$45 million for "parents as teachers" approved

Also included in the education budget is $45 million in grants to school districts for "parental childhood development training." Supporters of the bill call it the "parents as teachers" program.

Under the program, school districts that draft proposals for reaching new parents will receive a grant from the state. To be eligible, programs must teach parental skills and track students as they enter school. The schools must also visit involved parents' homes.

The program's aim is to teach skills that can be used to prepare children for school. However, critics argue that school districts typically rush to do as little as possible and still meet the requirements necessary to get their hands on the money provided by such programs.