Why public schools are struggling financially and what Minnesota voters will decide

Minnesota voters will find a question about public school funding on their ballots this fall. A proposed constitutional amendment would increase the amount distributed each year from the state’s Permanent School Fund — a $2.4 billion investment fund built with revenue generated by state-owned school trust lands.

Supporters say it would provide additional money without raising taxes, but critics say that the increase would only cover a fraction of the broader financial pressures facing school districts.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how Minnesota schools are funded, where that money goes and what voters should understand about the proposed amendment before November.

Here’s a link to a resource to see what will be on your ballot this coming November:

Minnesota Secretary Of State - What's On My Ballot?

Guests:

Christine Tucci Osorio is the superintendent for School District 622, which includes North St. Paul, Maplewood and Oakdale. Mary Kunesh is a DFL state senator representing District 39 in the northern Twin Cities suburbs. She chairs the Senate Education Finance Committee.Marguerite Roza is a research professor at Georgetown University and director of its Edunomics Lab, a research center that studies education finance and how school systems use public dollars.

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Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.