Summer Education Program Funding - Take Action
Lawmakers in both the House and Senate education committees have heard bills appropriating dollars for summer education programs. HF 1064 (Davnie) was heard in Education Finance and is moving forward, and SF 973 (Chamberlain) was heard, but laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill, which stalls critical funding. The bills mark $83 million for 2021 summer education programs, Adult Basic Education (ABE) and mental health grants through the end of fiscal year 2022. It also includes $25 million to address declining enrollment due to COVID-19.
Dr. Greta Evans-Becker, Robbinsdale Area Schools board member, testified on behalf of MSBA on both bills. In part, her testimony stated, " Please don’t wait till the end of the session to pass this bill. Schools need time to hire teachers, write the curriculum, and arrange for ways to support students’ mental health. Districts need time to promote these enhanced summer opportunities and families need time to learn about the programming. We feel a sense of urgency in getting this bill passed."
We need to get this bill out of the Senate Committee on Education Finance and Policy! Contact all members of this committee TODAY and urge them to bring this bill to the Senate floor. If districts and families want to plan on summer education programming, these bills are essential and need to be passed NOW.
Here is some language for you to use when contacting these decision makers:
"As a member of Hopkins Public Schools, I support SF 973, Sen. Chamberlain's bill to increase education programming aid this summer. We urge all members to pick this bill back up and pass it out of committee. Do all you can to move it forward NOW so districts can make plans for this summer's programming and staffing. Families need to know what services are available to us this summer."
Top Contacts: Senate Ed. Finance and Policy Committee 2021