Friends and neighbors,
The Senate Majority recently passed an education policy bill that, unfortunately, ignores what school leaders and teachers have been asking for: relief from the long list of unfunded mandates passed in the last two years.
Schools across Minnesota are dealing with over $280 million in budget shortfalls, largely because of mandates from St. Paul. Instead of helping schools manage these costs, this bill adds new ones. That’s why I’m supporting the Students First plan, which would let school boards waive expensive mandates passed since January 2023 — unless they affect safety or financial accountability.
Every school is different. We should trust our local schools to decide what works best for their communities.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,