House committee re-refers bill to pause social-studies standards, repeal ethnic-studies mandate

The House Education Policy Committee on Feb. 18 re‑referred House File 29, a bill that would delay the implementation of Minnesota's 2021 social-studies standards, repeal a statutory requirement to embed an ethnic-studies strand into required academic standards and cancel related appropriations.

Representative Presha, the bill's sponsor, told the committee that academic achievement in Minnesota has fallen and that mandates such as the ethnic-studies requirement divert classroom time from foundational skills. "Students in Minnesota deserve the fundamental right to a quality education measured with academic success," Representative Presha said, and argued the state should "remove the distractions" so teachers can focus on reading, math and science fundamentals.

Supporters and opponents of the 2021…