This week Senate Democrats passed a partisan, mandate-heavy education policy omnibus bill. The legislation fails to address the three areas where schools need the most support: increasing academic success, providing mandate relief and improving school safety.

“Schools across the state have been struggling with many of the mandates that were passed last year, and they have been asking for the legislature to give them the flexibility to do what’s best for their districts, yet this bill fails to address their concerns,” said Senator Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake). “So much of what was passed last year led to budget shortfalls that have hurt our schools, and in turn, hurt our students. Instead of addressing those concerns, this bill piles even more mandates onto schools. Graduation rates are slipping and fewer than half of Minnesota students are performing at grade-level standards in math and reading. Our schools need the tools to succeed, but their hands are being tied by burdensome legislation. We have a real problem that needs to be addressed, and unfunded mandates are not the solution.”

The education policy bill increases mandates on schools, even after more than 60 mandates were passed in the 2023 session. A letter on March 14 from various education groups requested the legislature refrain from passing new mandates in 2024, citing the negative impacts to their budget, workforce, local control, and innovation efforts. Senate Republicans recently presented a bill to give local school districts more options with state funding, which was offered as an amendment during the floor debate.

The amendment sought to allow school boards to transfer the new funding from one use to another by passing a resolution indicating the amount and purpose of the funds they want to transfer. These relief measures would be in place for the next three school years and only apply to mandates in the 2023 education omnibus bills plus any new mandates that are anticipated in 2024 education legislation. Democrats refused to accept this amendment.

“This amendment would have offered a critical lifeline to schools – it would have allowed school districts and school boards to have the flexibility to reallocate funds back into the classroom. Over 60 new mandates were passed last year, many of which overshadowed any visions and plans that districts and school boards had for their schools. As a result of those same unfunded mandates, many schools are hurting, and they being forced to slash their budgets. This amendment would have given them flexibility to address their specific concerns,” finished Pratt.

In the midst of slipping graduation rates and fewer than half of Minnesota students performing at grade-level in math and reading, the premiere component of this legislation is a controversial “Book Banning Prohibition” mandate, which would put book selection decisions in the hands of approved librarians with no room for input from parents in the community.

Other notable portions of the education policy omnibus bill include the following:

• SF 1318 – Requiring schools to consult with union representatives regarding paraprofessional training
• SF 3924 – Increasing training required for Tier I and Tier II special education teachers
• SF 3974 – Requiring notice to parents and record-keeping if a student is pulled out of class for more than 10 minutes
• SF 3998 – Permitting student journalism with few restrictions and without acting against a staff person who advises student journalists