Schools for Equity in Education
PRESS CONFERENCE / DAY OF ADVOCACY
Public Education Advocates to Call on the Legislature to Fully Fund Special Education

We need your help! This is a way you can make a difference! Please share this information with friends and colleagues.

WHO: Minnesota’s leading education organizations
WHAT: Press conference and Day of Advocacy
WHERE: Minnesota Capitol and Virtually
WHEN: 1 p.m. on Monday, May 9
WHY: Address the growing special education cross-subsidy and the Legislature’s responsibility to fund the shortfall.

Parents, school board members, school administrators, and concerned citizens from across Minnesota will call on the Minnesota Legislature to use a portion of the historic state budget surplus to fulfill their obligation to fund important, and mandated, special education services. According to the Minnesota Department of Education data, Minnesota’s special education funding shortfall is estimated at $820 million for the current school year.

**ACTION ALERT**: SEE Members can participate in several ways:

  • ATTEND THE EVENT at the State Capitol and take the opportunity to connect with your legislators. Find more information below.
 
  • PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY during the event. The presentation will coincide with the mobilization of several school district parents, families, and communicators reaching out to local media and legislators to simultaneously communicate the message of the need for more funding. Details are below. 
 
  • FOLLOW UP and continue to reach out to your legislators. Details are below.
ATTENDING THE EVENT: If You Go, What You Need to Know
Parents, families, concerned citizens, and SEE members are encouraged to support the event in person.

Press conference spectators may view the event from the L 'Toile du Nord Room located in the basement of the State Capitol. The press conference room is small, so most participants will watch the conference on live TV monitors in the L’Etoile du Nord Vault. 

Participants are urged to connect with their legislators dining the Advocacy Day. Try to schedule an appointment this week to meet with your local legislators. Arrive early to show a presence at the Education Conference Committee. Learn more in the logistic link below.

VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION: Advocate and Communicate to Your Legislators About Special Education Shortfalls
Parents, families, concerned citizens, and SEE members are encouraged to contact legislators and advocate on social media forums for the need to close the special education funding gap. Schools must have the resources to meet the needs of every student.

FOLLOW UP: Continue to Advocate to Gov. Walz, Legislators and others to close the special education funding gaps
Parents, families, concerned citizens, and SEE members are encouraged to continue to advocate to allocate a portion of the $9.2 billion surplus to pay down the special education cross-subsidy by emailing leadership and local legislators.

As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Regards,

Deb

Deb Griffiths
Director of Communications and Community Outreach
612-309-0089