SAINT PAUL —2026 is a major election year with all of the state’s constitutional offices and State House and Senate seats on the ballot. There will be many new faces at the State Capitol next session with 43 current legislators either retiring or running for another office.
The race to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Tina Smith and all eight U.S. House Seats are also on the ballot. In addition, several AMSD member districts will have important referendum questions on the ballot this fall along with school board member races in many districts.
Regardless of which party wins control, there will be plenty to tackle when the Legislature convenes the 2027 session on Jan. 12, 2027. Those elected will determine the funding level for schools for the next two years, as well as significant education policy issues. 
As in years past, AMSD has compiled an Education Issues Guide to provide supporters of public schools — from school board members and administrators to parents, candidates, and members of the public — with research, education funding trends, a summary of recent legislative action, as well as key questions that voters can ask candidates seeking office. Specific topics include key education funding streams, school property tax information, data on Special Education and English learner funding shortfalls, as well as tips on how to engage with legislative candidates.
Minnesota school districts face significant financial challenges. AMSD’s annual budget survey conducted in March 2026 showed AMSD members projecting more than $223 million in combined shortfalls for the 2026-27 school year. The $420 million in cuts for the 2028-29 biennium that were included in the 2025 Education Bill compound the challenge and highlight the importance of the 2027 session.
The guide also highlights how key funding streams continue to lag behind inflation. Local optional revenue (LOR), for example, a critical funding stream, has lost considerable ground to inflation since it went into effect in 2014 and would be $260 per pupil higher in the coming school year if it had kept pace with inflation.
Likewise, the basic funding formula — even though now linked to inflation — would be $1,474 per pupil higher in FY27 if it had simply kept pace with inflation since 2003, the year the Legislature repealed the general education levy and committed to funding education with state income and sales taxes.
The guide also includes links to AMSD position papers and other legislative resources and research that AMSD uses throughout the session to advocate for our school districts and inform legislators.
As it stands, public school enrollment in Minnesota for 2025-26 was 873,175 students, with more than 478,000 of those students attending AMSD schools. AMSD currently represents more than 50 greater metropolitan area and regional center school districts and intermediate/cooperative districts — collectively enrolling well more than half of all public school students in Minnesota.
