Citizens for Eden Prairie Schools

Legislative Progress on the CEPS 2005 Platform
July 2005

Long Term:

Create a straightforward and stable funding solution that gives districts an adequate and equitable source of revenue. Not addressed this session
Fully fund special education requirements. Special education received an increase, but it will most likely by offset by a new aid calculation.

Short term:

Provide at least an inflationary increase in the educational funding formula over the next biennium. Surpassed goal! Education will receive a 4% increase in the funding formula in each of the next two years.
Amend the basic formula to account for market driven operating cost differentials. Not adopted.
Reconfigure the local referendum cap so that Eden Prairie is authorized to receive at least as much local revenue as neighboring districts. We have success in that the referendum cap has been raised from 18% to 26% of the general education formula. This is very good news and will allow us to capture additional revenue through local taxes. We still, however, are not authorized to receive as much local revenue as neighboring districts.
Pass a statutory amendment to allow school boards to have levy authority and/or charge an equal fee for all students riding buses. Not adopted.
Restore funding to Early Childhood and Kindergarten readiness programs. ECFE and Kindergarten readiness programs received minimal increases.
Simplify the legally required ballot language for voter approved referendum. Done!
Restore recent cuts to district levy authority. Restored 100%!
Amend the staff development statute to allow flexibility in the assignment of funds. Not adopted, but qualifying districts can use this money for "Q comp" implementation. (a performance based pay system for teachers.)

Other Meaningful Legislative News:
*The Statewide Insurance Pool did not pass-this is good news since the pool potentially could have cost our district much more for employee health coverage. *The Voucher proposal did not pass.

*The Initiative and Referendum did not pass-this provision would have required

the district to send out cards with property tax information so taxpayers could dispute their taxes after a voter approved referendum and after truth in taxation hearings.

*The Deferred Maintenance Levy was recalculated to allow Eden Prairie to capture more of their deferred maintenance expenses.

*State law now requires that school may not start until after Labor Day.

*The Gifted and Talented received categorical funding for the first time! (This means additional dollars for gifted and talented programs)