Parents United for Public Schools

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Talking Points: Short notes to help you explain why you think this effort is important.

Historically, Minnesota has had a strong commitment to public education.
Minnesota’s constitution requires the state legislature to adequately fund a “thorough and efficient” public education system.
Minnesota’s commitment to education has been paying off. Minnesota is at or near the top of several measures of academic achievement, including graduation rates, SAT and ACT scores, eighth grade math and reading skills. Minnesota fourth graders have the second highest science scores in the world.
Over the last decade, public school funding has not kept up with the costs of running a school. Costs for health care, transportation and infrastructure have outpaced any recent increases in funding from the state.
Even during the economic prosperity and government surplus of the 1990’s, education was under-funded by the state legislature. School districts have already had to make dramatic budget cuts and pass referendum levies just to pay for basic services.
Inadequate state funding will jeopardize the quality of Minnesota public schools. With insufficient funding from the state, school districts will be unable to tackle challenges that include growing class sizes, rising standards, unfunded mandates and increasing instructional and institutional costs.
As parents, we have a responsibility to remind the state of its commitment to public education and the necessity to adequately fund our schools. We must stand up for our own children and children from around the state who deserve quality public school education.
Parents United is a campaign to unite parents and concerned citizens across the state. We are organized to tell our elected officials that public schools are a top priority, and we will hold them responsible for providing sufficient state funding.
We will build a coalition of parents and citizens from urban, suburban and rural communities united around a commitment to strong, healthy and well-funded public schools. By speaking with one voice in support of public education, parents can become a powerful political advocate of public school funding.
As a coalition of parents, Parents United will rebuild Minnesota’s commitment to quality public education.