Leading Sea Change for Equity in Education
Sea change: (noun) a profound or notable transformation; a substantial change in perspective, especially one which affects a group or society at large on a particular issue.
Much has changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic early last year and the killing of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. These tragic events have resulted in great loss and pain, but can ultimately provide the impetus needed to bring about sea change in equity and education policy at the local, state and national levels.
The pandemic presents great challenges and frequent changes for students, families and educators. It has also reminded everyone of the critical role public schools play in the overall health and well-being of our communities, the economy and our state’s future. Minnesota schools responded to the pandemic with resolve and determination to help students and families through this public health crisis with food, child care, social-emotional support, and meaningful learning experiences under less-than-ideal circumstances.
Events following the murder of George Floyd sparked a wave of public support and highlighted the urgency to end systemic racism and inequalities in our society. Our schools have assumed a critical role in facilitating the difficult community conversations needed to advance anti-racist practices and eliminate the unacceptable achievement and opportunity gaps that exist for students of color, students in low-income families, and students receiving special education and language services.
To emerge from these life-changing events better than before, Minnesota public schools need stable funding from the state, greater flexibility for local decision-making, and fairness for all students and taxpayers, regardless of race, socioeconomic status or where they live in our state. On behalf of the more than 29,000 students and 160,000 residents of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools, the School Board and Legislative Advisory Council members urge the Legislature and Governor to lead sea change in equity and public education by taking the following actions during the 2021 budget-setting session.
1. Funding
Basic funding for Minnesota schools has continued to lag inflation and the gap in special education costs over funding will top $698 million statewide in 2021. To provide stable funding for schools:
- Increase general education funding by at least 2 percent per year in the 2021-23 state budget;
- Mitigate the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by allowing school districts to use the greater of their 2019 or 2020 pupil counts for calculating general education and compensatory funding, and
- Begin phasing in recommendations of a School Finance Working Group convened by the Minnesota Department of Education last year that would stabilize education funding and ensure taxpayer equity
2. Flexibility
School districts’ creative and innovative responses to the pandemic have highlighted the importance of flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions and needs of the local community. To provide greater flexibility and local decision-making authority:
- Eliminate the requirement for school districts to partner on Area Learning Center programs and oppose other unnecessary and unfunded mandates;
- Allow the continuation of full-time distance learning currently offered under the Minnesota Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 school year, and
- Expand the innovation zone law to allow school districts to try new instructional models and increase collaboration with post-secondary institutions, nonprofit organizations and businesses.
3. Fairness
Equitable financial and educational practices ensure all District 196 taxpayers and stakeholders are treated fairly, regardless of race, socioeconomic status or where they live. State equalization aid helps balance the impact of school taxes on homeowners in school districts with less commercial/industrial property wealth, like District 196. However, equalization aid has not kept pace with the growth in property values over time and no longer provide the intended level of equalization or taxpayer fairness. To provide greater fairness for our stakeholders:
- Increase equalization of the operating referendum, local optional and debt service levies to provide taxpayer fairness and reduce funding disparities between districts;
- Maintain multiple pathways to teacher licensure and create incentives to attract and retain teachers of color, and
- Increase access to school-based pre-kindergarten programs for underserved student populations.