Schools, Families Decry House & Senate Education Budgets
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Schools and families are joining Minnesota's governor to say House and Senate education budget proposals are too small.
Both the GOP-led House and DFL-controlled Senate would increase education spending. But schools say the bumps won't be enough to cover inflation. They say that will lead to bigger class sizes and cuts to programs like music and world languages.
Families, children and school administrators packed a press conference Monday to demand more of the state's projected $1.9 billion surplus for schools. They're lobbying legislators to bulk up their budgets as negotiations play out in coming weeks.
Gov. Mark Dayton's single biggest education proposal is $343 million to offer universal preschool. Some administrators and school board members say they'd rather pour that money into the general funding pot.
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