2023 Legislative Platform

The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) believes a fully funded, equitable education system is needed to support all students with the opportunity for educational success.

Two funding streams provide the foundation for school district finances – the basic formula allowance and special education funding. Both funding streams are woefully underfunded – the basic formula allowance has not kept up with inflation, and the special education cross-subsidy continues to grow.

For the 2023 legislative session, we urge the governor and the legislature to prioritize education funding and swiftly pass an education funding bill early in the session that:

• Increases the basic formula allowance by 5% per year for the next two years and links future increases to inflation
• Fully funds the special education cross-subsidy

Stable and predictable school funding

• Increase the Local Optional Revenue (LOR) and equalization of various levies
• Fully fund the English Learner program
• Link categorical funding streams to the basic formula allowance
• Establish a per-pupil funding formula for school based early learning programs
• Allow school boards to renew existing operating referenda
• Explore new application and eligibility processes for free and reduced-price lunch

Address barriers to teaching and expand the teaching workforce

• Expand funding for new teacher and Grow Your Own initiatives and provide financial support for student teachers
• Allow broad teacher licensure, especially in science, special education, middle school, and school social work licensure areas
• Increase flexibility for the out-of-state license reciprocity process, including removing testing barriers
• Provide more options for school districts to hire short-call substitutes
• Improve pension benefits

Support local control

• Fund existing mandates and oppose new unfunded mandates
• Require teachers who leave to teach in another school district during the middle of their contract to disclose this information

Safe and supportive schools

• Increase safe schools funding to $100 per pupil to support student mental health and increase the number of student support personnel professionals
• Expand safe schools funding to all cooperative school districts
• Establish a minimum level of $100,000 per school district to ensure school districts receive adequate funding
• Allow school districts to use safe schools funding to increase cyber security efforts, update technology systems, and cover increasing insurance costs

Create flexible learning environments

• Give school districts the option to adapt learning environments by allowing the flexibility to move away from seat time and towards competency-based education
• Permit school districts to determine their school calendars

Remove barriers to improving school facilities and student transportation

• Expand the eligible uses of Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Revenue and remove funding caps
• Reduce unnecessary and outdated requirements for school bus driver’s licenses
• Expand lifetime use of Type III vehicles