An open letter about education to Minnesota’s Republican members of Congress

The following column originally appeared in several APG of East Central Minnesota newspapers during Feb, 2025, including the APG Statewide News, Press&News, Faribault Daily News, Grand Rapids Herald Review,  SunCurrent SunSailor, SunThisWeek,  MilleLacs Messenger,  Morrison County Record,  Laker Pioneer, Monticello Times, Union Times, and Waconia Patriot.

 

An open letter to MN’s Republican members of Congress

about education

 

Dear Rep. Emmer, Finstad, Fischbach and Stauber,

Thousands of Minnesota students, families, and educators you represent, need your help. In reading your websites, it’s clear that each of you cares about these people. But there is massive uncertainty coming out of Washington, D.C. You are members of the same party as President Donald Trump. Your party has a majority in the U.S. House and Senate. You will likely have much more influence than Democrats on what happens over the next several months.

President Trump was elected, in part, to bring some changes in the way the federal government operates. And some changes can be positive and helpful. Minnesota has been a leader in educational change whether it’s expanding opportunities for women to participate in sports, increasing ways high school students can challenge themselves and earn free college credit, giving educators and families opportunities to create new public schools, open to all, or recognizing the value of combining classroom work and community service.

However, there are several facts that I hope you will remember and remind the President and your fellow members of Congress.

• Under state law, each Minnesota public school district must pass a balanced budget by the end of June. Conversations I had in mid-February with members of the Minnesota Legislature, both Republicans and Democrats, show that they don’t know how much of our tax money will be coming from Congress and the administration to help pay for education. The Minnesota Department of Education presented a report to legislators early in February showing that about 15% of early childhood – high school funds, totaling more than $1 billion, come from Washington.

Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach

• Thousands of Minnesota students depend, in part, on federal grants and loans to help support their attendance at colleges and universities. They’re preparing to be constructive, taxpaying citizens. But there is massive uncertainty about how this will operate in the coming year. This is partially illustrated by a student aid section in Rep. Tom Emmer’s website. As of mid-February, the link does not work.  Perhaps that’s because, at least in mid-February, parts of the U.S. Department of Education’s website have been taken down.

Congressman Tom Emmer

Congressman Brad Finstad’s website acknowledges a challenge many students face: “At the postsecondary level, student loan debt has spiraled out of control for students unable to secure high-paying jobs that keep up with the size of these loans.”

Congressman Brad Finstad

• Years ago, Congress promised to fund about 40% of the costs of students with special needs. Congress has never come close to fulfilling this commitment, while imposing significant mandates on how school districts must serve these students. As Rep Pete Stauber notes on his website, with the headline “Stauber spurs renewed effort to fund special education,” “Special education has been underfunded by the federal government for many years, according to educators, causing school districts across the nation to subsidize it through their general funds.”

Congressman Pete Stauber

 

These are just a few of many examples.

Thousands of Minnesota high school seniors are making plans for this coming fall. Minnesota state legislators are beginning to write bills determining how much money will be available to educate students.

Unquestionably changes can sometimes be productive. But along with change, Minnesotans value clarity. Please urge Congress and the President to provide what Minnesotans need.

 

Joe Nathan has been an award-winning Minnesota public school educator and PTA president. He’s founded and served for more than 30 years as director of Center for School Change, now known as Catalyst for Systems Change. He welcomes responses, joe@centerforschoolchange.org