Is the DFL failing K-12 students?

Earlier this week, Gov. Walz published a tweet bragging how Minnesota's K-12 graduation rate had hit a new record high for the second straight year. It didn't take long to discredit Gov. Walz's bragging. I did that in this article, which cites as fact "State assessment data shows reading and math scores have largely stagnated since testing resumed in 2022 (following a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic), with little improvement through 2025."

Ben Bakeberg is the principal of the middle school in Jordan, MN. He's also the GOP Co-Chair of the House K-12 Finance Committee. Each week, he sends out a legislative update telling his constituents what happened that week. This week, he wrote "This week, the Governor and legislative Democrats took a victory lap over Minnesota’s high school graduation rate, now just under 85 percent for the 2025 class. We should continue to push for more student success while ensuring the diploma students receive retains its value. For that same class, 34.7 percent of students met grade-level standards in math, and just 51.5 percent were proficient in reading. Both are record lows. ACT results show the same trend. Only 39 percent of students met at least three college-readiness benchmarks, and 36 percent met none."

What good are diplomas when they're accompanied by dropping test results? Most importantly, what's the culprit? This, at minimum, contributes to the crisis:

Schools are also being stretched thin and have been for some time. There are roughly 65 mandates coming out of St. Paul that districts are expected to follow, many without funding. That forces schools to shift time and resources just to stay in compliance. Meanwhile, spending continues to grow in areas that don’t reach the classroom like the Minnesota Department of Education.

Think about that a minute. These mandates often don't put more teachers in classrooms but they do take money away from positions that help students. How do we straighten this out? Might this help?

We’ve brought forward practical solutions. I have a hearing on House File 4114 on Tuesday which would repeal a cut to special education funding. The Scholarship Granting Organization bill would create a new way to bring funding into schools without raising taxes and would apply to all schools. I’ve also introduced House File 2239 to give districts relief from unfunded mandates so they can focus on students instead of paperwork.

Imagine that! Teachers actually instructing students instead of filling out paperwork. Better yet, the money can return to the formula or it can be used to help students who've fallen behind.

It's time we put the kids first. When we pass bills with unfunded mandates in them, principals (NOT SCHOOL BOARDS! should be able to opt out, provided he/she provides a written reason for opting out. Will any of these proposals go anywhere? Here's Rep. Bakeberg's opinion:

We have a clear plan: lower costs, stop fraud, and grow Minnesota’s economy.

With just 38 days left, Democrats are blocking anything from getting done.

Minnesotans are watching and waiting for a COMEBACK. pic.twitter.com/Z4i6U0JTKu

— MN House Republicans (@mnhousegop) April 10, 2026

Let's be clear. If Republicans propose something, whether it's education reform, tax relief for Minnesota's families or keeping boys out of girls' bathrooms, the DFL will oppose it. In fact, they already have voted against these things.

The govvernor is a DFL political hack. The Minnesota Senate has a slim DFL majority. There's a 67-67 tie in the House. That means the DFL OWNS the lack of results this session. Thus far, 4 bills have been signed into law. The most noteworthy of these bills is repealing Cesar Chavez Day. Nothing says 'I'm fighting for affordability' like a $10,000,000,000 tax hike in 2023, a vote against repealing the DFL Trifecta's license tab fee monster increase and voting against eliminating unfunded mandates.

THAT'S THE DO-NOTHING DFL'S RECORD THE LAST 4 YEARS!