Hello from the State Capitol,
As a member of one of the House education committees, I have heard plenty this session about how public school districts are struggling due to the 65 mandates placed on them by a Democrat-led legislature and Governor Walz last session. I have also heard from plenty of parents and private schools who are concerned they are being targeted because they favor educational freedom and flexible school choice.
This week, a new and powerful voice in Democrat circles stepped up and threw its weight around: the unions. And after they issued their ultimatum, Democrats reneged on our bipartisan education budget funding agreement, and it appears the House is now back to Square 1.
The problem centers on the new summer unemployment insurance mandate for hourly school workers. By law, our schools do not pay into the state unemployment insurance program like other seasonal employers such as road construction companies. Unemployment insurance costs come out of school districts’ pocketbooks, paid by local taxpayers.
While the state initially set up a fund to reimburse schools for these newly mandated additional unemployment costs, that fund is quickly running out and the state doesn’t have the dollars to continue these payments.
As one superintendent said in committee, “We are having to cut teachers and paras so we can pay people not to work over the summer.”
In the K-12 Education Finance bill negotiated by Democrat and Republican co-chairs, this unemployment insurance program would sunset in the year 2028. It was approved without any complaint in the K-12 Education and the Ways and Means committee. Then this week, the SEIU and Education Minnesota unions demanded this bill not reach the House floor because of this provision, and when it came time to schedule the bill for a floor vote, the Democrats shut it down.
So, instead of listening to superintendents, families and school boards who want the funding flexibility necessary to avoid laying off teachers and support staff, Democrats agreed to the marching orders of the unions whose political action committees significantly contribute to their campaigns.
Always remember, when it comes to education, Democrats represent the best interests of Education Minnesota and SEIU, not families, school districts, or property taxpayers.
The Senate version of the education finance bill has its own problems. It recently agreed to language that imposes burdensome restrictions on homeschool families.
This legislation undermines the fundamental parental rights and freedoms to direct the education of their children by enforcing unnecessary regulations, such as dictating who can instruct and requiring specific qualifications.
Parents have the inherent authority to choose their children’s curriculum, materials, and educational environment without government overreach. Such measures threaten the autonomy of families and erode the sacred responsibility of parents to raise and educate their children according to their values and beliefs. I stand firmly against this provision and any attempt to infringe upon the liberties of homeschool families, and I will not be silent in the House when this language is up for debate.
We have 19 days remaining to right these wrongs in the K-12 Education bills. Know that I will be working hard over the next three weeks to do exactly that.
In liberty,
Drew