Today Senator Julia Coleman (Waconia) chaired the Senate Education Policy Committee as committee members heard testimony from various school representatives regarding the impacts of burdensome education mandates passed last biennium. Following the testimony, the committee took action to pass modifications to the READ Act, making it the first bill to pass out of committee in the 2025 Legislative Session. 

“I appreciate all the school representatives taking time out of their day to speak to our committee,” Coleman said. “The quick, bipartisan action to modify the READ Act demonstrates our commitment to addressing school representatives’ concerns and reducing the impacts of costly mandates on school districts throughout the state. One thing is clear: one-size-fits-all mandates do not serve our schools well, and it is incumbent upon us to ensure they have the local control needed to best serve their specific students’ and teachers’ needs.” 

Of the more than 60 new mandates passed in 2023, four received the most attention from testifiers: the inclusion of part-time employees under unemployment insurance, Earned Safe and Sick Time, the non-exclusionary discipline policy (which prohibits suspensions for K-3 students), and the READ Act. The most common request was for more local control and flexibility in implementing state requirements.  

“Just those four new mandates add $1.1 million to our costs. Add in inflation, higher wages, health benefits cost, [and] you quickly get that we’re not better off. We’re actually sliding behind despite historic investments in public education. I wish I could say that nobody saw this coming, but we’ve been sounding the alarm for years,” Kyle Christensen, Farmington Area Schools School Board Chair, said.  

The committee also heard from school representatives about the challenges of the READ Act passed last year. “While many of us support the initiative and intention of the READ Act, the execution, implementation, and training of staff is challenging and expensive,” Angela Charboneau-Folch, Principal, Integrated Arts Academy, Eastern Carver County Schools said.  

Following the testimony, the committee passed the bill with bipartisan support to reduce the number of required professional development training hours for teachers, allowing districts more flexibility in implementation of the READ Act.  

The following list of school representatives spoke before the committee: 

• Cory McIntyre, Anoka-Hennepin School District
• Michael Thomas, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools
• David Law, Minnetonka Public Schools
• Jeff Drake, Fergus Falls Public Schools
• John Carlson, Director of Administrative Services, Rochester Schools
• Donna Friedman, Director of Administration and Human Resources, Forest Lake Area School District
• Jason Berg and School Board Member Kyle Christensen, Farmington Area Schools
• Ranae Case Evenson, Jordan Public Schools
• Patrick Glynn, Principal, Jeffers Pond Elementary, Prior-Lake Savage Area School District
• Lisa Carlson, Principal, Woodland Elementary, Rosemount Eagan Apple Valley School District
• Angela Charboneau-Folch, Principal, Integrated Arts Academy, Eastern Carver County Schools
• Eric Nelson, Principal, Chatfield High School, Chatfield Public Schools
• Aaron Nelson, Principal, Pequot Lakes High School, Pequot Lakes Public Schools

The full video of the hearing can be viewed online.