Advocacy Day and Rally for Nonpublic School Students

WHAT: Rally and Advocacy Day co-sponsored by the Minnesota Catholic Conference and MINNDEPENDENT to Stop Cuts of $100 million in nonpublic school student aid.

WHO: All are welcome to attend--registration is strongly recommended.

WHEN: Rally on Wednesday, May 7 at 1:30 pm in the Capitol Rotunda; Advocacy Day from 9am-4:30pm. 

WHY: These harmful cuts to students are moving forward in the Legislative process. The cuts are currently being proposed by Governor Walz and Senate Democrats, who have included the cuts in their K-12 education finance bill.

HOW: By showing up at the Capitol, rallying with others, and connecting with your legislators you will make an impact in ensuring these harmful cuts are removed from budget talks and that these important aids are preserved for future students. 

WHERE: State Capitol Rotunda You can check in at the Governor’s Historic Dining Room if you need help and directions.

Register Today

On the page below, find answers to your questions about the advocacy day and rally, including where to park, how to contact your legislators, what to say about nonpublic pupil aid, and much more!

EVENT FAQs

Q. Do I need to register for the advocacy day and rally on May 7?

A. Yes! Please click here to register yourself or your school group for the advocacy day and rally. 
Don't stop there! Send an email or make a phone call to your legislators using the MCC action alert webpage or by taking action through MINNDEPENDENT. 

Q. How can I find who represents my district? 

A. Attendees and groups are encouraged to set up their own legislative meetings. Your group leader can follow these steps:

1. Find your State Senator and State Representative by clicking here.
2. Once you input your address, you'll see the names of your elected officials.
3. Visit your State Senator and Representative's webpage by clicking the "contact" button next to their name.
4. Call or email their legislative assistant to schedule a meeting. 
5. If you do not hear from them within a few days, follow up with another email and phone call. 
6. If you are unable to schedule a meeting with your legislator ahead of time, let Katie Dickey know and we can help you with next steps.

NOTE: If you are able, try to avoid scheduling visits between 1:30 and 2pm so that you can attend the rally.

If you are coming alone and want to see if others from your district are coming so you can pair up for meetings, please email Katie Dickey at [email protected]. 

Q. I have never met with my legislators. How do I talk with them? Does it actually make a difference?

A. Yes it makes a difference! Watch this informative video with Jason Adkins of the Minnesota Catholic Conference and Moses Bratrud of the Minnesota Family Council on how Minnesotans can advocate with their elected officials.

Q. What should I tell my legislators about nonpublic pupil aid? 

A. You can click here to download our page of talking points. These talking points are broken down based on whether you are a school leader, teacher, student, or parent/concerned Minnesotan. 

Q. How can I learn more about this issue? 

A. To learn more about the nonpublic pupil aid and the essential services it provides to students, read our Inside the Capitol blog and click here to download our informational handout on nonpublic pupil and transportation aid.

Learn more about the funding path for nonpublic pupil aid by accessing this flowchart. 

*Flow chart prepared by the Minnesota Catholic Conference. 

You can also learn more by reading this short legal summary.

Q: What should I wear to the advocacy day and rally?

A. If you're affiliated with a nonpublic school, be sure to wear your school's swag and merch! Anything with the school's name or logo will work. 

Q. Will there be signs for the rally?

A. Yes, we will have 500 signs available for rally attendees. 

However, if you are coming with a school group, we encourage you to bring a sign with your school name and/or logo. It will be powerful to showcase the various schools throughout the state represented at the rally and the many students who depend on these dollars! 

Q. Where can I park? Are there food options at the Capitol?

A. Download our helpful handout here on spending a day at the Capitol. This includes information on parking, public transit, food options, and how to connect with your legislators. You can also access the Capitol's FAQ page here.  

Q. I want to advertise this event, do you have any materials that I can share?

A. Yes! You can share this graphic below with all the details. 

Q. I cannot make it on May 7. What can I do instead?

A. If you can't make it to the Capitol on May 7, use the MCC action alert webpage or the MINNDEPENDENT action alert to send an email, call, or make a video for legislators, expressing your opposition to the elimination of this student aid.

Watch this video from Bishop Patrick Neary on the importance of this issue and why you should take action today. 

Tell us you are coming!

Have more questions? Contact the Minnesota Catholic Conference at (651) 227-8777 or email [email protected].