17th District State Senator Howard Marklein announced the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) added $200 million to K-12 public education funding during deliberations this week. Marklein said that the funding for K-12 education has been his top priority.
“I am proud of our investment in public schools and appreciate all of the input and communication I have received from school districts in the 17th Senate District,” said Marklein.”Their ideas, concerns and willingness to communicate has been extremely helpful throughout the budget process.”
The JFC restored funding for $150 per pupil in the first year of the biennium and added an extra $100 per pupil in the second year for a total of $200 million in additional investment. In addition to general school funding, the JFC expanded the school choice program statewide to provide parents with choices and creates a program in which funding follows the child. Marklein said the expanded program draws funding from a student’s district of residence, not from statewide dollars. The Joint Finance Committee will continue to meet in Executive Session over the next several weeks to revise the Governor’s budget proposal before it is presented to the full legislature.