Increasing insurance costs for school districts and funding for programs to help students with reading; two big reasons State Superintendent Janet Barresi wants an additional $37,000,000 in funding.

"Things that will help with ACE Remediation in districts, many different items we think are absolutely the most critical to receive funding," Barresi told reporters.

Barresi went before a joint Legislative committee on Tuesday, to explain the reasons for requesting the additional funds for the current fiscal year.

She said the money's needed to cover flexible health benefits for education employees and reforms including the Reading Sufficiency Act.

The State Education Department's total budget request for fiscal year 2014 totals $2,622,547,617. That's $289,203,492 more than its 2013 budget.

(State Superintendent Janet Barresi talks with reporters at the State Capitol, Tuesday.)