Senate Republicans today held a press conference to announce their education plan for safe and smart kids. The bills focus on student safety and academic performance in the classroom through both policy changes and funding priorities.
“For years, we have been laser-focused on protecting students, strengthening school safety, improving achievement, and empowering parents. We've held hearings, pushed legislation, and fought for real solutions because Minnesota kids deserve safe classrooms and strong future,” said Sen. Julia Coleman (Waconia) Republican lead on the Education Policy committee. “These bills put students, teachers, and parents first. Safe schools and engaged families mean real success. Schools need real security upgrades and policy changes now to keep everyone safe and on track.”
Sen. Coleman discussed bills that would require schools to notify a safety incident to parents, and another bill that would add protections for employees who report safety concerns. One proposal would give schools the option to hold back third grade students who haven’t met reading proficiency for another year to give them time to develop the literacy skills they need for success.
For classroom safety, new legislation would allow schools to remove a student who disrupted a classroom for the remainer of the day plus up to another full day while parents and schools address the issue. Finally, Sen. Coleman is chief author of a bill that requires more transparency around curriculum content and requires consent for sexual education instruction.
Sen. Zach Duckworth is the chief author of the Safe Haven in Every District (SHIELD) Act. This bill provides grants to schools for the sole purpose of hard security efforts like electronic access and restriction, ballistic security glass and wall panels, and mass notification systems, along with security staff training. The bill has bipartisan support in the Senate.
“By now, we are well aware that there are many options for schools to keep kids safe. This bill provides grant funding through the Minnesota School Safety Center, a free resource for every school, to pay for security updates and additions,” said Sen. Duckworth. “No families or teacher should wonder if their school has the protection it needs. We're giving districts the resources to act, so every child can learn in a secure environment where parents can feel confident and teachers can focus on what they do best: teaching. It's about turning awareness into action, ensuring every Minnesota school becomes a true safe haven, and showing that we can come together across party lines to prioritize our kids' safety above all else.”
“Our schools are struggling under dozens of new, unfunded mandates from Democrats full control of government,” said Sen. Jason Rarick (Pine City) Republican lead on Education Finance Committee. “These bills will open up opportunities for parents and kids to choose a school that meets their needs, give schools flexibility with funding to meet the needs of their district, and funds the top priority of keeping our kids safe in school.”
Sen. Rarick is leading the charge as chief author of a powerful bill that puts families first in education. This legislation would unlock a federal tax credit program right here in Minnesota, making it easier for generous donors to step up and fund scholarships for kids, and at no cost to the state.
For overall safety, the safe and smart kids plan includes bills to expand current funding for Safe School Aid to include non-public schools and charter schools; currently, only public school districts are eligible for these funds.* Another bill would double the staff at the Minnesota School Safety Center, a free resource for any school to access safety training, including training for School Resource Officers. Additionally, a bill heard this morning would increase funding for counselors to kids in grades k-6 in non-public schools.
Assistant Republican Leader Sen. Karin Housley (Stillwater) is chief author of a bill that would allow school boards to waive mandates adopted after July 1, 2023 through the 2028-2029 school year with a recorded vote and public notice, giving schools flexibility to adjust their budgets without having to raise taxes.
“We heard loud and clear after the 2023 session that the mandates were crushing our schools’ budgets. Despite their claims for historic funding, 70 districts went to their voters to ask for more funding in 2025," Sen. Housley said. “This bill does what every school wants and gives local control over their funding to address the needs that look different in every part of the state. It's transparent and accountable, without making life more expensive for Minnesotans.”
Safe Kids:
- Support the Safe Haven in Every District (SHIELD) Act SF 637
- Expand Safe School Aid to non-public schools SF 3930
- Require schools to notify safety incidences to parents; add protections for school employees who report safety concerns SF 557, SF 676
- Modifying restrictions on student dismissals SF 4023
- Additional funding for staff at the Minnesota School Safety Center SF 3648
- Funding for counselors to kids in grades k-6 in non-public schools (SF 903)
Smart Kids:
- Retention/hold back third-graders unable to read at grade level SF 3666
- Ensuring Minnesota enrollment in federal tax credit for school choice scholarships SF 3878
- Parental curriculum transparency and accommodation SF 753
- Waive current mandates with a public vote SF 3361
*A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that charter schools are currently eligible for Safe School Aid funding. Only public schools are currently eligible for this funding.