Friends and neighbors,
Our schools are stretched thin, not because of a lack of funding, but because Democrats piled on more than 80 new mandates when they had total control of Minnesota government. Those mandates wiped out the funding increases Democrats like to brag about, and now schools across Minnesota are facing deficits, cuts, and layoffs.
Don’t take my word for it. Listen to their testimony to the Education Committee in January.
- “The reality is (mandate) implementation causes considerable increase in administration and dollars, that again should flow to the classroom where they belong.”
- “There was no opportunity for superintendents to discuss or contemplate these new policies or their boards… They were one-size-fits-all mandates on how to operate our school.”
- “We want a world-class education for all our Minnesota students. Please empower us to do the job that our local community is charged with and return local control that has made public education so great.”
School officials have been clear about the negative consequences of Democrat mandates. That is why Senate Republicans recently introduced our Students First plan, which gives local school boards the freedom to focus on what actually matters — student success, safe classrooms, and parent involvement.
This plan lets districts opt out of costly, top-down mandates passed since 2023. It gives schools room to breathe without raising taxes. And it takes real steps to ensure kids are safe at school and that parents aren’t kept in the dark when serious incidents happen. It’s common sense, and it’s long overdue.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
God Bless,