EdTrust-Midwest applauds school budget proposal 

“We applaud Senator Camilleri and the members of the Prek-12 appropriations subcommittee for a significant step to prioritize students from low-income backgrounds.

“The Senate budget that was approved by the subcommittee increases funding for the Opportunity Index by 25 percent, representing a $258 million increase. The Opportunity Index provides needed additional support for public school students living in school districts with high concentrations of poverty.

“The budget also includes a 25 percent increase for multilingual learners, a group that has long been underserved. This represents a $12.5 million increase.

“This budget, which comes at a time of great uncertainty for the nation’s public schools, builds upon the work of our state leaders over the last two years to create a fair school funding system that meets the needs of all students. While there’s more to do, today’s budget proposal is a positive step forward.”

The budget now advances to the full appropriations committee, which is expected to take up the school aid budget in early May.

Statement by Amber Arellano, executive director, EdTrust-Midwest