Ramblin' Rose writes again, Part I

The Truth in Funding Minnesota Schools/Learners, Plus a Proposal for $7K for Parents to Invest...at NO Cost to Taxpayers, Part I

by Ramblin’ Rose

This post is about Minnesota’s ESA (Education Savings Plan), not the federal program of ECCA (Educational Choice for Children Act). While both advocate for education and fund special ways for parents and children to make better choices for learning, they are very different.

This article focuses on an approximate $7,000 savings account for students who are NOT enrolled in traditionally funded public schools. ESAs are NOT vouchers, even if some politicians misuse the term. Educated citizens were vital for our fledgling nation. Consequently, education was a priority as the USA began. The first public school opened in 1635 in Boston. Support for education and an educated citizenry continues.

For decades, Minnesota was championed as a leader in education, but now half of our students cannot read nor do math at grade level, dropping Minnesota to 19th place nationally. Parents and educators know that not all children learn in the same way. Political leaders need to recognize that truth.

Parents are the best able to decide if a non-government-funded school is a better alternative. As of May 9, 2026, twenty-six states have active ESAs. Is Minnesota ready to support parents and all learners financially? Minnesota’s proposal is an ESA of $7000 annually to customize a unique program for each student’s needs in a non-government-funded school. ESAs do NOT take money from public schools.

MN calculates per-pupil aid in education on students’ enrollment, not their address. If students enroll in nonpublic schools, the tax revenue is not in the district budget; it remains in the general education budget, meaning that the monies are already available for the ESAs. Under current Minnesota law, transportation, textbooks, nursing and counselor services are paid to all schools within district boundaries. Minnesota limits funding for homeschooled students to textbooks. State aid funds follow students who opt for open enrollment.

What is "state aid" in funding education in Minnesota? The historical interpretation was the total paid per student for a year’s attendance in state-funded schools. Reality changes that. MN’s basic formula allowance is based upon attendance. Last year it was $7,281 per pupil; this year it rose to $7481.

To the state’s baseline general education portion, local funding adds property taxes and levies. Federal grants (typically ~$2000 per pupil) include Title 1, special education, etc. For the 2025-2026 school year that means:

total:

• ~$17,000 to ~$19,000 per student state allowance: $7481 (plus special needs, supplemental aids and legislative mandates)
• local revenue: usually “thousands” from property taxes and levies
• federal resources: historically ~$2000

The most recently published exact numbers are available for the 2021-2022 academic year from the US Department of Education’s Common Core of Data.

Here are 2 examples from Minnesota:

• School district in an outlying suburb:
• State: $10,078
• local: $6068
• federal: $1732
• total: $17,878

Greater MN:

School district in Greater MN:

• State: $12,372
• Local: $3728
• Federal: $3929
• Total: $19,984

A metro area district for that same year invested $25,474 per pupil. USAFacts highlights the range among MN districts in 2021-2022: $12,700 to $236,400. Only $7000 is proposed for Educational Savings Accounts. Choice: Which school type best helps each learner? Do not forget that funds are awarded based upon attendance and not the learner’s address. Educated citizens are vital in the next 250 years as a nation too.