St. Paul Reporter

Rep. Ron Kresha, who serves as Education Finance Chair, has raised concerns regarding the Minnesota Department of Education's (MDE) delay in distributing over $24 million allocated for school security and cybersecurity grants. The funding was approved by the Legislature in 2023, with $24.3 million designated for facility and cybersecurity improvements and an additional $100,000 provided to MDE for program administration.

According to Rep. Kresha, no funds have been awarded to schools as of September 2025. He noted that MDE’s only communications about the grants were a brief mention in a post-2023 session update and a reference in an FAQ document released in July 2025 outlining the application process.

“This money was intended to keep students safe and strengthen cybersecurity in our schools,” said Rep. Kresha. “Instead, MDE has sat on $24 million for more than two years while our schools face real security needs. Parents expect accountability and students deserve safe learning environments. This is unacceptable, and the funds should be dispersed for their intended use.”