Working together, we can make a difference. 

Sample Letters - Ideas To Get You Started 

 

Always include your name, address and phone number.

Dear Representative/Senator,

 

Don't cut funding for public education!  For the past 17 years the basic formula has increased on average of ~1.5% while inflation has increased 3%.  Every year, our schools have gotten half of what they needed just to keep up with inflation let alone address the additional state and federal mandates.   
 
Eventually, the economy will improve.  Minnesota needs to be in a position to thrive.  A well educated work force will ensure our future prosperity.  This legislature and governor must not jeopardize the future for our kids and our state when dealing with the challenges of today. 
 
Sincerely,
Name,
Address
Phone number

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Dear Representative/Senator,

 

K-12 education needs your support.  Unlike some other areas of the government where inflation is built into the budget, the legislators need to provide funding for education through legislation.  We need to have an honest conversation about what different budget cuts will mean.   A budget cut, for example, in Health and Human Services results in slowing down the growth.  A cut in K-12 education slashes into the base.
 
As my legislator, I am asking you to protect Minnesota's future prosperity by standing up for our schools today.   The "New Minnesota Miracle" needs to be included in the K-12 Education Bill to be phased in beginning in 2014.  That's the long-term solution.  For now, public education needs small inflationary increases, relief from mandates, minimum shifts AND for the State to leave local district's fund reserves alone.
 
Please speak with your leadership and let them know how important K-12 education is to your constituents. 
 
Sincerely,

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Representative/Senator,

 

I recognize that times are rough.  My concern lies with my child's education.  Next year, my son will be in [first] grade and it is [his] one chance to be a [first] grader.  He won't get a do-over when economic times improve.  If his class balloons to 40 students and all support is cut (which is possible if drastic cuts are imposed by the state), how will he ever get the base he needs to succeed academically?
 
The lost opportunities for him and the other children in his classroom can never be recovered.  Aren't we all depending on these very children to be our future workforce?  If we expect to depend on them in the future, they must be able to depend on US now!  Please increase funding for education, minimize shifts and resist any attempts to tap into local district's fund balances.   Plus, the "New Minnesota Miracle" needs to be included in the education bill even if the phase in can't begin until 2014.  By doing that, Minnesota will begin to treat education as the priority that it is. 
 
Please speak with your leadership and let them know how important our schools are to the people in your district. 
 
Sincerely,

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Dear Representative/Senator,

 

The Minnesota Constitution states:  "The stability of a republican form of government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people, it is the duty of the legislature to establish a general and uniform system of public schools.  The legislature shall make such provisions by taxation or otherwise as will secure a thorough and efficient system of public schools throughout the state."
 
The size of the deficit is staggering.  The only responsible solution will contain a thoughtful combination of budget cuts and revenue increases.  People in the state of Minnesota understand this and we need our leaders to work together to find a solution that deals with the immediate problem while working towards a long term vision of a stronger and more vibrant Minnesota.  That vision must put the education of our children first.  The governor and our legislators need to honor their constitutional obligation to provide for our schools.   It's the right thing to do for our children and our state.
 
Sincerely,
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Dear Representative/Senator,

 

I understand that these are extremely challenging times.  Decision will have to be made that will take a real toll on people's lives.  I am asking you, as a leader in this state, to look past the present and lead us into a more promising future.  A highly educated work force has always been Minnesota's greatest asset.  Education is the engine that drives Minnesota's economic growth.  Therefore, K-12 education must be the state's number one priority. 
 
For the past 17 years, the basic formula has not kept pace with inflation.  Our greatest asset is already under great stress.  Further funding cuts will threaten the very survival of our schools.  Please support language in the K-12 Education Bill to phase in the "New Minnesota Miracle" beginning in 2014.  That is truly the level of resources that our school need.  In the meantime, don't cut education, provide mandate relief, reduce funding shifts and don't consider utilizing local district's fund balances. 
 
Thank you for listening.
 
Sincerely,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Dear Representative/Senator,

 

Education is a priority for me and I am concerned about possible cuts to education funding.  A 3.0% cut to [list your district her]) will decimate our schools.  My children only have this one shot at their education and cannot have a redo when times are better.  I believe these rough economic times will end and Minnesota needs to be in a position to prosper.  Dismantling our public school system, in the long run, will cripple Minnesota's ability to recover. 
 
I would ask that you make education a priority and speak to your leadership to do the same. 
 
Thank you.
 
Sincerely,  

Deadlines Set: It may seem like minutae, but the legislative deadlines often play a huge role in how the business of the legislature unfolds, especially near the end of session. This year, with the major budget challenges facing the state, the deadlines will likely take on even greater importance.

The deadlines are as follows:

First Deadline--Friday, March 27: Last day for policy committees to act favorably on bills in the house of origin (in English, last day for Senate policy committees to act on Senate Files and House policy committees to act on House Files).

Second Deadline--Tuesday, April 7: Last day for policy committees in either body to act favorably on bills or companions of bills that met the first deadline in the other house (in English, House policy committee may act upon HF XX if SF YY met the first deadline in the Senate).

Third Deadline--Thursday, April 16: Last day for House and Senate budget divisions to act favorably on omnibus education funding bills (This is the one the education community watches most closely, as Senator Stumpf and Representative Greiling will have to have the omnibus K-12 bills out of their divisions no later than this day).

Fourth Deadline--Wednesday, April 22: Last day for Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee to act favorably on an omnibus appropriations and tax bills.

Fifth Deadline--Thursday, May 7: Conference committee reports on omnibus appropriations and tax bills must be reported to the floor. This is new for this year and will give the Legislature nine working days to pass their major funding and tax bills and send them to the Governor for signature or veto.