Budget surplus provides opportunity to invest in children

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Chris Williams
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ST. PAUL, Minn. Feb. 26, 2015 -- The budget forecast released Friday shows the Minnesota Legislature still has the opportunity to make significant investments in children and public education in 2016, according to Education Minnesota President Denise Specht. 

"The need to adapt our schools to the changing demands of Minnesota students doesn't change with the budget forecast," Specht said. "Minnesota must support more students and families with community schools and expanded access to preschool, recruit more teachers and develop the educators already in the classroom and make standardized testing more transparent and trustworthy."

"The decrease in the projected surplus will force policymakers to choose between tax cuts for the wealthy few and investments that benefit the whole state," Specht said. "The educators of Minnesota hope the Legislature makes the right choice and puts investments in children and working families."

About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.