"You shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in." (Isaiah 58:12)

Public Education

Our Dream and a Miracle

ISAIAH envisions a time when all children have an opportunity to learn and flourish in a way that pleases God, leading to meaningful, fulfilling lives.  It could happen.  We had a miracle once, in the early 1970s, which put Minnesota on the cover of Time magazine with the title: “A State That Works.”  The Republican legislature and the DFL governor cooperated, greatly increasing the state’s tax responsibility for schools, equalizing educational opportunities across the state, and reducing local tax levies for those least able to pay.  It was a commitment that surprised the nation and built a legacy of excellence that still benefits Minnesota.

Beginning in 1990, our state government started scrimping a little, under-funding the real inflating costs of public schools by about 1.5% per year, forcing local districts to make up the difference with levies.  There was enough money available, (we even received tax rebates), but the state chose short-term expediency over education.  This became a crisis in 2001 when the legislature promised to take up the slack but forgot to keep its promise.  Funds were frozen while standards and testing increased.  Even the ballyhooed 2005 increase of 4% per year barely met inflation and pushed more responsibility to the local level.  The facts:

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•  Minnesota dropped from 15th among the states in 1992 in education funds as a share of personal income to 36th today, from 6% above the national average to 7% below. ·     
• Our increase in per-pupil spending during the last 5 years ranks 45th. ·    
•  Minnesota support for preschooler’s day care access is now 36th among the states due to similar cutbacks, and 50% of our children are not ready when they arrive for kindergarten.

The 2007 ISAIAH Opportunity Agenda calls for adequate funding of the actual cost of educating all students, and increased opportunities for children and families to experience programs that prepare children for kindergarten.

More information on this issue at www.gamaliel.org/ISAIAH, click on Issues. Some additional resources: Ready 4 K at www.ready4K.org., PS Minnesota at www.psminnesota.org., and Child Care Works at www.childcareworks.org.