Bakeberg Bill Repealing Special Education Cut Advances

St. Paul — Today, the House Education Finance Committee passed HF 4114, authored by Ben Bakeberg (R-Jordan), to repeal a $250 million automatic reduction in special education funding and protect local school districts.

Current law requires schools to plan for a $250 million cut in special education aid if projected savings are not met. HF 4114 repeals that reduction and removes the automatic enforcement mechanism while allowing the commission’s work to continue.

“We’re seeing a pattern of cutting funding to local schools while growing spending at the Minnesota Department of Education,” Bakeberg added. “Last year, Democrats tried to cut seniors and nursing homes. This year, it’s special  education programs. All the while, state agency budgets keep growing. That’s backwards. Our focus should be on supporting students and classrooms, not expanding an already bloated bureaucracy.”