Legislative actions

The current K-12 education bill moving through the legislature would deal a harsh blow to urban school districts such as Minneapolis Public Schools. In the Senate bill, MPS would lose $17 million in aid over the next two years. In the House bill, MPS would lose $27 million over the same time period. The House bill also raises Minneapolis property taxes by $22 million over two years. Both House and Senate bills cut spending to at-risk students in order to fund only a modest increase in the general education formula.

These monumental cuts would be detrimental to our students and families. If signed into law, this legislation would greatly hamper our efforts to close the achievement gap, provide a high quality education and meet the diverse needs of all of our students.

We use the state’s investment in integration and compensatory aid wisely and we spend local resources above and beyond those provided because we recognize the importance of the programs this aid funds. The cuts proposed by the legislature eliminate and redistribute funds at the expense of our state’s urban centers. While the bills freeze funding streams for compensatory education and special education, the majority of the cuts come from the elimination of integration aid. In the House bill, funds are taken from Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Duluth not to aid in closing the state’s budget deficit but for redistribution to other districts.

Under the proposed legislation, we would need to cut up to $27 million from our current budget. All of the following would be at risk:
• Elimination of school choice; funding supports integration of our schools through the school choice system
• Elimination or drastic reduction of all-day kindergarten
• School start times may be impacted due to possible need for a tiered bus route system
• Classes sizes would increase due to a reduction in staffing
• Fewer resources for supplemental academic support, prevention and behavioral support services and counseling support

If you are concerned about the risks that this education bill potentially has for Minneapolis Public Schools, you may wish to contact the governor and legislative leaders as soon as possible to express your opinion.

Governor Mark Dayton
Telephone: 651.201.3400
Toll Free: 800.657.3717
http://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/form

Representative Kurt Zellers, District 32B
Telephone: 651.296.5502
Email: rep.kurt.zellers@house.mn

Senator Amy T. Koch, District 19
Telephone: 651.296.5981
Email: sen.amy.koch@senate.mn

You may also wish to contact your own legislative representatives. To identify your legislators, visit:
http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts

We are committed to our mission: we exist to ensure that all students learn. We know that we cannot do this work alone and we rely on the commitment of students, families and community members to help us meet our goals. We also depend on our elected representatives to execute fair judgment for the good of all, not to the harm of those in need. Thank you for all that you do in support of our schools, our students and families.