Friday, April 11, 2014

Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act — Signed Into Law April 9, 2014

 
It was very moving to be a part of Governor Dayton’s historic signing of the “Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act", which took Minnesota from a 37 word statute to one of the most comprehensive laws in the nation.
 
This law is so important—as all students deserve to go to school and learn in an environment in which they feel safe, valued and supported. Governor Dayton summed up student rights eloquently during his speech “Nobody in this state or nation should have to feel bad about themselves for being who they are.” And 11-year-old Jake Ross stole the show with his moving words about his own experiences being bullied and his enthusiasm for the passage of the act when he voiced the thoughts of many gathered on the steps when he said, “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”