Overview

• An April 14, 2023 letter from Minnesota Catholic Conference’s Jason Adkins and MINNDEPENDENT’s Tim Benz urged Gov. Tim Walz to let nonpublic schools access a proposed $50 million Building and Cyber Security Grant Program, warning that “our schools are under attack.”
• The conference confirmed the request was never granted, and current Minnesota Department of Education guidance and state statute show the Building and Cyber Security Grant Program and levy-based Safe Schools Program exclude nonpublic schools.
• The issue has intensified after a gunman opened fire during Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, killing two children and injuring 17 people, including 14 children.
• FBI Director Kash Patel said the attack is being investigated as domestic terrorism motivated by a hate-filled ideology, citing anti-Catholic and anti-religious references in the suspect’s writings and on firearms.
• Walz’s office says private schools receive some state funding and are eligible for school safety center training resources, and lawmakers are weighing a SHIELD bill that, as drafted, would not extend new security funding to nonpublic schools.