Federal E-12 Issues

MREA collaborates with rural education representatives to advocate on behalf of Greater Minnesota schools on a federal level and improve the state of the rural education across America.

MREA each year also personally visits with federal lawmakers in Washington D.C. on key education issues and helps shape the national rural E-12 platform. MREA is a member of the NREAC, a national coalition of state and national organizations advocating for educational opportunities for children who live in the rural areas of the United States.

The NREAC, which MREA is a member of, currently has four key priorities:

  • Preserve critical federal funding for rural schools
  • Expand and improve federal programs to address teacher shortages in rural communities
  • Fully fund IDEA
  • Protect rural schools from privatization schemes

Each of these goals fits well within the needs of rural schools in Minnesota.

Resource Center

The U.S. Department of Education has a Rural Education Resource Center. See resources.

Monthly Federal Updates

U.S. Department of Education, Education Almanac

View the latest update

Recent News on Federal Issues

Session Adjourned, Education Associations Begin State Legislative Tour

| Achievement & Assessment, Federal, Funding Student Needs, Other Rural News, 一 Featured, 一 HP Funding Student Needs | No Comments
Session Adjourned, Education Associations Begin State Legislative Tour With the 2024 session in the rearview mirror, attention now turns to the November general election. Governor Walz has signed all of...

2024 Session Closes Amidst Final Weekend Drama

| Achievement & Assessment, Federal, Funding Student Needs, Other Rural News, 一 Featured, 一 HP Funding Student Needs | No Comments
2024 Session Closes Amidst Final Weekend Drama Please note, this update was written at 8pm Sunday with 4 hours left in the session, and half a dozen or more major...

Student Enrollment Impacts Funding

| Achievement & Assessment, Federal, Funding Student Needs, Other Rural News, 一 Featured, 一 HP Funding Student Needs | No Comments
Enrollment Numbers Impact Funding MREA is regularly asked why school districts are cutting budgets this year even though they received substantial funding from the 2023 Legislative Session. This conversation has...
MN_State_Capitol

Week 13: Final Week of 2024 Legislative Session

| Achievement & Assessment, Federal, Funding Student Needs, Other Rural News, 一 Featured, 一 HP Funding Student Needs | No Comments
Final Week of Session The most aggressive legislative cycle in modern Minnesota history is coming to a close. With enough legislative days to be in session today, Wednesday, and then...