ST. PAUL, MN - This week, Governor Mark Dayton was named as a member of the National Governors Association (NGA) Education and Workforce Committee. The Education and Workforce Committee has jurisdiction over issues in the area of education (including early childhood, K-12, and postsecondary) as well as in the areas of workforce development. Members of the committee ensure that the governors' views are represented in the shaping of federal policy.

Founded in 1908, NGA is the bipartisan organization of the nation's governors. Through NGA, governors share best practices, speak with a collective voice on national policy, and develop innovative solutions that improve state government and support the principles of federalism. For more information, visit www.nga.org.

Education Investments and Reforms Championed by Governor Dayton
Since 2011, Governor Dayton and the Minnesota Legislature have invested $895 million in E-12 education. And in 2013, the Governor and Legislature invested $276 million in higher education, helping make postsecondary studies more affordable for Minnesotans. These historic investments, and other important reforms, will help provide Minnesota students the world-class education they need to succeed in school and prepare for bright futures. Below are some of the initiatives that are helping Minnesota students succeed.

More Funding for Every School - After a decade of stagnant funding and budget cuts, Governor Dayton reinvested in our schools. In fact, the Governor increased the school funding formula by $371 million since 2011, providing more funding for every school in the state. These new funds, along with hundreds of millions of dollars in other new E-12 investments, have totaled $895 million since 2011.

Paying Back the School Shift - Governor Dayton and the Minnesota Legislature repaid all the $2.8 billion that was previously borrowed from our schools.

Early Learning Scholarships - Over the last four years, Governor Dayton has invested nearly $50 million in early learning scholarships that will help 9,000 low- and middle-income students attend quality child care and preschool programs statewide.

All-Day Kindergarten - The Governor invested in all-day kindergarten beginning this school year, ensuring every Minnesota student has access, free of charge. Previously, some families were paying as much as $2,500 to $4,000 to send their kids to all-day kindergarten programs.

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) - Governor Dayton invested in ECFE, allowing more families with young children the opportunity to learn and grow together.

Special Education Reform - The Governor invested in special education reforms that provide better support for special education teachers, eliminate unnecessary paperwork, and created an online system to better-track student data to help kids succeed.

School Nutrition - Governor Dayton invested in school nutrition programs, providing free breakfast for all kindergartners, and helping ensure no child is denied a healthy lunch in school.

Better Reading - The Governor invested nearly $157 million to ensure all Minnesota students are reading well by 3rd grade, and to expand access to one-on-one reading tutoring for kids.

Teacher and Principal Evaluations - New teacher and principal evaluation systems enacted by the Governor will provide ongoing feedback and professional support to educators to ensure that Minnesota has great teachers in every classroom and great leaders in every school.

Safe and Supportive Schools Act - Governor Dayton strengthened protections against the threat of bullying in Minnesota schools. The new Safe and Supportive Schools Act provides local districts the guidance, support, and flexibility to adopt clear and enforceable school policies to help protect all children from bullying, and to reinforce the principles of tolerance and respect in our schools.

Tuition Freeze - The Governor and Legislature froze tuition at the University of Minnesota and MnSCU campuses for two years, making college more affordable for 282,000 students.

Student Financial Aid Increase - Governor Dayton signed into law the largest single increase in direct student financial aid in a generation. By increasing our investment in the State Grant Program, over 100,000 students received an average $295 increase in financial aid to help pay for postsecondary studies.

Tax Cuts for College Students and Families - Tax cuts signed into law by the Governor provided direct tax relief to students, including: 1) allowing 285,000 recent graduates to deduct their student loan interest, saving up to $190 per year; 2) providing 40,000 students and parents an average tuition deduction of $140 per year; and 3) increasing the amount Minnesotans can contribute to Education Savings Accounts from just $500 to as much as $2,000.