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Alright – so, this is probably the hardest blog I have ever written. In the interest of transparency and giving credit to those that helped us with Somali autism from every corner, Sen. Abeler has been simply the fuel that kept us going when we had no one else for almost two decades.

Honestly, I do not remember Sen. Abeler in an education committee before this year. I would hate for him to be on the wrong side of history and fairness.

I became interested in education discipline when my son with autism who does not understand suspension was suspended by teacher Kelly Morris and principal Jaysen Andersen on Thursday, May 3rd, 2018 at 5:18pm. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I went to the Education committees in 2019 to see what I can learn and boy did I learn. Facts and data tell us students with disabilities, black and brown as well as Native American students are suspended disproportionately more in Minnesota schools. You see 2+2 is four no matter how the principal associations and their lobbyists try to spin it. It ain’t 3.5 nor 5.

Furthermore, Minnesota as usual ranks the worst in every category of education gap and discipline in the nation. This has been documented. The Dayton administration’s human rights agency analyzed and worked with school districts to reduce this shameful record.

Thanks to Rep. Richardson who left the legislature now (I miss her so much!), had two bills passed prohibiting suspension for preschoolers then kinder-garden to third grade in just couple of years ago. Additionally, Gov Walz’s administration added using non-exclusionary methods before kicking a child out from school. They added funding so that the state education department can support and train schools. I am thankful for that, MDE has been wonderful in this. Yum. The teacher’s union – Education Minnesota also came out supporting. It does not get better than this.

Now, the hot shot lawyers and lobbyist for administrators and principal’s associations want to repeal this, ugh. What the heck. I guess they asked Sen. Abeler to help them in the Senate. Abeler tried to introduce an amendment to the education policy bill and said something that bothered me to my core. He said – all the superintendents and principals coming to him say they do not suspend students who have a disability or are from different ethnicities disproportionately. That is like trying to sell – it does not snow in Minnesota. It is simply not true. He also said someone has to listen to them because there are dozens and hundreds of them.

My response would be – there are thousands of students and families affected by this and we MUST listen to them first before adults who chose this profession. Schools are children’s home to learn, grow and get nurtured. Furthermore, if students are not in school, they cannot learn which only contributes to already yuk education gap record in Minnesota. Do we want to be known for disparity after disparity after disparity. Elected officials are supposed to address these.

Sen. Abeler – it pains me to say, you are on the wrong side of history on this one. Fight for kids not lobbyists. 

The above words do not represent any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Retired Advocate

Alright – so, after trying really hard to retire and I am still going to do it (God Willing) one day soon. After some Somali autism parents come out and carry the work. I went to the state Capitol today, oh my and oh my. I took two Tylenol before and Advil after. This building is designed to drain and tire you out. As I said in my previous blog, Rep. Bakeberg who represents Jordan and parts of Shakopee wrote several bills to repeal not suspending children up to third grade and removing the non-exclusionary methods. Guess who supported his bills – the usual yukies. Lobbyists from the principals’ association.

They kept telling us “Trust us” we are the professionals. We know there is a suspension and education gap but trust us we are not bad. What now? My favorite is when one of them said – we suspend children to inconvenience parents who are in denial about their child’s behaviors or mental health conditions. I am not even kidding. The same group who told us to trust them said – we intentionally suspend children to teach and screw with stressed parents. Yep, she said that out loud in a public committee. Nope, I do not trust them at all.

Then there was another principal who said – for the past months, we had to evacuate children from classrooms because one of them was having a behavior. What now? Another one said we must suspend kids so that we can write a behavior plan and regroup. You cannot even make this bull…s…t up. Yet, we are supposed to trust them. It was all about them, them, and them. We are professionals. Therefore, trust us. We do not.

On the right side of history, there were dozens of parents, advocates, disability law center, education Minnesota (this surprised me), solutions not suspension coalition, education allies and students. We all said – no we do not trust them and we do not want out children to be kicked out of school.

I guess the author does not like that I mention the people who suspended my son on Thursday, 5:18pm, May 3rd, 2018. They were teacher Kelly Morris and principal Jaysen Anderson. I will repeat those names until Timbuktu. I left early but heard after words, the author pulled the bill and sadly some of the dflers did not even come nor stay until the end. I find that interesting. Below is my written and oral testimony.

Minnesota House

Education Policy Committee

Chair: Rep. Bonnett

March 3, 2025

Re: HF 514 by Rep. Bakeberg – against it with every fiber in me

Dear Madam Chair and members, thanks for the opportunity to testify. My name is Idil Abdull, I am a Somali Autism Mom & trying to retire advocate.

I am hurt and confused by this bill. Why is the author wanting to kick children from school. These are babies that are six and seven years old. Any adult who does not know how to calm down and support a child in a school setting is at the wrong career.

The current House speaker often reminds us that you are all here to do work for Minnesotans. How can denying children to learn in school is the “work” for Minnesotans who chose you for this job. I am going to use political lingo as you are all politicians here and remind you that Minnesota is not a blue or red state, it is a Vikings purple state. This means the voters want you to work together and not keep repealing good laws that passed when you were in the minority as a knee jerk reaction.

Finally, we have all heard of the current hip words – fraud, waste and abuse. Fraud is billing for services that were not rendered, if so then when a school district bills for a child they did not serve – wouldn’t that be fraud. Schools should NOT be paid for when the student is not at school and not being serviced. You see, you all must be fair and call it from the hip.

When my son was suspended from a lobbyist protected principal Jaysen Anderson and union protected Kelly Morris on Thursday, May 3^rd, 2018, I was traumatized. You are all traumatizing me and so many other families with this hurtful, wrong, and heartbreaking bill. I see the using positive non-punishment, non-exclusive methods is also on the table to be repealed. There are no words to explain this blatant bias bills that will hurt students from Jordan to Albert Lee to Minneapolis. I hope these bills never pass, and it is dead on arrival.

Thanks for your time.

Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom

The above words do not represent any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom & Retired Advocate

Alright – so, they say when it rains it pours. It seems that I am going to be politically homeless. The state of Minnesota isn’t really red or blue. Maybe it is blue-ish but barely. Currently in 2025, the house is tied technically after the Roseville election which I am fairly certain a dfler will win. This means each House committee has two chairs but one speaker. I guess Hortman took one for the team by ensuring to keep the Shakopee seat which won less than 14 seats. That is one Somali home in Shakopee working in Amazon. What is my point, I am tired of our community telling and encouraging us to vote for xzy party then when we do, going to sleep for a long nap – until the next election. Ufta.

Rep. Bakeberg who represents Jordan, Minnesota, a small, tiny town of few thousand and near Shakopee has decided to repeal what we (families, advocates, educators including previous Mpls school superintendent – Dr. Johnson) worked for years and years. Just because the dflers were in charge did not mean it was easy peasy. The dflers often support the teachers’ unions and the GOP supports the principals and administrators. Who supports the students and families? No one.

Rep. Bakeberg wants to give the principals the ability to kick students out of school including those with autism. He wants to have zero alternative options and just kick kids out. Most GOP are supporting him.

So, what now? We have to fight. God, I really want to retire. Ugh. How do we fight? We start suing school districts for suspending our children. I know this is hard, but without it there is no meet off their bone to care. We start campaigning against anyone who supports this bill even if a manikin is the alternative. These are elections that are won by a dozen or so. We can do it. Will we do it? not the Somali community.

I am sooooo disappointed in our community. We have no idea how policy and politics are connected. We vote and take a nap. You hardly see anyone at the capitol pushing an issue to the finish line. There are few here and there for their own agency and funding, but no one really for the greater good of the people and community. Soooooooo sad and frustrating.

To me this issue is personal because GOP protected principal Jaysen Anderson and DFL protected teacher Kelly Morris suspended my son on Thursday at 5:18pm, May of 2018. From that day on, I have been advocating and joined such amazing groups such as Solutions not Suspensions, Education Allies and so many others which is how we passed these bills few years ago.

Now, Rep. Bakeberg wants to take all away. My suggestion to you is don’t get too comfortable in your seat. We will find someone who can run and defeat you at the polls.

The above words do not represent any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom & Retired Advocate

Alright – so, I am again testifying in an education committee about keeping our kids in the classroom. Why is this soooo hard for so many. How can we have the most minority legislators and still struggle with this issue? what the heck? The whole idea of voting for legislators who reflect us is to ensure our issues are important and addressed. Ughhhh. This is sooo frustrating.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Education Finance Committee

Chair – Rep. Youakim

March 2, 2023

      Re: Supporting HF 58 prohibiting Suspension for K-3^rd grade

x

Dear Madam Chair and Members, good morning. My name is Idil Abdull, I am a Somali Autism Mom & a pissed-off advocate who would like to retire.

First, I would like to thank Rep. Richardson for carrying this important legislation and for always being in the corner of students and families.

Alright – so, here we meet again. As you all know, my son who has autism was suspended by teacher Kelly Morris and principal Jaysen Anderson in Bloomington School District on 5.3.2018. I am not going to repeat data and numbers of how students with disabilities are kicked out of their free and appropriate public education. You already know that 2+2 is four.

Madam Chair and Members, instead today I want to tell you that I contacted Bloomington school district’s superintendent – Dr. Eric and asked him if I could speak with the principal who suspended my kid. He agreed and we had a zoom meeting on 5.3.2022, four years after the suspension.

I asked principal Jaysen if he thinks suspending my son had any educational value. He said no.

I asked Principal Jaysen if he had remorse for suspending my son. He said yes.

I asked him if my son understood suspension; he said no and in hindsight, he would not have done it. I reminded him that as a principal of color, he bears a huge responsibility to ensure students are treated fairly and not punished unfairly.

Additionally, I requested public data about the training the principal and the teacher had on autism, behavior reduction techniques, and proactive antecedent strategies as well as culturally responsive methods. Both did not at that time.

You see Madam Chair and Members, what we need in this education toolbox is not suspension; it is training, training, and training. It is ensuring we are setting up the teachers and principals for success in how to not just teach children math and science, but how to use non-exclusionary methods and understand the needs of our students, particularly those with special needs.

I want to end with a message you told me Madam Chair years ago when MN had a divided legislature. You said – give me the house, the senate, and the governor’s office, and we will make leaps and bounds to keep kids in the classroom. It seems that your wish has come true because that is exactly what you currently have. The ball is now in your corner to mean what you say and say what you mean.

Sincerely,

Idil Abdull

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom

Alright – so, the 2022 legislative session is behind us. As usual, the house and senate did not get along and pass even the things they agreed on. They said time ran out. Wait, isn’t the time to end in Minnesota law. Oh yeah, it is. How do you run out of time when you know when you are supposed to end. Sooooo frustrating.

This year and ever since my son has been suspended by the Bloomington school district, I have been trying the key word “trying” to advocate about suspensions. If you remember, my kid was suspended by the teacher’s union protected Kelly Morris and lobbyist protected Jaysen Anderson on Thursday, 5:18pm, May 3rd in 2018. I remember it like it was yesterday. Well, the first year, I went to the capital about this issue, I met with Sen. Hoffman who knows about this issue better than most, but he was unwilling to help. Then I went to the chair of the education committee back then, Sen. Carla N. She basically said suspension disparity was like global warming and it depended on whose data you believed. She gave this issue zero hearing and that was that.

In parallel, I also went to the chair of the house education policy back then who was Rep. Cheryl Y. Like most democrats, she was charming, had breakfast with me, and we talked and talked. She gave this issue kazilian hearings and called so many people. Then nothing passed. Keep in mind, the senate chair gave me 10 min or so. She did not waste my time or hers and said no.. bye-bye. The House – uuulalaalaa, the Minnesota democrats are like the charming boyfriend from college who never put a ring on it, but he told you everything you wanted to hear. And the MN Republicans are like the soup guy from Sienfield – no soup for you.

The following year, Rep. Ruth R became chair of the education policy, and the pre-K bill to ban suspending babies passed. The following year, Rep Ruth introduced a bill that would ban K to 3rd grade. It did not pass. By now, the senate had a new chair Sen. Chamberlain who I really like, and gave us hearings but in the end – the suspension ban bill did NOT pass. Finally, this year, Rep. Ruth tried again and we are close – close – close. So many parents, teachers, and even the union testified for it. Although I did not believe Education Minnesota (aka teacher’s union) for one second. Nada passed again. I called Chair Rep. Ruth after the session ended. I have to say she is more hopeful than I am. I think the dflers will keep playing us like a violin and the republicans do not even believe there is a discipline disparity that is based on racism.

So what now? your guess is as good as mine.

Education is the key to success in life and no party gives a flying hoot about it. The dflers will always protect the teacher and the republicans will protect the administrators. No one will protect the child.

In summary, the education suspension policy is at standstill. I do not even want to advocate because it is like hitting a wall. I may change my strategy. I think students with disabilities’ suspension rate should be separated from the general student population. Maybe both parties will be open to changing this law that we currently have which allows a kid with a disability to be suspended up to 10 days before the manifestation and determination part of the law is looked at by the district/IEP team. I think the ability to suspend a kid or not should be included in the IEP. For example, does the kid understand cause/effect, suspension, consequences, etc. If they do not, then what educational value does suspension have? Zero. Yet, schools suspend our kids because the adults need a break. If you need a break from your job, then pls find another one that does not deal with kids with disabilities. It would be nice if we can just change the federal IDEA law that most states adopt. Back to the drawing table on this. Sen. Tina Smith is on the HELP committee in Congress, but she is useless and has not done one iota on this issue.

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Advocate

Alright – so, Sen. Chamberlain introduced legislation (SF 1525), which wants to establish education savings accounts for students.  He did this last year as well but the DFL House controlled were not having it. Nor the union liked Gov Walz.

Here is my take on this and what I sent to the Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee.

Dear Mr. Chair and Members, Idil Abdull here again whose son was suspended for five days by a union-protected teacher Kelly Morris and lobbyist-protected principal Jaysen Anderson in Jefferson High school in Bloomington Minnesota. My son who has non-verbal autism did not understand nor understand now what suspension is. The teacher took away his communication device, disrupted his daily routine then called the principal and kicked him out of his educational environment, all while his mama bear was waiting to pick him up in the school parking lot.

This was on Mar 3rd, 5:18pm in 2018, ever since then I have been trying to advocate for a policy and a law that would protect the kids with no success thus far. I have never taken him back to public school district. Instead, I took my son to a charter school that was welcoming, inclusive, and understood his autism disability. If MN had an education savings law, I would have taken him to an even more suitable educational setting that can better meet his needs.

There are quite a few states who have this and serve students better than public schools. If and when (which is often), public schools fail our children, we should have choices that can help and teach them. If the ultimate goal is to educate the student to their best ability then giving parents choices is the best answer. Some would say this discriminates against students with disabilities because not all private schools are equipped or will take them. That is not true. Yes, many private schools are not equipped, but as a parent, I would rather know that up front and not take my son there. I would rather be given the choice and look for a school that can. In fact, many autism families move to Florida and Mississippi for this very reason.

I wish the committee had another public hearing this session and asked parents to give their perspectives. I am not surprised public schools would be against this because they want to fail our children, not have any accountability, and still be funded while the student fails and/or is suspended. At the very minimum, please hold schools accountable for failing students and when the student is not in school, do not pay them.

As always, I thank you for your time and the opportunity to give you my perspective.

Idil Abdull – Somali Autism Mom and Advocate who really would like to retire.

The above words do not reflect any candidate, committee, or agency.

Alright – so, ever since my son who has non-verbal autism was suspended for five long days by autism teacher Kelly Morris and principal Jaysen Anderson on Thursday 5:18pm, May 3rd of 2018, I have been scratching my head to figure out why and how. First of all, as I have said in both MN senate and house education committees, my son did not understand what suspension was then and does not understand it now. So why did the school district do it then? because they can. Yep, both the federal IDEA and the state law allow them.

MN Statute 121A.40 to 121A.56 is called MN Fair Dismissal Act. It is a guidance that basically follows the suspension rules under the federal law in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act also known as IDEA. It basically states that a student with a disability can be suspended similar to that of a student without a disability for up to five days. It is only after the 10 days that the school district is required to see if what caused the suspension is related to their disability. This is called manifestation determination. Imagine how schools are abusing this law that was written before autism was as high as it is today before we really understood the characteristics of autism which is a behavior disorder.

If a student with a disability has any behavior that is clearly due to their disability, the school can still kick them out of their educational environment for up to five or even ten long days. This is what the Bloomington school district did to my son. His teacher knew my son very well, she knew he did not understand cause/effect. She knew he is non-verbal, yet refused to give him his communication device. She knew he is a routine-oriented kid, yet changed his routine this day. She knew I was in the parking lot waiting to pick him up, yet did not call me and let me know. Instead, she called the principal and security on him and suspended him the next day. Imagine the heartbreak and confusion my kid felt. He does not understand suspension. All he did was mand to go to school on his device the very next day and every day after that. He did not do a willful act that caused suspension; he had behavior and wanted to finish his routine which Kelly and the adults in the Bloomington school district refused to let him. This routine was to go to his locker and pick up his coat to go home. They did not know what he wanted because they did not give him his voice (communication device). Then they kicked him out of his educational environment. Imagine having a law that allows children with disabilities to be screwed with. This is exactly what both federal and state laws do. Yet, MN state legislatures have not been warm to changing and amending this cruel and wrong law.

They say insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. We (parents and advocates who want change) must come up with different ways of advocating and/or voting for different legislators who will and can make the change we need to ensure kids with disabilities are not punished for their disability.

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency, or committee.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom

Alright – so, Sen. Torres-Ray authored a bill to ban suspending students from kindergarten to grade three in the senate and it had its first hearing; it was laid over for possible inclusion into the final omnibus education finance and policy bill. The house version is authored by Rep. Richardson.

I had to testify for this and you are not going to believe who came and was supporting suspending kids? seriously guess? I certainly could not have guessed. None other than the chair of Bloomington Public Schools (BPS). Yep. I am still in shock. BPS supporting any legislation that keeps kids in the school – what?. At any rate, I had my testimony written and submitted for the record. I was just going to read it and call it a day. Then, when I saw her face; I got emotional and what I wrote went out of the window. I told her how BPS affected our family’s life. Suspension is hurtful and heart-breaking to the kid and the whole family. Sen. Chamberlain was kind as usual and understood my perspective as a parent. Sen Isaacson was rude and dismissive as usual. And we minorities vote for democrats, come on people. By the way, BPS which has a shameful and horrible education gap and suspension disparity is controlled fully by democrats. How do you like them apples.

Minnesota State Senate

Education Finance & Policy Committee

Chair – Sen. Chamberlain

March 10, 2021

My son who has nonverbal autism was suspended by teacher Kelly Morris and principal Jaysen Anderson on Thursday, May 3rd, 5:18pm in 2018. The teacher neglected to give him his communication device, disrupted his routine then called the principal and security on my kid. I never took him back. My son now goes to a charter school which has been simply wonderful. They understand he has a disability and does not comprehend suspension nor cause/effect.

I will never forget that day.

 Re: SF 1048

Mr. Chair and Members, thanks much for the opportunity to testify today. I support this bill that bans kicking kids out of their educational environment. My own kid was suspended by a union-protected teacher and a lobbyist-protected principal.

We know that one of the main factors in education gap is the result of discipline disparities (Pearman et al., 2019) If students are not in school; they are not learning; if they are not learning; they are failing.

To those that say, what do I do with a child that brings a weapon to school that is a whole another kind of action. If a child in third grade or younger has access to any kind of a weapon, there must be different type of consequences and questions. This bill does not address that and yes, we want safe schools, but we also want schools that teach children by keeping them in their educational environment.

Additionally, to those that preach we understand, we know, and we care about disparities, yet their school districts have been cited for the very thing (discipline disparities) they supposedly care about; please stop preaching sugar while practicing salt. If whatever you are doing was working, we would not be here. Opposing this bill while bringing no alternative solutions to the table is not acceptable and cannot be tolerated.

Please take a read in below research to further understand how discipline disparities and education gap are very much connected. This is why Minnesota has a horrible and shameful education gap. We must keep kids in school and teach them; suspending students has zero educational value.

https://ed.stanford.edu/news/racial-disparities-school-discipline-are-linked-achievement-gap-between-black-and-white

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/250183674_The_Achievement_Gap_and_the_Discipline_Gap_Two_Sides_of_the_Same_Coin

As always, I thank you for your time.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom

The above words do not reflect any candidate, agency or, committee.

Idil

Alright – so, if you live in Minnesota or follow education laws and policies then you know we have a horrible and shameful education disparity record. There are many reasons for this; one of is not enough teachers of color who reflect our kids. Another reason is often teachers of color are the last hired and first fired even when are are fantastic and win teacher of year. Why? two words Education Minnesota aka Teacher’s Union.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Education Finance Committee

Chair – Rep. Davnie

February 3, 2021

Mr. Chair and Members, Good Morning.

Many thanks for the opportunity to testify and speak for my son and so many others like him. My name is Idil Abdull.

I would like to take a moment and thank the author of this bill Rep. Hassan – thanks much for wanting to ensure our kids succeed in school. I am in full support of HF 217.

Students are like blank pages. What fills those pages is what their teacher writes on it. Therefore, it is crucial we have teachers who are in this profession for the right reasons; that is to foster, care and mold young impressionable minds.

As I have so many times stated in this committee and other education committees in the house and senate, my son was suspended on Thursday May 3^rd at 5:18pm in 2018 by a white female teacher Kelly Morris and principal Jaysen Anderson from Jefferson high school in Bloomington Public Schools. I often wonder if Kelly and Jaysen reflected my kid, would the outcome have been different. If Kelly were a teacher of color, would my son who is autistic and had a behavior due to his disability be so eager to call the principal and security on him.

Due to this traumatizing experience, I have taken my child to a charter school in Minneapolis where most of my son’s teachers are minorities and I cannot tell you how relaxing and stress-free it has been for our family. I no longer worry my child being punished for his disability. My son’s current teacher is Somali, and I know she will not only teach him, but nurture and care for him. If I knew what I know today, I would have never taken my child to Jefferson or any other educational environment where teachers and administrators did not reflect him.

Clearly given the sheer number of written and oral support for this bill, it is much needed and necessary if we want our children to do well not just in school but in life. I want to emphasize the ability to hire and retain teachers based on performance not mere seniority. It is extremely essential and imperative to keep effective teachers in the classroom.

Helpful research and articles for your reading pleasure.

https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2017-04-05/drop-out-risk-plummets-for-black-students-who-have-one-black-teacher

https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-importance-of-a-diverse-teaching-force/

https://www.swnewsmedia.com/savage_pacer/news/education/award-winning-teachers-of-color-lost-to-budget-cuts-in-burnsville-call-for-introspection-policy/article_a83023c4-a222-5133-8426-5c7ed8aa4bfa.html

As always, I thank you for your time.                    Idil – Somali Autism Mom

Alright – so, every since Kelly Morris and Jaysen Anderson changed my outlook in education for me, I have studied, researched and learned more about this issue in these short few years than I have in the past decade. Thus, I have been advocating in the state and in the federal level trying to find and seek ideas and support so that what Kelly and Jaysen did to my kid does not keep happening to other kids which sadly it has been. This afternoon, I have testified in the Minn House of Reps – Education Policy Committee. Below is my Testimony.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Education Policy Committee

Chair – Rep. Richardson

February 1, 2021

Madam Chair, Vice Chair and Members, Good afternoon.

Many thanks for the opportunity to testify and speak for my son and so many others like him. My name is Idil Abdull.

My son was suspended on Thursday May 3^rd at 5:18pm in 2018 by teacher Kelly Morris and principal Jaysen Anderson from Jefferson high school in Bloomington Public Schools.

My son has non-verbal autism and did not nor does he now understand what suspension is or comprehends cause/effect. Nevertheless, Kelly and Jaysen kicked him out from his educational environment. As you are aware and have seen data after data, Minnesota has a horrible and shameful record for racial discipline. This is not an accident. It happens and will continue to happen because there is no accountability for the teachers nor the principals and administrators. This is also not an accident.

So now what? As a parent along with many other families, we cannot keep asking the same question every legislative session while nothing significant nor meaningful passes. For students with special needs, I would like to suggest some ideas:

As I learn and dig what other states are doing, I came across WI statute (attached to this testimony). Please take a read under suspension, question 4 which states the following:

May a suspension be appealed? A parent or pupil may, within five school days following the commencement of a suspension, have a conference with the school district administrator or his/her designee. The designee may not be the principal, an administrator, or a teacher in the child’s school. If the school district administrator or his/her designee finds that the child was suspended unfairly or unjustly, or the suspension was inappropriate given the nature of the offense, or the child suffered undue consequences or penalties as a result of the suspension, reference to the suspension must be removed from the child’s records. The finding must be made within 15 days of the conference, s. 120.13 (1) (b), Wis. Stats

Imagine if I had such opportunity along with thousands of other families whose children were kicked out of school unfairly and unjustly. Imagine if the teacher and the administrators were held accountable for their actions and had to explain. Imagine if children went to school to learn and not be afraid of getting kicked out. Just imagine.

Currently, the way Minnesota education laws are written are not child/student/family centered nor friendly. They instead are teacher/administrator friendly and protect the adults who chose this profession instead of the children.

My son communicates with a device and is routine oriented as many kids with autism are. Yet, his teacher on this day changed his routine and neglected to give him his communication device. Then when he had a behavior because he wanted to finish his routine of going to his locker at the end of the day, she called the principal and security on him. This is a day I will never forget not because of what Kelly did but because how Minnesota’s laws allow her. If teachers and administrators are not accountable for their actions or lack thereof, then really what is the point here?

I ask you all to take a read of the attached information from WI and see how our current Minnesota laws can be amended to ensure what happened to my family does not keep happening to more children and parents.

As always, I thank you for your time and for listening.

Idil – Somali Autism Mom and Advocate

Above words do not reflect any candidate, agency or committee.