Parents United

A Minnesota born, parent-led organization that exists to unite those who value

public education, And help them be strong advocates for excellence in our public schools.

Where are public school decisions made?

Great schools begin at the ballot box

Congress

State Legislature

School Board

So who makes the decisions?

The Evolution of Federal Involvement in education

• 50’s Integration• 60’s ESEA• 70’s Special education• 2001 NCLB• 2010 Race to the Top

Education is a constitutional mandate

Minnesota Constitution, Article 13, Section 1

…it is the duty of the legislature to establish a general and uniform system of public schools.

The legislature shall make such provisions by taxation or otherwise as will secure a thorough and efficient system of public schools throughout the state.

The money flow

How do schools get their money?Taxes collected at the state level

Income

SalesProperty

Price of GovernmentState and Local Revenues as % of MN Personal Income

Minnesota Management and Budget Office

The state provides the lion’s share of district funding

Basic formula (Set by State Legislature) x PU (Pupil Unit) = District Operating Funds

The current basic formula is $5,806

Each K-6 grader = 1 pupil unit or $5,806Each 7-12 grader = 1.2 pupil units or $6,967

Qualified funds

• Per pupil formula• Special education• English learner• Qualify for free and

reduced lunch• Concentrated poverty

Percent Change in General Revenue/ADM, FY 2003 to FY 2011 Excluding Referendums Adjusted For IPD

-15.2%-9.7% -13.0% -14.9% -15.1% -14.0% -14.1%-20%

-10%0%

10%20%30%40%

Mpls& St Paul Other MetroInner Ring

Other MetroOuter Ring

Nonmetro >=2K

Nonmetro 1K-2K

Nonmetro < 1K

Charter

Requirements for public schools grew while revenue did not

• Testing• Standards• Special education mandates• Transportation• English Language Learning• Health and safety mandates• HIV/AIDS Sex Education• Drug/Alcohol Abuse Education• Bus Safety• Title 1 programs• 100% Rule

College and Career Ready

100

Minnesota 2010 Earnings By Education

2010 ACS

One more way to add funds Voter approved local levy

Local tax on property and businesses

Levy dependent

• 1990 47% of school districts in the state of Minnesota had levies in place

• By 2013 that number rose over 92%

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1989 2013

# of schools withlevies

Minnesota’s New Normal

Minnesota Miracle Every District for Itself

A decade of education debate

• Reeling between centralization and local control• Education policies based on standardization and

uniformity • Single issue reform movements• “No excuses” policies • Replication of “one and done” solutions

Minnesota’s new K12 majority

Source: AMSD

Minnesota Students living in Poverty

27%28%

30%30% 31%

32%33%

35%37%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

AND our kids are poorerKids Count findings

Most recent data shows:

– Between 2000 and 2009 child poverty increased by 62% in Minnesota– The number of children living in poverty in Minnesota is at the highest level of

the decade– 75% of children in poverty have all parents in the workplace– 39% of Minnesota jobs pay too little to afford basic needs for a family of four

even with two parents working– Children under 5 live in poverty at a higher rate than any other age group– 20% of Asian children, 26% of Hispanic/Latino children and 45% of African

American children live in poverty – Three states had higher poverty rates among Black children than Minnesota--

Mississippi, Louisiana and Oklahoma

Source: Children’s Defense Fund

And it matters because? Kindergarten Readiness

Brookings Institute

Language Mathematical thinking

Our gaps start early…

Source: oneMinneapolis: Community Indicators Report, October 2011, The Minneapolis Foundation and the Wilder Foundation

% of Minneapolis Kindergarteners Ready for School

Even when the achievement of all groups rises,

Compiled by MNCompass, from: Minnesota Department of Education.

gaps often persist

and into the world of work.

Compiled by MNCompass, from: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Our 21st century students

• Are digital natives• Live in the world of Google, Wikipedia, Facebook• Live in a global world• Use “just in time” learning, not “just in case”• Respond best to relevant learning and assessment• Have an expectation of differentiated instruction

100

W.B. Pillsbury, Scientific Monthly 1921

“We can picture the educational system as having a very important function as a selecting agency.

All are poured into the system at the bottom; the incapable are soon rejected or drop out after repeating various grades and pass into the ranks of unskilled labor. The more intelligent…pass into the high school; the most intelligent pass into the universities whence they are selected for professions.”

Is public school system failing, or it is doing exactly

what it was intended to do? And does the system need to change?

Maybe it is time….

Equal Access Equitable Outcomes

Student -centered schoolsAuthentic learning, diagnostic and relevant testingRigorous academics that prepare for college and career Schools designed around student need with a variety of models, schedules and calendarsSystems that see bilingualism and multiculturalism as assets

Excellent educators Preparation and support of great teachers and principalsResearch and evaluation to improve teaching and learning

Engaged communitiesResearch-based family engagement models Policies and investments to assist communities in ensuring healthy students

InvestmentInvest in early educationPredictable and dependable school funding

What works

What Parents United is doing to keep the public engaged in “the work” of public schools

• Work with parents, foundations, educators and media around the state drawing attention to the impact of federal/state funding and policy decisions on local schools

• Keep a website current with articles, events and Capitol hearing schedules

• Build relationships with the Governor’s office, MDE, majority and minority leadership

• Collaborate with other education advocacy groups• During session:

– Monitor all education committees– Track and analyze proposed legislation – Provide this information in weekly updates during session