Statement from Commissioner Brenda Cassellius

ROSEVILLE – Today, Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius issued the following statement in response to recommendations made in a report by the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Commission on School Safety:

“Too many of our children do not feel safe in school, and too many children are dying because of senseless gun violence in this country. It is time to treat this epidemic for what it is – a public health crisis. Solutions that don’t involve common sense gun restrictions are merely empty promises and fall short of the full protection our children deserve.

“Furthermore, rolling back the protections of students who are disproportionately suspended is unconscionable and has no place in a package of school safety provisions. Those protections should be retained as fundamental in our work to provide students with their right to an equitable education. 

“Federal and state leaders must enact real reforms. I encourage policymakers to pick up the mantle of Governor Dayton’s leadership, and focus on preventing these terrible tragedies from happening by enacting seriously needed in-school supports, including more school counselors, mental health supports for students, and additional funding to improve the security of aging school facilities.”