Rep. Ron Kresha (R-Little Falls) in the Minnesota House of Representatives –
All children have a fundamental right to a quality public education that fully prepares them with the skills necessary for participation in the economy, our democracy and society.
But only 55% of our third-graders can read at grade level, continuing a downward trend since at least 2015. Nor is it very promising when only 45% of our high school juniors are proficient in math, yet we graduate 83% of our high school seniors.
Many of our children are failing, thus almost ensuring a lifelong path of poverty, underachievement, and bouts with the criminal justice system.
Now is the time for bold reform.