Investment in education is the most critical way we can ensure a strong and vibrant community and state for the future, where all of our citizens have the opportunity to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment. A well educated, high performing work force will give our state the competitive edge in the global market place. Strong public education leads us to a strong economy, good jobs, and quality health care. It is time to make Minnesota the brain power state once again.
My opponent has repeatedly cast votes cutting public education and forcing local communities to bear an increasingly disproportionate share of the cost. This is wrong.
As your state senator I will not support smoke and mirror efforts to undermine our educational system. As your state senator I will work to:
- Ensure the resources our schools need are available to control class size, buy materials, lower participation fees, and maintain a safe and healthy learning environment
- Provide staff development opportunities and reward teachers who do a good job
- Fund all-day kindergarten programs for our school districts
- Close the achievement gap by implementing programs with demonstrable results
- Promote flexibility to make the imposed federal mandates of No Child Left Behind work for our kids, not against them
- Help make college prep classes available to ALL high school students
- Work to strengthen the state commitment to the University of Minnesota, and the MnScu system to lower tuition costs so that a college education is affordable for all our citizens
We live in times of challenge, with controversy swirling around every important issue that demands action.