Almost 40 percent of the state budget goes to preschool through high school education – around $25 billion over two years. 

For school districts, state dollars make up most of what gets spent on classroom costs, from teacher salaries to specialists to materials. So it’s no surprise that the education budget bill is always one of the last to come together. 

MPR News politics editor discusses what’s happening in schools and the direction state lawmakers might go when setting a new education budget.  

The Legislature’s finale is near, but the new state budget is still a work in progress. And it’s going to take some long days and long nights to meet the May 19 adjournment deadline. 

Guests:  

• Rep. Cheryl Youakim, DLF-Hopkins, is co-chair of Education Finance
• Sen. Jason Rarick, R-Pine City, is the ranking minority member of the Education Finance Committee

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