Committee weighs $20 million to expand BARR program to 72 more Minnesota schools

Senate File 551, carried by Senator Putnam, would appropriate $20,000,000 over three years to the BARR Center to support implementation in 72 additional Minnesota schools. The Minnesota State Education Finance Committee heard testimony and laid the bill over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

The bill’s sponsor told the committee the request is based on measured results and not just theory. Senator Putnam said the appropriation would "allow 72 more Minnesota schools and the kids in those schools to implement and benefit from the BARR system." The proposal would fund on-site training and a dedicated coach, three years of professional development and coaching, alignment with local school structures, and access to the state and national BARR network.

BARR founder Angela Jerbeck (executive director, BARR Center) told the committee the model was developed from her counseling work and has been evaluated with external researchers,…