Minneapolis, MN — Dozens of teachers and parents interrupted a school board meeting to demand the Minneapolis Public Schools not cut special education department staff or funding. As special education teachers are beginning to be laid off and the Minneapolis Public School district faces a $75M budget deficit with plans for wide cuts, protesters are calling for the most vulnerable students in the district not to be on the chopping block.
With chants of “Who’s schools? Our schools,” and “inclusion is for everyone,” the large crowd of protesters interrupted the School Board meeting on Tuesday, March 25, by standing and chanting in unison before several speakers shared their stories. Parents whose children are in special education classes spoke as well as educators.
“We’re here to elevate family and staff voices who would be most affected by the cuts to special ed. We can’t sit by silently while Minneapolis Public Schools cuts critical staff and puts our SPAN [Special Education] student’s in danger.”
DJ Hooker, organizer, educator, radio host
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), it is a law that requires schools to provide a “free appropriate public education” and prevents them from discriminating against persons with disabilities.
In the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, regarding grantees of federal funding, “programs and activities” are required “to be administered in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of a person with a disability.”
The budget meeting is in June 2025. Protesters called on the school board to sign a pledge to not cut special education.
