Federal funding that provided relief for schools during the pandemic expires Monday and now educators with Minneapolis and St. Paul public schools are among those calling for replacement funds.

The expiration of the funds leaves many school districts in the metro with huge budget deficits heading into the new school year.

Data shows that 70% of districts across the state are facing financial difficulties.

St. Paul and Minneapolis public schools are hit particularly hard by the expiration of federal funds and other financial pressures. The districts each faced over $100 million budget shortfalls heading into the new school year, with the deficit forcing SPPS to cut over 100 teaching positions, cut some art and music programs and blend some grade levels.

“Our principals had to make very difficult decisions. Hopefully, we can bring some of those folks back,” said John Thein, the Interim Superintendent for St. Paul Public Schools.

Around two dozen educators from Adams Elementary participated in a walkout Monday morning, joining districts in 17 other states.

Nicki Nolen said she was a reading support teacher at the school but when funding was cut, so was her position.

“Funding early education and literacy is important as an equity issue across the board,” she said. “It’s something we know teachers have the time to do and this is a way and a model that worked really well. We have a lot of data to support how well it worked. Now that it’s cut this year, it will be interesting to see the next two, three years, if it doesn’t get funded again, how that falls through and then we’re back in the same place where we’re having to build back up those skills.”