Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.  Neighbors, It’s hard to believe it’s already back to school season. Our students and families have experienced significant educational challenges over the past 18 months, and we fought hard to secure the largest investment in public schools in 15 years. All our children deserve a quality education and the resources they need to catch up and thrive, especially after all the disruptions from COVID-19. Our state budget prioritized students by securing: - More investments in students both in 2022 and in 2023.
- The preservation of voluntary Pre-K for over 4,000 students statewide.
- Historic investments to increase teachers of color and American Indian teachers in our classrooms.
- Public dollars in public classrooms.
You can learn more here about the specific investments we made in our students and families.  Tax Benefits on School Supplies Many school supply purchases qualify for K-12 tax benefits to your 2021 Minnesota tax return. Save receipts from these purchases, including distance learning needs, and claim the K-12 Education Credit or Subtraction. You can learn more about these tax returns here. Here are some qualifying expenses: - Paper and notebooks
- Pens and pencils
- Rental or purchases of educational equipment, including musical instruments
- Computer hardware (including hotspots, modems, and routers) and educational software (up to $200 for the subtraction and $200 for the credit)
- After-school tutoring and educational summer camps taught by a qualified instructor
 Masks in Schools Currently, there is no universal face covering requirement for students in Minnesota public schools. However, in addition to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation, the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Medical Association, the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians have also all encouraged and endorsed this policy. Vaccines Following the FDA’s authorization in May of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 12-to-15-year-olds, students in these age groups are encouraged to be vaccinated. Vaccines have been proven to be effective, are safe, and the best way we can protect each other, especially children under the age of 12 who aren’t yet eligible for a shot and those with compromised immune systems as the Delta variant rages on. Find a nearby location to get your shot here. Through the end of the State Fair, you can get your shots there.  Help Me Connect Help Me Connect is a new website that helps pregnant and parenting families with young children connect to services in their local communities that support healthy child development and family well-being. Visit Help Me Connect to find resources near you! https://helpmeconnect.web.health.state.mn.us/HelpMeConnect/  ___________ Staying Connected I welcome your questions and comments anytime. You can call me at (651) 296-3824 or send an email to rep.alice.hausman@house.mn. Thank you for the privilege of representing you in the legislature. Sincerely, Alice Representative Alice Hausman 453 State Office Building St. Paul, MN 55155 651-296-3824 rep.alice.hausman@house.mn Legislative Assistant: Blake Wilcox 651-296-8803 Committee Assignments: Chair: Housing Finance and Policy Division Legacy Finance Division Transportation Finance and Policy Division Ways and Means |