Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura Responds to Republican-Proposed Bill Repealing Ethnic Studies in Minnesota Schools

Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives Education Policy Committee will hearlegislation authored by Ron Kresha (R - Little Falls) repealing Minnesota’s ethnic studies program passed last biennium.

Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura (DFL - Minneapolis 63A) is the author of the 2023 ethnic studies legislation and released the following statement:

“Minnesota’s K-12 student population is rapidly becoming more diverse, but the classroom learning experience in our state does not yet reflect our student population,” said Rep. Sencer-Mura. “All students deserve to see themselves – their own cultures, communities, and histories – within their education. 

"Passing the Ethnic Studies for All bill in 2023 was a testament to the students across our state who have been fighting for representation in the classroom for decades. Republicans are now trying to roll back this progress and stifle student voices. 

"I have spent my career fighting for educational justice for all students. Students deserve age-appropriate and accurate information about our history to help them develop vital critical thinking skills and prepare them to become informed and engaged citizens. I will never stop working to make sure every child sees themselves in our curriculum.”

In 2023, the legislature passed a law requiring school districts to offer an ethnic studies course in high schools by the 2026-27 school year and requiring ethnic studies to be embedded into every new revision of each of the academic standards. It also established a working group to recommend educational resources and materials on ethnic studies that school districts could use. 

HF29 suspends implementation of the most recent revision of these social studies standards and benchmarks, instead allowing schools to continue providing instruction aligned to the outdated social studies standards for another decade. It also repeals all requirements related to ethnic studies, including the requirement that ethnic studies be embedded into academic standards and the requirement for schools to begin offering ethnic studies courses in high schools.