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By forcing local districts to fund essential functions through local levy referenda, Minnesota is depriving its kids of the "general and uniform" public school system the state Constitution guarantees. Far from being uniform, funding for schools is a frayed patchwork across our state, because critical funding for over 90 percent of school districts depends on local taxpayers' willingness to vote "yes" to raising their own property taxes.

I grew up in Minnesota and benefited from the quality education I received here at a time when Minnesotans could justly claim to be among the most educated people in the nation.

Things have changed. While many new challenges confront our public schools, without funding that is predictable and equitable across districts, there is little hope of meeting any of them. Instead, even within a single district, schools and programs that thrive in one year may be cut the next. The fortunes of each district's children rise or fall based on political contests driven by all the emotions that surround property tax increases—which are certain to intensify with the changing economy. Parents (myself among them) devote weeks and months to levy campaigns just to make sure local schools maintain current funding levels, without daring to hope for the improvements that could drive Minnesota's schools toward excellence.

A strong state education system cannot be maintained in this way. The state is constitutionally committed to educating its children. Minnesota needs to step up and take back responsibility for this commitment.

Sincerely,

Joan Steinmann
St. Paul, MN