Dozens rally at Minnesota Capitol against proposed funding cuts to private schools
By Caroline Cummings
Parents, teachers and educators packed the Minnesota State Capitol rotunda on Wednesday to push back on proposed funding cuts at the Legislature that would eliminate state funding supporting private schools.
DFL Gov. Tim Walz in his budget blueprint pitched eliminating $109 million in nonpublic pupil aid which helps cover the cost of textbooks, transportation, health services and guidance counseling for the roughly 70,000 students who attend private schools. The DFL-led Senate included the cuts in their version of the K-12 spending plan.
Dozens gathered for a rally against the proposal slashing the state support private schools have counted on for five decades. School leaders said eliminating that funding would put schools in a difficult position of reducing services or raising tuition, which will hit low- and middle-income families the hardest.
“Just simply asking private schools to raise tuition is going to keep families from being able to access a faith-based education,” said Dan Beckering, head of school at Southwest Christian High School. “Our schools serve families from all socio-economic backgrounds.”
