Loading ...Local Legislators Weigh in on Impact of “Race to the Top”
Earlier this week, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty unveiled a bill for comprehensive education reform. The goal is that these reforms will help the state grab some of the billions of dollars available through the federal government’s “Race to the Top” initiative, which rewards states who show initiative in reforming K-12 education.
“While Race to the Top has focused attention on the need for reform, we should be taking these steps regardless of the financial incentives,” Governor Pawlenty said. “There is a national, bipartisan consensus on many items regarding education reform. The time for action is now.
State representative Tim Faust (DFL-Hinckley) is more hesitant.
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Pawlenty hopes to approve the bill in time for round two of “Race to the Top,” Minnesota was denied funding in round one.
State Senator Tony Lourey says while he believes education reform is a priority, he thinks there are other ways to make the changes.
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The deadline to apply for “Race to the Top” funding is June 1st.
Mainstream1 04/22/10 at 5:47am
Rep. Faust is trying to have it both ways. He has always blamend our high unemployment rate on lack of education funding. Now, he wants to refuse hundreds of millions of federal dollars for education. Why? because it would require reform in the K-12 system. Reform that the teachers’ union opposes. Follow the money. The state teachers union spent tens of thousands of dollars to get Faust and Lourey elected. They are puppets for the teachers unions, as evidenced by their party giving the head boss of the teachers union a place at the HEAD OF THE TABLE at an official Legislative committee hearing where the PEOPLE’S representatives are supposed to sit. Faust and Lourey can begin by denouncing this action by their party bosses.
Upset 04/22/10 at 8:52pm
Mainstream1 you are absolutely correct, so glad to hear I am not the only one who feels this way. Thank you for posting your thoughts.