of English learners establishment; appropriating money
Microcredential for teachers and administrators of English learners established, student support personnel aid for area learning centers provided, fully funded alternative programs and English learner programs task force established, rulemaking authorized, report required, and money appropriated.
English learner programs revenue to basic education revenue indexing requirement; teachers and administrators of English learners microcredentials establishment; appropriating money
Microcredentials for teachers and administrators of English learner programs established, English learner revenue formula modified to provide additional revenue for a student with limited or interrupted formal education, English learner staff ratio reporting created, and money appropriated.
Indexing of English learner programs revenue to basic education revenue required, microcredentials of teachers and administrators of English learners established, rulemaking authorized, and money appropriated.
In membership, contributions and benefits, providing for supplemental annuity commencing 2025 and for supplemental annuity commencing 2026; and, in benefits, providing for supplemental annuity commencing 2025 and for supplemental annuity commencing 2026.
In membership, contributions and benefits, providing for supplemental annuity commencing 2023 and for supplemental annuity commencing 2024; and, in benefits, providing for supplemental annuity commencing 2023 and for supplemental annuity commencing 2024.
In membership, contributions and benefits, providing for supplemental annuities commencing 2024; and, in benefits, providing for supplemental annuities commencing 2024.