This bill proposes significant changes to Minnesota's education system, particularly concerning social studies standards and ethnic studies requirements. It suspends the adoption of revised social studies standards, delaying the review cycle from 2020-2021 to 2030-2031. The bill also repeals existing ethnic studies requirements, including the provisions that allowed ethnic studies courses to fulfill various credit requirements, and removes the obligation for the commissioner of education to embed ethnic studies in academic standards. The effective date for these changes is set for the day following final enactment.

Additionally, the bill reduces base funding for fiscal year 2026 and beyond from $39,667,000 to $39,517,000 and mandates that school districts and charter schools continue to provide instruction based on the 2012 standards until new standards are adopted. The repeal of Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 120B.25 and 120B.251, eliminates the requirement for high schools to offer ethnic studies courses starting in the 2026-2027 school year and for elementary and middle schools to provide ethnic studies instruction by the 2027-2028 school year. Overall, the bill represents a significant rollback of previously established educational standards and funding related to ethnic studies in Minnesota.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 120B.021, 120B.024, 120B.11, 124D.861