To the editor:

The 2003 legislature funded K-12 education as fully as possible, allowing $11.9 billion, more than 40 percent of total state spending.

In a recent letter to this paper, Scott Wrobel criticized my assertion that K-12 basic classroom funds were insulated from reductions, calling it false. Actually, basic formula spending remained the same, per pupil, in 2003 and will also be maintained this year at $4,601 per pupil.

Mr. Wrobelís letter paints an incomplete, doom and gloom style picture of education that is not representative of what is actually happening. Yes, there were cuts made to some parts of the overall education budget in 2003, but there also were important gains. We provided $4 million more than Governor Pawlenty proposed for early childhood and family education and $102 million for after school classes and summer school for students who need extra work to get ahead.

The House K-12 education bill for this year maintains per-pupil funding and goes even further. We will provide $4.5 million to rural schools for telecommunications access, allowing teachers and students to use the most up-to-date learning tools. We also continue to fund summer school, making it mandatory for students who fail the Basic Skills Test and create a pilot program to recognize teachers who improve student achievement. Overall, our budget proposal adds $8 million to K-12 education programs for the rest of the fiscal year.

By all accounts, Minnesotaís children receive an outstanding education thanks to the dedication of their teachers and administrators.

As a legislature, it is our job to provide them the tools necessary to teach and preserve the learning environment. We did that last year and we continue to do it in 2004.

State Representative
Pete Nelson
District 17B

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