Education Support Professionals (ESPs) like paraeducators, food service workers, bus drivers, and more make school happen for our students and families across our state. Whether helping a student learn how to read, serving a nutritious meal, or assisting families register for kindergarten, ESPs are an essential group of school workers.
But right now, because of low pay, inadequate benefits, and poor training, it is hard to find enough staff to do this critical, student-facing work.
The Education Support Professionals Bill of Rights will ensure we have the resources we need to guarantee Minnesota's students succeed.
What is the Education Support Professionals Bill of Rights?
The Education Support Professionals Bill of Rights is legislation at the Minnesota Legislature (HF1348) (SF 131) that works to better the conditions of ESPs.
- Increasing the starting wages for all ESPs in Minnesota Public Schools to $25 an hour.
- Providing ESPs with health insurance that we can afford to take and use.
- Ensuring that all ESPs have access to twelve hours of professional development each year.
ESPs are public employees. Decades of underfunding by the state and at the bargaining table have made these jobs unsustainable. Now, districts and the legislature must step up and support ESPs!
Support the Education Support Professionals Bill of Rights
FAQ
Why Twenty-Five Dollars an Hour?
One job should be enough. Two parents working 40 hours a week each in Todd County, MN, would need $22.41 to make ends meet. Of course, most school jobs are less than 40 hours/week, and many ESPs are single parents—no wonder many are forced to leave school positions for better income in the private sector. $25 an hour would allow ESPs to support their families and continue doing the jobs that they love.
You can visit the MIT Living wage calculator to learn more about how we determined the living wage in Todd County and $25 an hour.
Why is health insurance so unaffordable?
Districts choose to offer ESPs unaffordable plans. Forty years ago, it was common wisdom that public sector employees got great benefits, but that is not true for ESPs. Most districts offer tiered plans with administrators in the top tier, with the district paying 100% of their health insurance costs and ESPs in the bottom tier receiving very little. Most districts pro-rate their contribution based on how many hours workers work an average week. The lowest-paid workers are expected to pay the highest premiums, putting healthcare out of reach for most ESPs.
Why is professional development needed?
Lower numbers of staff are being asked to deal with more challenging behaviors without additional support. Since the lockdowns, students need more support than ever while schools are in a staffing crisis. Every day, ESPs in our schools deal with delicate situations they were never trained for. Guaranteeing a set amount of professional development every year keeps us sharp, gives us a chance to progress in our careers, and gives the students the support they need to thrive in school.