Senate DFLers held a press conference this week to highlight the need of fully investing in our students and schools so that our education system supports all students, regardless of their race, zip code, or economic status. In a year when so many are recovering from the effects of COVID-19, we need to not only invest in our current system but improve it for the better.
We support fully funding education to provide relief to districts that were affected this past year due to COVID-19 and support efforts to close the opportunity gap within Minnesota’s current education system. Minnesota’s education system has had one of the worst opportunity gaps in the country, which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. We need to fully fund our education system so students get a quality education no matter their race, income, or location.
Other priorities include the need to invest in mental health services to support students. It is a serious issue that Minnesota has one of the worst student-to-counselor ratios in the country and there is a sense of urgency to do something about that now. For students to succeed and flourish in their education, we need to have a holistic approach that looks at the whole child and supports their mental well-being, along with their academic and non-academic needs.
Another priority for Senate DFLers is making sure our teachers reflect the increasing diversity in our classrooms. By hiring more teachers of color and creating a diverse workforce, we are better able to respond to the growing diversity in our student population, providing more representation in the classroom and supporting a system that develops opportunities for teachers to grow throughout their careers to better support students.
Minnesotans deserve a living wage, and we need to ensure we have the training, certificate, and credential opportunities that lead to a fulfilling career. Senate DFLers have brought forward legislation to establish the Minnesota Direct Care Service Corps, job training programs for underserved communities, and more. A vibrant 21st-century economy requires a 21st-century workforce, and the Senate DFL is committed to investing in the programs and resources that can prepare every Minnesotan for success.
Minnesota’s education system has had one of the worst opportunity gaps in the country and this has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. We need to fully fund our education system so that students get a quality education no matter their race, income, or location.
