 On Monday, Governor Walz delivered the opening convocation at Carleton College. A video of the Governor's address is available here.
Governor Walz announced that Minnesota is certified platinum, the highest possible recognition, for evidence-based decision making. The certification is awarded by Results for America, a non-profit dedicated to advancing the use of data to drive governmental policies, programs, and budgets.
Minnesota is one of only eight states to be certified platinum in 2026 and is the only state to win the highest honor available all nine years since Results for America created a state standard.
“For nine years Minnesota has ranked as a national leader in evidence-based decision making,” said Governor Walz. “That’s nine years of data-driven investments in the things that matter most – like paid leave, universal free school meals, and our nation-leading child tax credit. I am deeply proud of this recognition reflecting our work to make Minnesota the best state to live and raise a family.”
The Walz-Flanagan Administration made historic investments in children and families, allocating over $5 billion over three years to evidence-based programs and securing Minnesota’s status as one of the best states to start and raise a family. Under the leadership of Governor Walz, the state provided over 450 million free school meals to students across the state, expanded childcare, established a nation leading child tax credit, and implemented a nation leading Paid Leave program. The administration also made the biggest investment in public schools in state history and made major investments in housing, providing housing assistance to more than 100,000 families.
In addition to direct investment in children and families, the Walz-Flanagan Administration oversaw the allocation of $3.8 billion in public safety resources, including historic investments in local law enforcement, crime prevention, and public safety infrastructure, resulting in the state’s lowest violent crime rate since 2019.
Governor Walz released the following statement on the 2025 Uniform Crime Report.
“This crime report shows that Minnesota is safer because we made public safety a priority. Violent crime fell 14% in the Twin Cities metro and 9% in greater Minnesota, murders dropped from 172 to 132, motor vehicle theft fell more than 22%, carjackings dropped 31%, and Minnesota’s violent crime rate is now at its lowest level since 2019.
“These results reflect years of work by my administration and the law enforcement officials, first responders, and community partners who keep Minnesotans safe every day. We backed that work with $3.8 billion in public safety resources across Minnesota, including historic investments in local law enforcement, crime prevention, and public safety infrastructure.
“You can’t tell the story of declining crime in Minnesota without telling the story of the investments and decisions that helped make it happen. We set reducing violent crime as a measurable goal in our One Minnesota Plan, invested in communities across the state, and today we’re seeing the results.”
 On the first day of the 2026-27 school year, Governor Walz announced a major milestone for Minnesota’s nation-leading School Meals Program: more than 150 million free meals served to students in the program’s third year, bringing the total to nearly 450 million meals served since launch. The program saves families an average of $1,000 per student each year.
“Every meal we serve means one less child worried about hunger and one more student ready to learn,” said Governor Walz. “As we begin a new school year, we’re reminded that breakfast and lunch are essential to a child’s health, development, and success. As a teacher and parent, I know how powerful it is when students walk into the classroom nourished, focused, and ready to thrive — all while families get a little more breathing room in their budgets. Thanks to this program, kids can concentrate on the science lesson or the game at recess instead of worrying about where their next meal will come from.”
The Minnesota Free School Meals Program is a lasting investment in Minnesota’s future, helping make sure every child has the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and thrive in the classroom. The program is available in all Minnesota school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools. Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are required to participate in the state-funded Free School Meals Program.
Signed into law by Governor Walz in March 2023, the Minnesota Free School Meals Program was created to ensure no student goes hungry, lower costs for families, and reduce stigma in school cafeterias. In its first year, breakfast participation grew by 40% and lunch participation grew by 15% compared to the previous school year.
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