Author: Sarah Cooke

The projected state budget surplus of $17.6 billion provides a once-in-lifetime opportunity for short-term investments in Minnesota students, but increased support over many budget cycles is necessary to meet the challenges facing public education.

Minnesotans voted for safe, welcoming and effective public schools for all students this year and reelected Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan to a second term, said Denise Specht, president of Education Minnesota.

Students in Minnesota, and most other states, posted dramatically lower scores on the highly regarded National Assessment of Educational Progress in the spring of 2022 than did students who took the exams before the once-in-lifetime disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Educators from across Minnesota will attend the annual MEA conference on Thursday, where they will hear from various speakers and choose from dozens of classes intended to help them meet the needs of their students.

Education Minnesota encourages voters to be even more careful in their research of school board candidates this year as school districts around the nation have restricted lessons about race, banned books about racism and passed polices to make their buildings less welcoming for all students. 

The Republican candidate for governor, Dr. Scott Jensen, has repeated a bizarre internet hoax about litter boxes in schools in what appears to be an attempt to discredit school policies intended to make schools safe and welcoming for all students.

veryone remembers a favorite teacher, someone who motivates and inspires students for a lifetime. Minnesotans have the opportunity again this fall to nominate that unique educator for Minnesota Teacher of the Year.