EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Four Minnesota Gubernatorial Candidates Address Education Policy
By Chuck Slocum
(Minneapolis) A Minnesota gubernatorial forum, held Monday at the The Open Book, was dedicated to education policy. The session was co-sponsored by Growth & Justice, Minnesota Minority Education Partnership, Minnesota Rural Education Association, Parents United for Public Schools, and Ready4K.
Participants included DFL’ers Mark Dayton and Matt Entenza and Independents Rob Hahn and Tom Horner, who is endorsed. Two major party endorsees — Republican Tom Emmer and DFL’er Margaret Anderson Kelliher — did not participate.
All candidates acknowledged the looming budget deficit as an urgent first concern for 2011.
While K-12 and higher education were also a part of the agenda, the subject of early childhood education and its payback, as calculated by the Minneapolis Fed Bank, was mentioned by all candidates as an important element to Minnesota’s future education system. The work of the Minnesota Reading Corps, Ready 4K and the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation were mentioned, among others.
The centerpiece of the 90 minute program, moderated by reporter Megan Boldt of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, was a series of questions addressed to each candidate as recommended by the sponsoring organizations.
Dayton
- Taught ninth grade science for two years to 32 student classrooms in New York City Public Schools
- Supports education as a “first priority” for Minnesota, citing the decade long erosion of state per pupil education aid
- Funding is all important and should be increased through, in part, a $4B hike in the state’s income taxes
- Laments that Head Start reaches only half of eligible students
- Backs pre-natal to life long learning as state funding priorities
Entenza
- Relates to his youthful experiences as a student at Worthington High School where teachers helped turn his life around
- Believes the state is not creating the opportunities for young people and wants to change the “State Capitol culture”
- Crime increases as education funding is decreased
- Opposes vouchers, NCLB and two-tiered (haves and have not’s) public education system
- Places top priority on the looming $6B budget deficit where spending reductions, tax hikes and deferral payments will help fill the gap
Hahn
- Claims to be the true outsider and independent in the race who will “call ‘em as I see ‘em”
- Education should be viewed as an important “business” for the state
- Will be outlining a “Partners in Education” initiative soon
- PreK should build on the current successful programs
- Minnesota immigrant children have a right to education
Horner
- Long time adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas graduate school, member of Serve/Mn Board
- Minnesota needs to do a lot better, especially for the poor and less healthy youngsters who are difficult to reach
- More than 50% of youngsters are not prepared to succeed in school when entering kindergarten, only one-in-seven kids get effective PreK in Minnesota
- Redesign of government, including education, must emphasize rethinking government, engaging all parties and creating accountability
- Mentoring of the youngest and most “at risk” children by Minnesota adults is effective
For complete coverage of the forum, go to:
Charles A. Slocum
The Williston Group
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