Action Alert: May 5, 2025

Minneapolis Parent Legislative Action Committee,

I have been putting off sending this update hoping to see the final House education finance bill. We were supposed to get the bill language on April 11 but negotiations between House Democrats and Republicans pushed the bill back. Once a deal was struck, rank and file House Democrats pushed back on the deal struck by leadership. With two weeks left in the regular session, it is looking more and more like a special session will be necessary to complete the budget setting process.

What we know so far

The Senate Education Finance Committee completed their budget bill on April 10 and we know the major components of the bill. The challenge the Senate committee faces is the budget target they were given. The committee must cut $687 million from schools in fiscal years 2028 and 2029. To accomplish this, they pause the inflationary increase in the per pupil general education formula. We strongly oppose pausing the inflationary increase.

The House's education budget target does not require cuts to schools over the next four years. MPS supports the House education budget target. As the Governor, House and Senate leaders work out global budget targets for the finance committees, MPS is asking negotiators to adopt the House education budget target.

You can help

Please call or email your State Senator and State Representative and ask them to adopt the House education budget target when setting global budget targets. To find your legislators' contact information, use the Who Represents Me GIS site from the state.

Thanks for your advocacy on behalf of the students, families and staff of Minneapolis Public Schools. 

Josh Downham
Lobbyist, Minneapolis Public Schools