[ST. PAUL, MN] – In a pre-kindergarten classroom in New Hope today, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan concluded a five-day statewide education tour. Traveling across the state, they spoke with educators, students, parents, and administrators at schools and higher education institutions about the need to invest in education in Minnesota. The governor and lieutenant governor visited Rochester, Mankato, Cloquet, St. Cloud, Moorhead, Bemidji, Rosemount, Hibbing, Duluth, and Winona.

“As a former teacher, I know firsthand how the power of education can change a life,” said Governor Walz. “From the historic high school in Hibbing to my former classroom in Mankato, the message was clear: Minnesotans want to invest in our schools and build a brighter future for our children. There’s no issue that brings people together as One Minnesota more than the importance of education. My budget reflects the morals of Minnesotans, and I know that together we can make Minnesota the ‘Education State.’”

The two highlighted how their proposed budget makes historic investments in schools to close the funding gap and make sure every child has a good teacher, can receive individual attention, and has access to the materials they need to develop the knowledge and skills to compete in today's economy. In total, the Budget for One Minnesota includes an investment of $733 million in additional pre-K through grade 12 education funding over the next two years, and $158 million in funding to support Minnesota’s higher education system, including $62 million in grants to students. To learn more about Governor Walz’s proposed education budget, click here.

“Every child deserves a high-quality education, regardless of their race or zip code,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “Traveling the state this week, we heard from teachers, parents, and students about what it will take to make that a reality. I look forward to working with the legislature to provide every child with the resources they need to succeed.”

Stories from the Tour

• The student of the year at Fond du Lac Tribal Community College has four children—and a 4.0 GPA. The administrators and faculty at Fond du Lac are dedicated to supporting their students holistically. They shared that they often spend their weekends on the phone with each other trying to figure out how to make sure they’re offering the right services. They know their school is a community and bridge to a better life. They rely on bridge programs from high schools to higher education and want to see these programs supported.

• A student at a full-service community school in Rochester said, “When I came to this school, it felt like I mattered.” He talked about how the Rochester Alternative Learning Center breaks down barriers for students so they have the opportunity to learn and succeed. The school just opened up a clinic inside the high school so that students can receive the health and dental care they need anytime throughout the school day.

• A second-grade teacher said his wife graduated from St. Cloud Technical and Community College. She received state grant money, so she was able to go to get her degree. She got a job after graduation and was able to buy their family a home. She now gives back to her community more than what she was given for the state grant program.

• Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Moorhead offers a surgical technology class at that has a 100% job placement rate. Overall, the school emphasized how trade and technical schools lead to good-paying jobs and must continue to be emphasized as other career options outside of attending a four year university.

• Bemidji High School has a “Career Academies Program” for students where they pick a field they are interested in and start taking courses that are relevant to that area. One student took the Nursing Career Academies and will be graduating this May from Bemidji High School as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). The hospital she interned at during the school year loved her, and she already has a job after high school. The Career Academies Program helps students learn the skills and knowledge they need to be successful outside the classroom.

• At Myers-Wilkins Elementary School in Duluth, teachers and staff talked about the need for more staff to meet the needs of their students. Almost 25% of their student population are students with disabilities. They emphasized the need for additional staff professionals to help ensure these students can receive the attention they need to learn.