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I hope you will consider joining me at the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 8 for a day of advocacy for public schools. We are partnering with the Association of Metropolitan School Districts to hold our day on the hill on March 8.
What can you do to prepare?
Call or email your State Representative and State Senator and ask to meet with them on March 8th. You will likely get a 15 minutes meeting and it may be with a small group of other constituents. Be ready to explain why adequately funding public schools should be your legislators' top priority. I have included a few ideas below but you may also add how your school has been impacted by inadequate funding.
To find your State Representative and State Senator, type your address in the "Who Represents Me? tool - https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/
What are the key messages to deliver?
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The underfunding of English Learner and special education services impacts all students. For Minneapolis, this means the district's general fund must cover nearly $70 million because the state has failed to adequately fund these important services.
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Education makes up 38% of the state budget and should receive 38% of the forecasted budget surplus. In addition to investing ongoing funding into schools, the one-time funds available in the budget surplus may be used over the next four years to boost education spending.
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Connect the general education aid formula to inflation. Since 2003, the backbone of the state's education funding system, the general education aid formula, has lost significant ground when compared to inflation adjusted costs. If the general education aid formula had kept up with inflation, each student would generate $1,263. For Minneapolis Public Schools that would mean more than $35 million this year alone.
If you cannot attend in person, please consider emailing or calling your State Representative and State Senator. Ask them to make funding for public schools their top priority, especially funding to make up for the underfunding of special education and English Learner services.
Please email me if you're planning on attending. I will organize a gathering of MPS parents and community members on the 8th.
Thanks for all you do to support the students, parents and staff of Minneapolis Public Schools.
Josh Downham
Lobbyist, Minneapolis Public Schools
downham@gmail.com