Dear PACT Stakeholders,

The legislative session is underway, and key deadlines are approaching. While there are differences on many issues, school safety funding for charter schools remains an area of bipartisan agreement.

Minnesota’s fiscal outlook includes a projected long-term deficit alongside a current short-term surplus—creating a timely opportunity to act. Investment now is essential to address immediate student safety needs.

Charter school students deserve equitable access to safety resources. Expanding school safety aid to include charter schools is a necessary step to ensure consistent support and protection for all public school students.

I encourage you to contact your state senators as soon as possible to advocate for equitable school safety funding. Instructions are listed below.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nathan Flansburg
Superintendent

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INSTRUCTIONS:

THE ASK: All students deserve safe learning environments. Please include chartered public school students in the safe schools revenue program, from which they are currently excluded. Make it a priority to FIX THIS!

HOW:

1. Find your SENATOR, Google “Who represents me in Minnesota” or go to gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/ 

2. Email or call, share your name, the ask, and your connection to the issue (why you care). See the sample below. 

3. Copy (cc) the Senate Education Finance Chair and Committee Assistant on your emails: Sen.Mary.Kunesh@mnsenate.gov and emma.zellmer@mnsenate.gov (Call separately if using phone) 

Note: We are targeting the Senate because we have not yet secured a hearing in that chamber.

Sample Email/Call Script:

Dear Senator_______,

My name is____________. I’m a constituent and also a ____________(Share role within a charter school - e.g., leader, board member, parent, etc.) at PACT Charter School in Ramsey, Minnesota. 

Charter schools are public schools, yet they are currently excluded from Safe Schools revenue (also known as Safety Aid). This funding—available to traditional district schools—supports a wide range of student safety measures, including security cameras, school resource officers, counselors, and cybersecurity. At a time when many communities are feeling increased uncertainty and concern around safety, this gap is deeply troubling. We are asking that you prioritize safety aid for chartered public schools THIS YEAR. Please give this issue a hearing and ultimately pass funding into law.  

Chartered public schools must be included in the safe schools funding program. All students deserve safe learning environments. Bills such as SF986  and SF3713 are both strong pathways and approaches to providing Safe Schools funding for charter schools this year.

I respectfully ask that you advocate for a safety aid hearing for chartered public schools and help ensure that safety aid is extended to them. It is needed now, not next year or later. Chartered public school students deserve safety now. 

Sincerely, 

{your name}