Expanded Education for Rural Minnesotans
Education is a propellant for opportunities, and rural communities deserve equitable access to resources and programs for students and teachers. I am committed to addressing disparities and strengthening education for all.
Address Funding Inequities: Rural schools, particularly in lower-income communities, face significant budget limitations compared to urban or affluent areas. This disparity affects resources, course availability, extracurricular programs, and teacher salaries. It is time for the funding equation to be updated in a way that brings financial stability to the schools across years, accounts for district wide infrastructure needs, helps reduce class sizes, and makes better accommodations for learners with distinct needs - from increased availability to remedial classes to gifted programs and college instruction.
Strengthen Early Childhood Education: I am a mom to three young boys, and I have witnessed firsthand the impact of a high quality early childhood education program. Early childhood education is an incredible opportunity for our youngest learners gain socioemotional skills and make their first friends all while establishing expected behaviors in a classroom. Funding must be expanded so more families can enroll their children and so programs can better accommodate before- and after- school care. Although Early Childhood Education is not a replacement for full time childcare, it can help offset some of the rising demand for childcare at time when childcare services are dramatically in decline.
The Teacher Shortage: There is a teacher shortage across Minnesota owing in part to a decline in applicant pool (fewer people are completing teacher programs) and low teacher retention (a great number of educators are leaving within their first 3-5 years). In Minnesota, educators in public schools are required to be licensed to teach and that often requires obtaining a Bachelors degree. With the astronomical cost of education and overall lower wages for teachers than their peers, it should be no wonder that there is a decline in the number of teachers. The teacher shortage is a complex problem, and will require a complex solution, but it starts with better funding educators, decreasing class sizes, developing policies that address behavior issues and classroom safety, and expanded access to affordable educator training programs to grow the applicant pool.
Adult learning: Many rural Minnesotans have been left behind with the technology boom and shifting job markets. In greater Minnesota, there is a lack of access to retraining programs, workforce training, career transitions, and continuing education options. We need our rural Minnesotans to feel empowered that they can pursue adult learning programs that benefits small business, enables change careers, and advances existing careers. Imagine small retail business expanding online, nurses advance credentials affordably, tradespeople streamlining additional certifications through online training, or even help people transition to teaching. Developing an online adult learning hub and expanding local training opportunities is achievable and would help open new pathways for our rural Minnesotans that are seeking change but limited by access.
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