PARENTS UNITED FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Why Parents United for Public Schools?

Parents United for Public Schools is a one-stop, non-partisan resource for understanding where and how decisions about Minnesota’s public schools are made, and how to influence those decisions. In this divisive political climate, it matters that Parents United is here.

Today’s Public School Reality:

This is a critical time for public schools. Federal and state performance standards are increasing, and the global marketplace demands that every high school graduate be college or career ready. This comes at a time when Minnesota is spending 14% less per pupil, when adjusted for inflation, than we did in 2003.

What Does Parents United Do?

• Parents United educates the public. We speak to civic and parent groups, train parent leaders on public school finance and the legislative process, and provide a website of resources to answer your questions.
• Parents United works to build the political will to provide the best possible public education to every child in Minnesota. We are present at the Capitol throughout the legislative session and bring you daily and weekly updates in a clear and concise manner, along with context to better understand what policies will mean for children.
• Parents United works to bring people together with one voice. We help Minnesotans see the whole education puzzle to better understand what's happening in individual districts. We teach to and hear from school districts across the state, networking parents to work toward the best interests of all Minnesota's school children.

Did you know?

• Minnesota balanced its 2011 budget on the backs of schools, paying 60% this year and shifting 40% to next year. This has forced schools to borrow to fill the gap.
• Minnesota’s students are in ever-more crowded classrooms, with growing percentages of peers living in poverty.
• Minnesota’s kids have the worst ratio of students to counselors in the country (759 to 1).
• Minnesota’s teacher-pupil ratio has dropped to 37th in the country.
• Minnesota has one of the largest achievement gaps between white students and students of color of any state in the nation.

It is in the best interest of all of us, whether or not we have children in public schools, to provide an excellent education for Minnesota’s kids.

Testimonials

Beth Hawkins of MinnPost said Parents United's website is "a terrific resource for anyone hoping to keep tabs on education-related news from the Legislature and other policymaking entities in Minnesota."

A Parent Leadership Summit attendee said about Parents United: "It is the go-to organization for parents of public school students who want to understand what happens at the Capitol and how it has a direct impact on their lives."

A Parent Leadership Boot Camp attendee said: "Wow! I feel like I took a drink of water from a fire hydrant... the plethora of information blew me away! Thank you so much for the invaluable work you do. The Boot Camp was phenomenal."