Monthly Archives: May 2013

$485 million in Education funding

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As the legislative session wraps up, both the Minnesota House and the Senate finalized the K-12 education funding bill.

Here are the highlights:

  • increases funding for early childhood education and K-12 schools by $485 million.
  • provides funding for all-day kindergarten for all schools in the state ($130 million).
  • provides a 1.5 percent increase on the per pupil formula (an increase of $234 million over the next two years).
  • increases special education funding by $40 million.

To read more click here.

TED Talk: Every kid needs a champion

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“Every child deserves a champion: an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be.” -Rita Pierson, Educator and TED Talk participant

PBS aired TED Talks Education.  Great short talks from educators, community leaders and philanthropists about ways to improve and invigorate the education system.

Click below to watch.

Ted Talk

Your action is needed. State legislation could mean fewer donations for non-profits

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Possible state legislation could mean fewer donations for non-profits and the Junior League. Please read and take action.

  • Minnesota non-profits are concerned about a proposed change in the tax benefits Minnesotans get when they make charitable contributions. (Click here for article)
  • The current House bill calls for replacing the current state “tax deduction” with a “tax credit.”
  • Non-profits worry the change could mean that Minnesotans might be less motivated to donate because the current state tax break would be substantially cut.

ActionThe Minnesota House proposal to replace Minnesota’s charitable tax deduction with a partial tax credit could reduce incentives for charitable giving. This has already passed the House, but fortunately was not included in the Senate tax bill.  The House and Senate conference committee members are now meeting to decide what changes will be included in the final tax bill to send to the Governor.

To protect the current deduction, it is crucial that House and Senate leadership hear from the us. 

Please take action today by contacting:

  • Your representative. Click here to find your MN House and MN Senate representative.
  • Or Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk (651-296-8881) and House Speaker Paul Thissen (651-296-5375) 

 Tell them:

  • The House proposal to change the charitable tax deduction to a credit should be rejected.
  • Some donors who receive the tax deduction now would be ineligible to receive the credit, and it represents a substantial reduction in Minnesota’s commitment to supporting charitable giving.
  • The Junior League counts on a wide variety of donors—please maintain the current system that supports their generosity in my community.