Today, Senate Democrats passed a partisan, mandate-laden education policy omnibus bill. This bill fails to address the three areas where schools most need help: promoting academic success, reducing mandates, and improving school safety.
“Schools have sought relief to combat the burdensome mandates passed last year, but instead of addressing their concerns, we are adding additional mandates and once again putting student needs first. We have a bill in front of us that we cannot prioritize.” said Sen. Michael Clune (R-Blaine), a member of the Education Finance Committee. “For students to be successful, schools need to be successful, too. It focuses on academics, addresses test failures, gives schools the tools to succeed, and gives parents avenues for involvement.” This bill accomplishes none of that.”
With graduation rates declining and fewer than half of Minnesota students performing at grade level in math and reading, today's education The policy bill strengthens obligations on schools. A March 14 letter from various education groups urged Congress not to pass new mandates in 2024, citing negative impacts on the budget, workforce, local control, and innovation efforts. Senate Republicans recently introduced a bill that would give local school districts more options for state funding, and it was proposed as an amendment during today's floor debate.
The amendment called for allowing school boards to transfer new funds from one use to another by passing a resolution stating the amount and purpose of the funds they wish to transfer. These relief measures will be in place for the next three academic years and apply only to the obligations of the Education Omnibus Bill of 2023, as well as new obligations anticipated in the Education Act of 2024. Democrats refused to accept this amendment.