Education policy panel approves bill to let schools opt out of mandates

Rep. Ben Bakeberg (R-Jordan) is the only school administrator now serving in the House.

The middle school principal says one-size-fits-all education mandates passed in the past couple years are “hamstringing” school districts.

We need to allow flexibility for our school districts or we will continue to struggle and budget problems could be widely forthcoming, Bakeberg said.

Rep. Ron Kresha sponsors HF957, which would allow a school board to opt out of compliance with laws enacted in 2023 or 2024 relating to earned sick and safe time, paid family and medical leave, education policy, education finance, and children.

The bill, as amended, was approved on a split-voice vote by the House Education Policy Committee Tuesday and sent to the House Education Finance Committee.

Per the amendment, a school board that adopts a resolution to opt out of a mandate must continue to comply with all applicable federal laws and rules, an addition that Rep. Sydney Jordan (DFL-Mpls) says makes the bill unconstitutional.

“Schools have an obligation to have a … uniform standard of education,” Jordan said. “If schools are picking and choosing which laws to follow and which laws not to follow, how is that constitutional?”

Bakeberg responded that each district has differences in programming options, curriculum and implementation.

Jordan believes the mandates were derived from local community needs, not just politicians pushing for change.

“We’re talking about things like making sure kids have access to mental health support. These are not just mandates and things that we say just because. These are real laws that are brought by communities.”

School districts would also be permitted to transfer any funds not assigned or encumbered by staff salary and benefits or federal law, from any operating account to another account by a school board resolution through fiscal year 2029.

“We know that many of our districts are facing financial crises,” Bakeberg said. “So it allows districts that funding and some flexibility within the different buckets.”