Housley: “We need to provide meaningful relief to schools and put our students first”

This week Senate Republicans 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.   

“What we are offering is a simple plan that gets back to the basics of education and focuses on our kids and ensuring their success – instead of forcing unfunded mandates on our schools, we need to put students first,” said Senator Karin Housley (R-Stillwater). “Senate Republicans originally presented this plan back in 2023 and we will keep putting these commonsense ideas forward as long as it takes to refocus education back on our students.”

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

Included in the plan is legislation authored by Housley that would allow school boards to take a public vote allowing their districts to not comply with burdensome mandates passed after January 1, 2023. It would also allow for districts to have flexibility with state funds, freeing them up to use in whatever areas they need most.

“We need to provide meaningful relief to schools and put our students first, and this plan accomplishes both goals. What Democrats have done isn’t working and it’s creating additional barriers for our schools, it’s time for a different approach that focuses on doing what’s necessary to set our kids up for success,” finished Housley.