Public school funding will probably decline in Minnesota

Unless, in the short term, DFLers take back the state trifecta in November. In addition to winning governor and the state House (right now, more likely than not, but far, far from a sure thing), we need to win the special election for SD 13. You can help our candidate, Joe Perske, here.

Despite increases in recent years, real per pupil state operating aid to Minnesota school districts has declined overall since fiscal year (FY) 2003. This decline in state aid translated into significant property tax hikes and—in many instances—reduced funding for public education. To compound matters, projections based on current state law indicate a significant decline in real per pupil school aid in FY 2020 and 2021. - North Star Policy Institute 

Among other things, proper funding for public education means proper funding for teacher and staff pay. And the public knows it.

According to the 50th annual PDK Poll of attitudes about public schools, Americans trust and support teachers, but don’t want their own children to join a profession they see as underpaid and undervalued.

In almost every other way, they support public schools and the educators who work there.

When it comes to increasing school funding, increasing teacher salary, allowing teachers to strike, and an abundance of other issues, the poll found a majority of people unequivocally in favor of endeavors meant to bolster learning.

In fact, support for education and educators has never been so high in half a century. - gadflyonthewallblog 

(If I'm going to be blogging on this platform for a while, at some point my lazy behind will take the trouble to learn to deal with formatting, fonts, etc., in a more consistent and professional manner. But not yet.)