Februrary 5, 2025
Dear Minnesota Families and Educators:
Recent discussions about potential changes to the U.S. Department of Education and federal education funding have raised many questions. Like many of you, I am concerned about recent executive actions and reports indicating plans to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education and eliminate investments in our schools.
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has not yet received official information about potential changes to these essential programs currently housed within the U.S. Department of Education. As we seek clarity, we remain committed to ensuring stability for our students, educators, and schools. Minnesota has a long-standing commitment to high-quality education and strong state-level policies that protect every child’s right to learn in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment.
For decades, federal investments have played a key role in ensuring students receive the support they need to learn and thrive. These funds provide critical resources for students with disabilities, early learning programs, broadband access, transportation, career and technical education, and teacher training—all of which strengthen our schools, workforce, and communities.
With these critical federal investments, Minnesota has prioritized educational access and opportunity through:
- Strong special education protections, ensuring that students with disabilities receive the services they need to thrive.
- Early learning initiatives that set children on a path for success from the start.
- Career and technical education programs that prepare students for in-demand, well-paying jobs and strengthen our economy.
- Student-focused programs that provide additional support for students from low-income backgrounds, multilingual learners, and those who need extra resources to succeed.
Congress directs the U.S. Department of Education to pass these federal investments on to states so local leaders can plan and make decisions that are best for our communities. This lack of clarity, along with other broad executive actions taken in recent days, puts key programs at risk by uprooting longstanding protections and supports students and schools depend on every day. These actions have consequences on our rural communities, schools across the state, students from low-income families and those needing special education services—and they are avoidable.
In Minnesota, we believe every child—of every background, zip code and ability—deserves access to a world-class education. The public servants and educators at MDE support that mission efficiently and effectively, with 99% of our spending going straight to services that support students, schools, and educators who need them.
Minnesota laws provide strong, comprehensive protections for students so they can live and learn as their full, authentic selves. In the face of unknown federal action, we are prepared to continue to focus on students who depend on specialized services to access learning, the educators who rely on stability to stay effective, and the families who choose public schools as a pathway to opportunity.
As we navigate potential federal changes, we will continue to advocate for the stability, resources, and policies that ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed. We will keep families, educators, and school leaders informed and work collaboratively to maintain Minnesota’s strong educational foundation.
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students and schools.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Willie Jett
Minnesota Department of Education
CC: Acting Secretary Denise Carter, U.S. Department of Education
