News Releases for May 2007
May 03, 2007
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Hoeven Signs Landmark $90 Million K-12 Education Funding Bill
Plaintiff School Districts Dismiss Lawsuit
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today was joined by Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, legislators, Governor's Commission on Education Improvement members and educators to sign Senate Bill 2200, a landmark K-12 education funding bill.
The legislation reforms the state education funding formula for the first time in a generation and adds more than $90 million to achieve greater equity in education funding, bringing state aid to nearly $800 million. The measure adopts recommendations developed by the Governor's Commission on Education Improvement. As a result of the commission's work, plaintiff school districts today dismissed a lawsuit challenging equitable distribution of state aid to schools.
"The winners here are our children," Hoeven said. "The school funding reform bill provides significantly more money for education through a new, equitable formula, and it also helps to reduce the burden of taxes on our local communities. Moreover, we've established a process to address school funding adequacy, which the commission will now begin to work on in preparation for the next legislative session."
"We truly appreciate the work of the commission and legislators," Dalrymple said. "By signing this legislation, we say to each one of our school children: No matter where you live or what the property values of your community may be, you will have the same general amount of resources behind you when you walk through the school house door."
"We have said all along that this is about the kids," said Warren Larson, spokesman for the plaintiff schools and superintendent of the Williston Public Schools. "We are very pleased that all our hard work these last few years has produced a great result. It is my privilege to be able to announce today that the plaintiff schools will dismiss their lawsuit against the State of North Dakota."
"The important consideration here is not who wins or loses in the courtroom, but what we can do to make sure the real winners are the school students of North Dakota," Stenehjem said. "This legislation has fulfilled the state's promise to examine and improve the state's education system. I am pleased that through the efforts of the Governor's Commission on Education Improvement and the Legislature, the state will now be better able to serve students in every school district across the state. I anticipate the stipulation to dismiss the lawsuit will be signed very soon."
"We are all extremely proud of the fact that North Dakota is one of only two states among more than 30 in litigation about school funding that has not only resolved their lawsuit, but more importantly, achieved more equitable funding of education for all of our children," said Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch, chair of the House Education Committee and commission member. "This was won not in the courtroom, but at the negotiating table by people of good will genuinely concerned about fairness in education."
"This is an historic day for the children of North Dakota and their families, and from this day forward education will never be the same," said Sen. Tim Flakoll, vice-chair of the Senate Education Committee and member of the Education Commission. "Senate Bill 2200 provides for mass customization where the dollars follow the individual child and includes a first time provision for all day kindergarten, an accomplishment that will give our children a leg up compared to many states."
"A great deal of credit goes to members of the commission, Lt. Governor Jack Dalrymple and members of the Legislature who worked on this issue," said Wayne Sanstead, superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction. "We would not be here today to sign this monumental piece of legislation without their diligent efforts over a period of 16 months or more. I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who served on the commission."
Key provisions of the legislation include:
- Equity for All Students: Provides for all schools to be at 90 percent of the statewide average in funding by the second year. Requires a minimum per student increase in funding of 3.5 percent the first year and 6 percent the second year to help transition all schools to the new formula. Nearly 60 percent of the districts that receive equity payments under the new formula have fewer than 500 students.
- Per Student Payments: Gives $3,250 per student in 2007-08 and $3,325 in 2008-09.
- Special Education Funding: Increases special education funding by $8 million.
- Transportation Grants: Provides an increase of $2 million in funding for transportation grants.
- Education Collaboration: Provides $4 million for Regional Education Associations (formerly Joint Powers Agreements).
- Early Childhood Education: Allocates $5 million to fund statewide all-day kindergarten for the first time.
- English Language Education: Increases Funding for English Language Learner Programs by 10 percent.
The first phase of the commission's work focused on equity, providing equitable funding for each student in North Dakota. The second phase will focus on adequacy, ensuring that each student is provided the necessary resources to meet meaningful educational needs.
Members of the Governor's Commission on Education Improvement include: Lt. Governor Jack Dalrymple, chair; Warren Larson, superintendent, Williston Public Schools; Jack Maus, superintendent, Grafton Public Schools; Martin Schock, superintendent, Elgin/New Leipzig Public Schools; Mark Lemer, business manager, West Fargo Public Schools; Sen. Tim Flakoll, Senate Education Committee; Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch, House Education Committee; Sen. David O'Connell, Senate Minority Leader; Wayne Sanstead, superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction; Rep. David Monson, Assistant Majority Leader; Doug Johnson, executive director, North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders; Jon Martinson, executive director, North Dakota School Boards Association; Gloria Lokken, president, North Dakota Education Association; and Paul Stremick, superintendent, Dickinson Public Schools.
"I want to thank and acknowledge Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch, Rep. Dave Monson, Sen. Tim Flakoll, Sen. Dave O'Connell, Superintendent Wayne Sanstead, all the superintendents, school officials, and the entire commission for the hard work and thoughtful recommendations that helped to make today's signing and dismissal of the lawsuit possible," Hoeven said.
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