Division sets K‑12 funding framework, agrees to 225% meal eligibility funding and rejects $10 million for science centers

The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division spent an extended session reviewing the Department of Public Instruction long sheet (10/13), approving specific budget worksheet items and settling several contested lines.

State Library: The committee agreed to one-time funding of $450,000 to create an interlibrary-union catalog (described as an ILL bridge) to improve resource sharing among libraries statewide. Mary Susi, State Librarian, explained the project will allow patrons at smaller public and school libraries to discover and borrow materials from other libraries in the state rather than relying on out-of-state interlibrary loans.

School for the Blind and Vision Services: The committee approved adding a technology-focused FTE for the School for the Blind (a $152,000 addition in the second year of the biennium) and approved a $55,000 equipment item tied to campus maintenance priorities.

Center for Distance Education: The committee removed a proposed office-support FTE but approved a 0.2 FTE increase (bringing a position from 0.8 to 1.0 FTE) and one-time IT funding of $25,000; members noted the center generates fee revenue and the state supplement should be monitored.

K‑12 funding framework and sources: Senator Shively walked members through the funding mixes for increased per-pupil payments under the 3-and-3 scenario: general fund, the common school trust fund (noted at $595,000,000 in the worksheet), the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund and carryover balances. Committee members discussed reliance on the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund (committee cited about $233,000,000 on hand) and whether one-time SIF (Strategic Investment Fund) money should be used only for one-time purposes.

Free meal program: Committee members debated language in the House that raised the eligibility threshold from 200% of federal poverty to 225%. Staff estimated fully funding meals at the 225% level would require roughly $7.3 million. After discussion about take-up and direct certification rates (DPI estimated 93–95% of eligible students are already captured), the committee reached consensus to include the 225% language and to appropriate the $7.3 million figure into the budget.

Science centers (Grand Forks and Fargo): Members debated a proposed $10 million appropriation (split $5 million each for Grand Forks and Fargo science centers). Some committee members said such community capital requests are better handled in commerce or tourism budgets; others argued for continued state support. The committee voted and did not include the $10 million (committee recorded the measure as failing by committee vote and it was removed from the long sheet).

Other program lines: The committee reviewed targeted grants including teacher recruitment/retention, dyslexia training (noted as one-time funding under discussion), senior year programs, and mentoring/RISE programs. Several one-time pilot items remained under consideration for SIF funding while continuing program lines were placed against the base budget.

Next steps: Staff (Sheila) will draft the amendments for Friday morning so the division can finalize items ahead of the full committee and floor action. Several members said they expect further discussion and conference committee work on items where House and Senate positions differ.

Why it matters: The long-sheet decisions set the funding framework for K‑12 education programs and capital priorities this biennium. The committee’s decision to fund the meal program at 225% and to remove the $10 million science-center appropriation are substantive budget choices that will shape districts’ operations and community capital projects.