Senate Republicans today introduced the Students First plan, a legislative package aimed at returning the focus of Minnesota’s K-12 education system to student success, safe classrooms, and informed parents. The bills honor the $0 Senate Budget Target set by the Democrat Majority and works to free up existing funds while addressing safety concerns in schools.  

Despite more than a decade of historic increases in education funding, schools across Minnesota are facing budget shortfalls, layoffs, and program cuts— school officials from across the state testified to both Senate education committees in January about the challenges created by the dozens of new mandates passed by the democrat majority.   

“Our schools have been crippled by unfunded mandates passed in past legislative sessions – they cannot afford to function with what has been passed down to them, and we need a change,” said Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville). “We need to get back to what matters and that’s putting Students First. Mandates have forced schools to consider staffing cuts, program cuts, levies, and even consolidation for some. We need to give schools flexibility to use funding in the ways that best serve their students, and we need to empower them as they set our kids up for success both inside and outside the classroom. Our schools have elected boards that know our schools better than the legislature does and can be held accountable for educating our kids. Every dollar eaten up by a mandate is a dollar taken from students – we can and must do better.”

Key elements of the Students First plan are addressed by multiple bills and include the following goals:  

• Allowing schools to delay or eliminate the costly, unfunded mandates, allowing school districts to help stretch their budgets and divert funds back into the classrooms
• Prioritizing student safety by ensuring schools have resources and flexibility to create safe learning environments 
• Keeping parents informed through enhanced notification and transparency requirements