Democratic legislative leaders approve an increase in education spending
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TODAY: (Updated: 10:56 a.m.) DES MOINES – Democratic legislative leaders said this morning they’ll go along with Gov. Chet Culver’s proposal to raise state aid to local school districts by $107 million in 2008-2009.
That 4 percent increase in basic aid to 364 school districts amounts to about $213 per student, according to Democrats, and would increase state per-pupil spending to $5,546. State aid by the fall of 2008 would top $2.27 billion under the plan.
Some education groups had hoped lawmakers would approve a 6 percent increase. But leaders point out that schools also are on track to get $70 million in both 2008 and 2009 for teacher pay raises – the largest single-year raises in history.
“We’re going to make a significant commitment to teacher quality this year,” said Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs. “The dollars that schools are going to get will be well above 6 percent … We’re not done.”
Culver, a Democrat, wants a $190 million increase in overall education spending, including new dollars for early childhood programs, community colleges, universities and K-12 schools.
Gronstal said lawmakers will surely match and might exceed that amount as they craft their own budget proposals. Democrats control the House and Senate.
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