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Education Policy Committee
Monday, March 23, 2026
12:30 PM, 1200 Minnesota Senate Bldg.

Minutes



Present: Senator Steve A. Cwodzinski - Chair, Senator Erin K. Maye Quade - Vice Chair, Senator Julia E. Coleman - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Jim Abeler, Senator Liz Boldon, Senator Zach Duckworth, Senator Grant Hauschild, Senator Mary K. Kunesh, Senator Alice Mann, Senator Jeremy R. Miller, Senator Nathan Wesenberg

Absent: No Members Absent

Senator Steve A. Cwodzinski called the meeting to order at 12:35 p.m.

Call to Order


Student Testimony a. Evercyn, Waconia b. Adam, Waconia c. Natalia, Waconia d. Mabel Gauslin, Anoka High School (REMOTE) e. Luna Hernandez, Coon Rapids High School f. Sarah Maxwell, Two Harbors High School (REMOTE) g. Rainalee Sorn, Rochester Public Schools h. Benjamin Howard, Rochester Public Schools.

The following individuals testified on Student Testimony: Natalia, Minnetonka High School Adam, Waconia Schools Evercyn, Waconia Schools Mabel Gauslin, Anoka High School (REMOTE) Luna Hernandez, Coon Rapids High School Sarah Maxwell, Two Harbors High School (REMOTE) Benjamin Howard, Rochester Public Schools Rainalee Sorn, Rochester Public Schools

S.F. 3870: Senator Cwodzinski: Education department provisions modification.

Senator Cwodzinski moved to adopt the A-3 amendment, voice vote, amendment adopted.

Senator Cwodzinski moved that S.F. 3870, as amended, be laid over. - MOTION CARRIED.

S.F. 4510: Senator Maye Quade: Read Act provisions modification.

Senator Maye Quade moved the A2 amendment, voice vote, amendment adopted. Senator Maye Quade moved the A3 amendment, voice vote, amendment adopted.

Senator Cwodzinski moved that S.F. 4510, as amended, be laid over. - MOTION CARRIED.

Public Testimony on the Education Policy Omnibus In-person and remote testimony will be accepted on the Senate DE. Testimony will be limited to 1 minute and 30 seconds per testifier. The Chair may limit the number of testifiers. Written handouts are encouraged. Testimony on SF3870 DE and SF4510 DE. a. Willie Jett, Commissioner, MN Department of Education b. Jessica Webster, Staff Attorney, Legal Aid c. Joey Cienian, Executive Director, MN Association of Charter Schools d. Aanya Mohta, East Ridge High School, Minnesota Youth Council e. Aqueelah Roberson, EdD, Policy Director, Education Evolving f. Maren Christenson, Multicultural Autism Action Network g. Beatrice Handlin, People for PSEO h. Erich Mische, CEO, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education i. Michelle Gustafson, Co-Lead of Distraction Free Schools (REMOTE) j. Louis Gustafson, Student, Apple Valley High School (REMOTE) k. Khulia Pringle, Executive Director, STAND Up Minnesota Parents United l. Sarah Hawkins, Minnesota Library Association m. LeRoy Swart, PSEO Student, University of Minnesota Senate n. Matthew Lux, Student o. Ethan Lux, Student p. Denise Dettrich, MSBA, MASA, AMSD, MREA q. Grant Eustice, Parent and Teacher r. Matt Shaver, EdAllies s. Erin Sandsmark, Executive Director, Solutions Not Suspensions t. Roger Aronson, MASSP, MESPA, MREA, AMSD, MASA, MSBA u. Kate Lynne Snyder v. Joe Nathan, Center for School Change w. Khalique Rogers, Catalyst for Systems Change x. Pranaav Sriram, Executive Director, People for PSEO (REMOTE) y. Laura Jean, Public Policy Coordinator, PACER Center.

Willie Jett, Commissioner, MN Department of Education (REMOTE) Joey Cienian, Executive Director, MN Association of Charter Schools Aayna Mohta, East Ridge High School, Minnesota Youth Council Beatrice Handlin, People for PSEO Aqueelah Roberson, EdD, Policy Director, Education Evolving Maren Christenson, Multicultural Autism Action Network Michelle Gustafson, Co-Lead of Distraction Free Schools (REMOTE) Louis Gustafson, Student, Apple Valley High School (REMOTE) John Lof, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education Khulia Pringle, Executive Director, STAND Up Parents United Sarah Hawkins, Minnesota Library Association LeRoy Swart, PSEO Student, University of Minnesota Senate Grant Eustice, Parent and Teacher Denise Dettrich, MSBA, MASA, AMSD, MREA Matt Shaver, EdAllies Megan Arriola, Legislative Policy Manager, Minnesota Department of Education Erin Sandsmark, Executive Director, Solutions Not Suspensions Roger Aronson, MASSP, MESPA, MREA, AMSD, MASA, MSBA Kate Lynne Snyder, Education Minnesota Joe Nathan, Center for School Change Khalique Rogers, Catalyst for Systems Change Pranaav Sriram, Executive Director, People for PSEO (REMOTE) Laura Jean, Public Policy Coordinator, PACER Center

Adjournment


The meeting was adjourned at 2:32 p.m.


 
                                                                      
Senator Steve A. Cwodzinski, Chair
                                                                      
Eileen Otto, Legislative Assistant