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The debate over education reform in our state comes down to one simple question:
Do you believe that all Minnesota children can learn when taught by a great teacher in a great school?
If you answered that question with a resounding "Yes!" then you are the newest member of America’s newest education reform movement.
Today, I am proud to announce the launch of MinnCAN (the Minnesota Campaign for Achievement Now).
Minnesota has always taken pride in its public schools, and it's true that they serve many of our students well. But it's also true that while some of our students are thriving, too many have fallen through the cracks, and most of them are poor students and students of color. Where you are born shouldn't determine where you end up. But today in Minnesota, that's precisely what happens. And unless we come together and push for a change in the status quo, it will happen tomorrow, too.
The starting point for fundamentally remaking our public schools is a recommitment by you, the public, to put the public back in public education. MinnCAN will work to build a public movement with the political will to create the change we need in our public schools, starting with our first legislative campaign, School Emergency in Effect. I urge you to learn more about our three commonsense solutions to the problems keeping great teachers and great schools from reaching all of our students.
Change is hard. Fundamental changes only happen in those rare moments when the public demands that our public officials take the risks necessary to push past the stiff resistance of the status quo. I can promise you that we will not rest until every Minnesota child has access to a great public school, but we're going to need your help to do it.
You can take the first steps to push past the status quo right now:
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Sign up to to join the movement and receive updates on how you can be a champion for our public schools.
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Learn more our campaign, School Emergency in Effect, and the policy solutions we're advocating for.
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Read our just-published report, The State of Minnesota Public Education.
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Spread the word by telling your reform-minded friends and family about MinnCAN and asking them to join the movement.
It’s time to prove to our kids that when it comes to realizing the American Dream, it’s what you do–not who you are or where you live–that matters.