Legislative Action
When it comes to legislative advocacy, your voice matters! When advocating with legislators, it is important to have a basic knowledge of how public schools are funded in Minnesota.
School Funding 101
Article XIII of the MN Constitution clearly states, "It is the duty of the legislature to establish a general and uniform system of public schools."
State funding is very important to STMA students, staff, and stakeholders as approximately 84% of the district’s revenue comes directly from the state’s funding formula.
Education spending is about 40% of the state’s budget but that money is not spread out evenly across Minnesota school districts. State legislators decide how much money will be spent. That money is allocated according to a complicated funding formula that gives different amounts of money to each school district.
Basic Formula and Categorical Aid:
Every school district receives a basic amount of money in per-pupil spending. For FY2026, that amount is $7,481 per pupil. Minnesota school districts receive 19% less per student than they did in 2005, which equates to $1,420 less per student.
The rest of the state money is distributed according to a complicated formula known as categorical aid. STMA does not qualify for much categorical aid. Categorical aid is somewhat arbitrary and the exact reasons why some school districts qualify and other school districts do not, is determined by state legislators. In short, this means STMA receives thousands of dollars less than other school districts. Click here to see STMA's categorical aid.
Why School Funding Matters to You and YOUR Child
STMA is a member of the Lake Conference. While we are similar to districts in the Lake Conference in academics, arts, activities, and athletics, in funding we are very different.
This graph shows the amount each STMA student receives from the state compared to the amount other districts receive. In this example, the Hopkins School District receives $7,042 more per pupil than STMA. That’s a difference of over $47 million per year!
STMA ranks 324/328--- almost dead last--- in general education per-pupil revenue among Minnesota public school districts. To learn more, click here.
Special Education Cross-Subsidy:
The State of MN does not fully fund special education despite a plethora of mandates that districts must follow. For example, in FY2024 STMA diverted $4 million or $550.61 per pupil of funding meant for regular education classroom instruction to cover mandated but unreimbursed special education programming. The $4 million that STMA must divert from its general fund to pay for special education mandates substantially limits opportunities for all STMA students.
STMA has worked hard to increase student achievement and offer exceptional educational opportunities to help all students develop their full potential and build character. In order for us to maintain this investment in our students, we need to find a way of funding public schools that creates greater equity for all students, regardless of their zip code. ALL students deserve support and opportunities for students should not be determined by where their parents choose to live.
Advocacy in Action
“We in America do not have a government by the majority. We have a government by the majority who participate.” ~Thomas Jefferson
YOUR voice MATTERS! Please take the time to have your voice heard regarding these very important issues. Thanks, in advance, for your advocacy and support of STMA Schools!
According to the Congressional Management Foundation, if a legislator has not already arrived at a firm decision on an issue, YOU can influence his/her decision by using advocacy strategies. See below for advocacy strategies and the percentage of influence.
- In-Person Visit---94%
- Email with Personalized Message Describing Impact---92%
- Letter with Personalized Message Describing Impact---88%
- Phone Call---84%
- Form Email---56%
- Form Letter---50%
