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At the Legislature

The decisions state legislators make affect your classroom, school and profession. State funding dictates what districts can do about class sizes, special education caseloads, even the condition of your building.

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What we do

Education Minnesota has paid lobbyists and hundreds of fellow Minnesota educators fighting for you at the Capitol, connecting with legislators and other state officials to ensure their voices are heard when decisions are made. We track legislation, keep you informed and arm you with the resources you need to influence public policy.

A lot of people think they know what’s best for students without asking educators. Your union gives you a seat at the table because educators know what’s best for students.

What we’re fighting for

A strong system of public schools, one that gives every Minnesota student an equal opportunity for success – no matter what they look like or where they come from – will strengthen our communities and improve the lives of children and their families. 

If we are serious about making sure every student can pursue their dreams, our state needs to get serious about funding what works.  

Our 2025 Legislative Agenda

Here are just some of the issues we’re prioritizing at the state Capitol.

Minnesota teachers make 28% less on average compared to other workers with the same education level. Education support professionals only make minimum wage in many areas, and often don’t make enough to cover their health insurance costs. The state must make direct investments in the compensation of educators.

Educator pension plans are designed as a tool for employers to attract skilled workers and get them to stay in the profession, often with the same employer until they retire. The Minnesota Legislature needs to examine the breadth of options available to make teaching attractive. That includes enhanced retirement benefits that recognize and reward teachers’ hard work on behalf of students.

Health insurance costs for educators have soared in the past decade, and are rising faster than wage increases for many. We’re pushing for the creation of a mandatory state health insurance pool for all school employees to lower costs.

Minnesota’s share of funding for public school districts hasn’t kept pace with inflation. It’s time for Minnesota to fully fund public education to give students and educators the safe and racially just schools they deserve. The state needs to invest billions of dollars into strategies proven to help our students succeed.

Everyone who works in public education deserves the same things. Respect for their contribution to the care and education of our students. Fair compensation for their work, including affordable health care. Safe working conditions. Unfortunately, most education support professionals (ESPs) across Minnesota don’t get enough of any of those.

Education Minnesota supports students’ right to learn an accurate and honest history of our nation, both the good and the bad, so they can learn from our mistakes and create a better future for all Minnesotans. This includes ensuring media literacy for our students and expanding media library specialists, expanding ethnic studies, preventing book bans and protecting a teacher’s right to create the standards-aligned curriculum, based on their professional training and experience.

Get involved

The most effective advocates for public schools are you and your colleagues. Get involved!

Rally to Fund Our Future

Rally for the financial security educators deserve! 

Join hundreds of educators and allies to demand Minnesota’s wealthiest corporations pay what they truly owe in taxes so our elected leaders can invest in educators and other working people. Without improvements in educators’ pay, pensions and health care, Minnesota won’t fix the staffing crisis in our schools or provide our students with the education they deserve.  

Rally to Fund Our Future
3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29
State Capitol rotunda

Register here!

Lobby Days

The most effective advocates for public schools in Minnesota are the front-line educators who guide our students toward successful lives every day, which is why Education Minnesota has made it easier than ever for members to participate in lobby days.

Learn more and sign up

Take action

Write a letter to the editor

Write a letter to the editor and submit to your local newspaper(s) on major education issues. We make it easy with our LTE templates!

Letter to the editor templates

Email your legislators

Ask your state representative to support lowering TRA Tier 2 penalties

To have the best chance at passing TRA Tier 2 penalty reduction this year, we need a full co-author list on the penalty reduction bill authored by Rep. Dan Wolgamott. Contact your local representative using this easy form to ask them to sign on and support this critical legislation.

Email your legislators
Raise educator wages using state funding

Teachers in Minnesota are paid 28% less than other college-educated workers, while many education support professionals make minimum wage. It’s past time for the state to make direct investments in the compensation of its educators.

Email your legislators
Support affordable health care for educators

Health insurance costs are rising faster than wage increases for many educators. Write your legislators and urge them to support investments in educator health plans like PEIP. No one should be forced to choose between health care and putting food on the table or a roof over their heads!

Email your legislators
Raise revenue for reliable, sustained education funding

Public education received record funding increases in 2023, but our schools need more than one-time spending. Tell your legislators to reject any new tax cuts that favor the rich and support proposals that will ensure the wealthiest Minnesotans and the largest corporations start paying what they truly owe in taxes so our schools can have the resources they need.

Email your legislators
Support the ESP Bill of Rights

Everyone who works in public education deserves the same things. Unfortunately, most education support professionals don’t get enough respect in their schools, fair compensation for their work or safe working conditions. Contact your legislators urging them to support our ESP Bill of Rights to benefit these professionals.

Email your legislators

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