SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Today, the Minnesota House Education Finance Committee heard HF 22, the English Language Learner (ELL) bill, authored by Rep. Kaohly Vang Her (DFL - St. Paul). The bill increases the per-pupil funding for students learning English, and will eliminate the English Language Learner cross-subsidy by 2027.
“If we are to live up to our vision of fully funding education, funding our English Language Learner programs is a vital piece of that mission,” said Rep. Her. “ELL is underfunded. The need to invest in our ELL students is more urgent than it has ever been coming out of the pandemic. Proficiency in math and reading has fallen drastically for this student group. Also, ELL students are usually new Americans or vulnerable people who are unable to advocate for themselves. We know Minnesota has a rich history of welcoming immigrants and protecting the vulnerable, and I am proud to carry this bill to continue that legacy.”
Saint Paul Public Schools Superintendent, Joe Gothard; Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent, Zena Stenvik; Owatonna Public Schools Superintendent, Jeff Elstad; LatinoLEAD Executive Director, Irma Márquez Trapero; Educators for Excellence Minnesota Executive Director, Paula Cole; Harding High School ESL Teacher, Eugenia Popa; and former Minnesota EL student, Tara Bounkeovisane testified in support of the bill. The Senate’s companion bill is awaiting its first hearing in the Senate Education Finance Committee.
The committee laid the bill over for further consideration.
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