Education Minnesota: Governor invests surplus in state's future

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ST. PAUL, Minn., March 15, 2016 – Education Minnesota President Denise Specht released the following statement on Tuesday in response to Gov. Mark Dayton's supplemental budget. 
 
"We appreciate the governor's approach for investing the surplus in Minnesota's future – its families, children and educators," Specht said. "His choices will send more healthy children to preschool, more preschool children to kindergarten ready to learn and more kindergarteners to full-service community schools where they will be well supported."

"The governor understands Minnesota cannot maintain quality public schools if it fails to attract and retain more qualified teachers, especially teachers of color," Specht said. "The teacher shortage is real and we applaud the governor for taking action."
 
"We wish the governor's proposal for voluntary pre-K was large enough to give every family access to high-quality preschool, but this budget is an important step forward," Specht said. "Education Minnesota will continue advocating for voluntary, high-quality pre-K for every family because this policy is the best way to address opportunity gaps and prepare the next generation of Minnesota citizens and workers."

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.