Education Minnesota launches new ad campaign in support of fully funding public education
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CHRIS WILLIAMS
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651-247-5539 (cell)
ST. PAUL, Minnesota. Feb. 28, 2023 – A new series of television and digital ads from Education Minnesota argue that now is the time to fully fund public education and give every Minnesota student access to world-class schools and colleges.
The ads, which started Monday, are the latest phase of the union of educators’ “Believe in ‘We’” campaign. The theme of the 2023 campaign is “The Time is Now” and the ads will air until the end of the legislative session, or approximately nine weeks. The campaign has a budget of more than $500,000.
“With a historic state budget surplus, pro-education majorities in the House and Senate, and a former teacher in the governor’s office, now is the time to provide billions in new state support for public education, so every Minnesota student can get the knowledge and skills they need to pursue their dreams, no exceptions,” said Denise Specht, president of Education Minnesota.
Each of the television ads will feature one or more members of Education Minnesota telling their story and asking Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota Legislature to provide the resources required to educate Minnesota’s students, including:
- Reducing the school staffing crisis by improving compensation for education support professionals and licensed educators from their first day through retirement.
- Ensuring every student has access to a team of licensed, school-based mental and physical health professionals.
- Attracting and retaining more educators of color to meet the needs of the state’s increasingly diverse students and prepare all students to thrive after high school.
- Paying for the soaring costs of special education services.
- Improving access to, and increasing resources for, state colleges.
The first three television ads and the union’s call to action are posted at www.believeinwemn.com.
“For our union, this session of the Legislature is about passing the right investments and policies to give educators more time with their students, give students access to more great educators and make sure our schools and colleges are safe and healthy spaces to learn and work,” Specht said. “This ad campaign is just one way our educators are coming together to demand the respect and tools they need to deliver the education our students deserve.”
About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.
