3/16/06
Pawlenty starts vital debate on education
by Joe Nathan
Governor Tim Pawlentyís State of the State remarks about education could ñ and should ñ promote an intense, vital debate. In six key areas, we need much more discussion between the Governor, and the DFLíers who want to replace him.
ï How to fund education ñ the Governor has made it clear that he sees greater reliance on local property taxes. Democrats have criticized this. OK, DFLíers ñ how do you want to pay for increased state funding for K-12 education? Education already is the single largest item in the state budget - and even modest increases in the per pupil allocation to schools cost millions of dollars. Are DFL candidates proposing major cuts in other parts of the state budget or tax increases? If yes, on the tax increases ñ which taxes and how much?
ï Early childhood education ñ the governor has proposed both more money and higher expectations of early childhood. DFLíers clearly want more money for several early childhood programs. Whoís paying for this, and how? Also, for both the Governor and DFLíers ñ is the state going to study early childhood programs are working best, and seek to replicate them.
ï International education ñ the Governor proposed developing a model curriculum in Chinese. At least one state high school ñ Highland Park in St. Paul ñ already teaches Chinese. Can we use their curriculum? Are others available? More broadly, how are we as a state going to do a better job of helping young people know more about other parts of the world? Can we promote more international exchanges? Could high school students use funds currently available to support Post-Secondary Enrollment options to study in another country?
ï School choice: The number of Minnesota charter public schools has jumped from 1 in 1992, to 125 in 2005, from less than 100 students in 1992, to more than 20,000 this year. Pawlenty and some DFLíers have supported charter public schools ñ others, with strong encouragement from teacher unions, have resisted them. Where do DFL governor candidates think? And what about vouchers, allowing low income or unsuccessful students to attend private or parochial schools? Pawlenty suggests trying this. What, beyond spending more money, do DFL candidates say we should do with these youngsters?
ï Improving high schools ñ The Governor wants more students taking challenging courses ñ such as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate and has offered financial incentives to help make this happen. Do Democrats agree? What can be done to motivate youngsters to take these classes, and improve teacher skills so that more students will be successful in them?
ï Rewarding teachers and schools that make progress: The Governor has made this an important part of his program. Would DFLíers end the Q-Comp program, that provides funds for teacher training and rewards teachers and schools that show progress?
Clashes and dictatorships around the world remind us how lucky we are to live in a land with civil debate and honest elections. We need a great debate, before November, and students and schools.
Joe Nathan, a former public school teacher and administrator, directs the Center for School Change, Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota jnathan@hhh.umn.edu
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