ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – Education Minnesota, the Association of School Administrators and the Minnesota School Boards Association joined forces Monday to ask lawmakers for more than $1 billion dollars in education spending over the next two years.

Tom Dooher is president of Education Minnnesota.

“You can’t build anything without a strong foundation, especially a child’s education,” Dooher said.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO’s Susie Jones Reports

The price tag on their wish list is more than double the $344 million Gov. Mark Dayton proposed in new education spending for the same period.

“But let’s put that in perspective. The state expenditures on education have trailed inflation since 2003. The Minnesota Department of Education says it would take $630 million every year just to get back what we’ve lost,” Dooher added.

The groups also want lawmakers to boost state per-pupil spending by 5 percent for the year starting July 1, and after that incorporate a yearly minimum increase tied to inflation.

They also want $350 million for all-day kindergarten at state schools and at least $80 million for new teacher training mandated by the Minnesota Legislature in 2011.