Ted Mondale Response
1
Question 1: Many alternatives to the existing education
system have been proposed; including charter schools, vouchers and private
sector involvement. Do you favor any of these approaches, or do you
have specific proposals to strengthen the current system?
Clearly, an excellent education is the cornerstone of our society, and it will
be my top priority if elected governor.
Charter Schools
Minnesota has led the nation in the creation of charter schools. I am very
supportive of innovation within our educational system, as long as students
and teachers in charter schools are held to the same high standards of
learning and outcomes as all other schools.
Vouchers
The debate about vouchers poses a false choice. The current capacity within
the private school system is for approximately 10,000 children. In Minnesota,
we have around 900,000 students in public school, so vouchers can have little
or no impact on the quality of the education available to the Minnesota
students.
Private Sector Involvement
I believe that the private sector can make a positive contribution to
education. Minnesota has dozens of stories of companies partnering with
schools to provide additional resources and connections for the benefit of
everyone involved.
My Proposals
I have three proposals to strengthen opportunities for Minnesota students:
early childhood education, stronger K-12 standards and greater access to
higher education.
Early Childhood Development
As governor, I will propose a greater investment in ensuring our children's
first three years are more focused on strong development.
Higher Standards
I believe to compete in the next century, Minnesota students will need a
stronger focus on core, basic skills as their academic foundation.
Greater Access to Higher Education
It is my belief that any student who works hard, makes the grade, and is
willing to commit to community service should not be denied access to higher
education in Minnesota. My proposal is simple - any Minnesota high school
student graduating with at least a B average will receive a full tuition
scholarship to any Minnesota public higher educational institution.
