State Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, joined state Rep. Rena Moran, DFL-St. Paul, in co-introducing bipartisan legislation intended to enshrine the right to quality public education in the Minnesota Constitution for all children in the state.
More than 30 lawmakers joined the pair as authors of the bipartisan bill. The proposed constitutional amendment has the support of Attorney General Keith Ellison and retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page.
“We have a unique opportunity at the Legislature this session to debate the outcomes for all of our students across this increasingly diverse state,” Kresha stated in a news release. “It’s in our hands here at the Capitol because, frankly, the reason there’s an achievement gap is that we, as a legislature, have failed to act. Minnesotans care deeply about our children and education. I am confident that, if given the chance, they will overwhelmingly support this constitutional amendment.”
According to the release, the bill calls for language proposed by Page and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari to be placed on the ballot in November 2020. If passed, the amendment would replace Section 1 of Article XIII of the constitution with the following:
“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, as measured against uniform achievement standards set forth by the state. It is a paramount duty of the state to ensure quality public schools that fulfill this fundamental right.”
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The bill specifies the ballot question would be titled, “Equal Right to Quality Public Education Amendment,” and the question for voters would state: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that all children have an equal right to a quality public education?”
