GOP Senators and Parents Press for School Choice

With the building that houses the offices of Minnesota’s teachers’ union as a backdrop, Republican Senators, parents and advocates pressed for the inclusion of educational savings accounts in the omnibus education budget bill. The media event was held Thursday, June 3.

According to Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, Education Minnesota, the union representing Minnesota educators, is standing in the way of efforts that would allow parents to make choices about their children’s educational opportunities. “We absolutely think that education choice, parents’ right to choose the different kinds of education that they can have for their kids, must be elevated. Too many kids in Minneapolis and St. Paul and other places are failing, and they have no other options,” he said.

Senator Roger Chamberlain, R-Lino Lakes, chair of the Senate Education Committee, said that the school choice policy language remains part of the ongoing negotiations with the House on the omnibus education budget bill. “Education is in crisis in this state. It’s time to change the status quo,” he said.

House Education Chairs Representative Jim Davie, DFL-St. Paul, and Representative Ruth Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights, released the following statement: “Aside from the fact that using private school vouchers in public education funding is unconstitutional, House DFLers and Minnesotans know public dollars belong in public schools, where 95% of Minnesota students receive their education.”