E-12 Budget Done.  The E-12 Budget articles of HF 3172--the omnibus supplemental appropriations bill--were finalized early this afternoon.  $54 million will be spent on a variety of early childhood and elementary and secondary education purposes for the coming fiscal year with an additional $104 million built into the base budget for the next biennium.  The highlights of the bill include:

• $25 per pupil unit on the basic formula increase (just under one-half percent) for FY 15 and beyond.
• Expansion of eligibility for English Language revenue from 5 years to 6 years.
• $4.7 million increase for Early Childhood Family Education by tying formula increases to increases in the general education basic formula.
• $4.7 million increase in Early Learning Scholarships (cap lifted in FY 16).
• $3.5 million for increasing subsidy for reduced price lunch, making it free.
• $1.8 million increase in Learning Readiness.
• $9 million in one-time money for teacher evaluation for non-alternative compensation districts (distributed on $302 per FTE).
• $50 per pupil increase in lease levy.
• $5 per pupil increase in safe schools levy for members of intermediate districts for use at intermediate districts.
• Increase in debt service equalization factors.  Second tier increase effective in Pay 15.  First tier increase effective in Pay 16.

Deb Griffiths is posting a more comprehensive summary on the SEE website, so look for it there.

All in all, a very good year.  I'll be providing more details as things take greater shape.