2018 MN Governor's race: on Education


Tim Walz: 2 years tuition-free education at MN state institutions

Q: Increase state funding for higher education?

Jeff Johnson (R): Unknown.

Tim Walz (D): Yes. Wants to provide 2 years tuition-free education at MN state institutions for families making $125K/year or less.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Tim Walz: Fully fund pre-K-to-12; make Minnesota the education state

Q: Increase funding for K-12 education?

Jeff Johnson (R): No. Says money won't solve problems.

Tim Walz (D): Yes. Wants to fully fund pre-K & K-12 education, making Minnesota the "education state."

Q: Provide vouchers to parents to send their children to private schools with public money?

Johnson: Yes. Wants to allow parents vouchers to move their children out of failing schools.

Walz: No. Sees a need to keep funding public schools, "not diverting it into voucher programs."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Jeff Johnson: Believes parents know best about their kid's education needs

I believe that parents, not the state or the education unions, are the best decision-makers when it comes to the education of a child. ˙We must empower parents to make those decisions and allow teachers the freedom to teach without unending interference from politicians. We will simplify our K-12 education funding formula, start to eliminate some of the many state mandates on our schools and teachers, and do everything possible to allow real education choice for every parent in Minnesota.
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website Sep 1, 2018

Lori Swanson: Believes schools need K-12 funding & teachers need support

Lori inherited a 1949 edition of National Geographic from her grandmother. The article quotes a Minnesota state official saying that the strength of Minnesota rests between the ears of its children.˙ The same is true today. Lori will support and fund our K-12 schools and support our educators. We must close the achievement gap.˙ About 80% of a child's brain development occurs by age 3.˙ Early childhood education and pre-k is both the right thing to do and the fiscally smart thing to do.˙
Source: 2018 Minnesota governor campaign website LoriSwanson.com Jul 4, 2018

Tim Walz: Recognized as the 2003 Minnesota Teacher of Excellence

After high school, Tim accepted a temporary teaching position at the Native American Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. It was this experience that convinced Tim to follow his father's lead. "My father was a teacher--I learned early on that the opportunity to help students learn and achieve their goals is incredibly rewarding."

Harvard University offered Tim an opportunity to gain a new perspective on global education by teaching in the People's Republic of China in 1989-90, where he joined of one of the first government-approved groups of American teachers to work in Chinese high schools.

Following his return to Nebraska in 1990, Tim developed a program of cooperation between American and Chinese students. He created a small business-- Educational Travel Adventures, Inc.--through which he led annual educational trips to China for American high school students. Tim's inspiring approach to teaching gained him recognition as the 2003 Minnesota Teacher of Excellence.

Source: 2018 Minnesota governor campaign website WalzForGovernor.org May 2, 2017

Tina Liebling: Fully fund our public education system at the state level

Funding for Minnesota's public schools has not kept up with inflation, and this is shortchanging our students. As state support has fallen, school districts must try to get more funding from local property taxes, which means communities without a big tax base have schools that don't have enough resources for their students. Fully and appropriately funding our public education system at the state level will help all students succeed. Adequate school counselors and other support professionals are also needed to help students make sound education and career decisions based on their interests and talents and remove barriers that keep students from achieving their dreams.

Minnesota's constitution says: "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." Minnesota must live up to this promise.

Source: 2018 Minnesota governor campaign website TinaLiebling.com May 2, 2017

Tina Liebling: Free college credits via Post-Secondary Education Options

In the 21st century, careers that can sustain a family require education beyond high school. Though we spend millions helping students get free college credits through the Post-Secondary Education Options program most students don't use the program. All Minnesota students deserve the opportunity to go to college or get career skills. Making the first two years of post-high school education at a public college or university FREE to Minnesota students would take pressure off struggling families while ensuring our workforce is well trained for the needs of the economy.

In connection with free college, we should establish a "Minnesota Peace Corps" where young people could work in an area of need for one or two years after finishing college. Other students could earn loan forgiveness to reduce educational debt. This could ease our workforce shortage in critical areas, while giving young people valuable job experience.

Source: 2018 Minnesota governor campaign website TinaLiebling.com May 2, 2017

  • The above quotations are from 2018 Minnesota Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Education.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Erin Murphy on Education.
  • Click here for more quotes by Chris Coleman on Education.
Candidates and political leaders on Education:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 11, 2018