Plan
Minnesota has a long history of excellent public and private schools. Providing adequate and fair funding has to be among the highest priorities of state government.
It’s not right that our schools receive thousands less per student than schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Equity funding is essential to provide some help in lowering class size and hiring the staff necessary to properly instruct our students, which, if supporters of increased funding are correct, will assist in narrowing the achievement gap.
Funding is an important component, but it is not the only factor. There must be an emphasis on the basics of reading, writing, science and math to enable all students to form a solid knowledge base within these core curricula. The system may need new money, but the discussion cannot only be about money. We must build in reform and accountability so that taxpayers are assured the dollars they entrust to the public school system are being used in the classroom and not squandered on excessive bureaucracy or programs with dubious merit.
Perhaps more important than anything is for children to have a parent or parents actively involved in their child’s education. Nothing can replace parents as the ultimate education mentor and no government program can achieve the same success rate.