Teacher-candidate emphasizes significant investments, reform, and progress for Minnesota students
“As my two kids and kids across Minnesota start school this week, it is a time for us to reflect on what we want from our education system,” said Walz. “I believe in a bold vision for education in this state-one where we invest in our classrooms, think beyond test scores, and where every student receives a quality education no matter where they live. As governor, I will be an educator-in-chief who fights tirelessly every day to make this vision a reality.”
Walz, who has over 20 years of teaching experience, based the plan on conversations with educators across Minnesota as well as his own experiences in the classroom.
“My five-year-old daughter starts kindergarten this year. Like every parent, I want her education to prepare her for a successful, happy life. The investments we make in education reflect our state’s priorities, and our priorities must be grounded in the success of every student. An investment in our children not only brightens their future, it brightens the future of Minnesota’s workforce and economy.” Lieutenant Governor Candidate Peggy Flanagan said.
The plan is divided into visions for funding, innovation, and equity. Each area of the plan includes significant reforms. In the vision for funding, Walz proposes indexing the education budget to inflation and allocating funds to property-poor areas that cannot rely on property taxes for school funding. Walz also proposes a de-emphasis of standardized testing and instead an asset-based model that focuses on more modern skills like creativity and problem-solving.