Rep. Bennett’s Bill to Raise Education Standards and Reduce Mandates Approved in Committee

February 14, 2025

Thursday, February 13, 2025

ST. PAUL – In a move to improve student performance across Minnesota, State Representative Peggy Bennett (R-Albert Lea) is leading a new legislative effort to raise education standards while reducing burdensome mandates on schools.

Bennett’s bill was approved by the Minnesota House Education Policy Committee on Wednesday and now moves forward for further consideration.

Addressing Minnesota’s Education Crisis

“Minnesota’s results are extremely concerning,” Bennett stated.

  • Reading proficiency is at just 31% for fourth graders and 28% for eighth graders, according to national assessments.
  • Math scores have seen slight improvement but remain below 50% proficiency.

“This just isn’t good enough,” Bennett said. “We need to move forward quickly so our struggling students don’t slip through the cracks.”

Key Provisions of the Bill

The legislation focuses on three main areas:

1. Strengthening Literacy Education

  • Enhancing the READ Act by reducing overregulation and increasing funding.
  • Committing to the Science of Reading as the foundation of literacy instruction.
  • Removing 2024 requirements that introduce political or ideological distractions from core education.
  • Ensuring teachers are properly trained in reading instruction and assessed for competency.

2. Empowering Local Schools & Innovation

  • Increasing local control by allowing school boards, educators, and parents to make key decisions.
  • Transforming the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Center at the Department of Education into the Office of Achievement and Innovation.
  • Creating a user-friendly online school performance report to help parents track school success.

3. Providing Flexibility & Reducing Mandates

  • Allowing temporary funding flexibility so school boards can transfer funds between different programs through 2029.
  • Granting relief from 65+ new mandates imposed in the last biennium.
  • Permitting school boards to delay implementation of certain mandates until the 2028-29 school year.

Moving Forward

“The bill addresses Minnesota’s learning crisis by enabling our schools to prioritize literacy, increasing local control and innovation, and empowering parents,” Bennett emphasized.

The bill now advances to the Minnesota House Education Finance Committee for further debate.