SAMPLE LETTERS TO YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND STATE SENATOR Date: Representative [Name] or Senator [Name]: It has come to my attention that the Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA) will propose in this legislative session a change to statute 120B.023 that will reduce the rigor of science education for all students by eliminating the graduation requirement in statute 120B.024 (4) (ii) that all high school students must meet all of the state academic standards in science. As a science educator, I call on you to maintain the high school science graduation requirements that include direct classroom instruction to meet all state academic standards in science. Without a scientifically literate society, knowledgeable in all science disciplines, our stateÕs workforce and economic future are seriously jeopardized. Please maintain statutes 120B.023 and .024 as written. A balanced, rigorous and comprehensive science education for all students is at stake. Sincerely, [Your name and contact information] Date: Representative [Name] or Senator [Name]: One of your many important tasks as a Minnesota State Legislator is to help maintain and grow the economy of this state. MinnesotaÕs economy, as you know, is directly dependent on its soil, rocks/minerals, water and weather. A scientifically literate citizenry is essential to meet the needs of the new workforce and to make the decisions that will steer our future. Under the guise of Òone size does not fit allÓ and Òincreasing student choiceÓ, the Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA) is proposing to eliminate the need for all high school students to meet the benchmarks for all academic standards in science. This is unacceptable. I see this as an effort to bypass the earth and space science standards, effectively removing these essential understandings of our earth and environment from our studentsÕ science experience. Our students need more earth science, not less. Minnesota needs you to maintain the rigor of our studentsÕ science education. DonÕt let MREA mislead you to thinking their proposal is somehow beneficial to Minnesota. It is a step toward mediocrity and a simple effort to save the expense of teaching the crucial standards of earth science in our high schools. Please maintain statutes 120B.023 and .024 as written. A balanced, rigorous and comprehensive science education for all students is at stake. Thank you for your efforts to support a high-quality and comprehensive science education for all Minnesota students. Sincerely, [Your name and contact information] Date: Representative [Name] or Senator [Name]: I am very worried. The Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA) is proposing changes to statute 120B.023 that would make the third science credit required for high school graduation a potpourri of choices that will undermine the academic needs of students. The MREA proposal would allow school districts to cherry-pick the benchmarks they want to teach over the need for all students to have a comprehensive and inclusive science education. Currently, all students need to show proficiency in all science standards as stated in statute 120B.024. We cannot allow every school district in Minnesota the option to choose the science they will and will not teach. DonÕt let this happen. Everyone expects their children in any Minnesota public school to develop the essential skills of reading, writing, and math as well as an understanding of history, literature, health and technology. So why is a comprehensive science education becoming a ÒchoiceÓ? I want my children to get all the science they can in order to compete in a world economy based on science/engineering knowledge and skills. You must maintain statutes 120B.023 and .024 as written. Thank you in advance for helping to stop this blatant attempt to undermine science education in Minnesota. Sincerely, [Your name and contact information] Date: Representative [Name] or Senator [Name] I am an advocate for science education. The future of MinnesotaÕs economy, environment and our very planet are dependent on our students getting the best STEM education possible. This means we set standards/benchmarks and assure that all of them are part of our childrenÕs education. This is not about ÒchoiceÓ. At the state level, this is about what every child in this state must know and be able to do by the time they graduate from high school. ThatÕs what standards are all about. The Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA) is proposing to change the statutes so high schools get to choose what science standards they will teach. Making the third science elective credit a group of ÒchoicesÓ means students miss exposure to essential knowledge/skills, and all of the academic standards in science will not be addressed. One of your many important jobs is to keep Minnesota Òahead of the packÓ in STEM education. Our economic future depends on it. I urge you to stop the MREA proposal from becoming statute. It is a step backwards and would put Minnesota behind in science education while endangering the future of our workforce, economy and environment. Please maintain statutes 120B.023 and .024 as written. Thank you in advance for your efforts to stop the MREA proposal. Sincerely, [Your name and contact information]