Elimination of Nonpublic Pupil Aid and Transportation

The state of Minnesota passes a biannual budget in the first year of the biennium (the first legislative session after a General Election,) and the Governor presents his policy and spending recommendations to the legislature in advance of legislation on budget packages.

Minnesota faces a looming deficit in 2028-2029 of a projected $6 billion. The Governor’s revised budget, released on March 21, 2025, cuts state funding to students seeking nonpublic education starting in FY 2026. Qualifying students who receive nonpublic pupil aid receive state funding for textbooks, testing, school counseling, school nursing, and (often most importantly,) transportation. The state faces a budget deficit, but cutting funding to Minnesota’s students seeking nonpublic education should not be one of the first places the state reconciles the budget.

Read MFC Testimony: Senate Education Finance Committee, April 2, 2025

Review the E-12 Education Finance Spreadsheet here