Minneapolis

Local Education Advocate Calls for School Choice Amid Teacher Strikes in Minneapolis and Saint Paul

2024-02-17
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Several Minnesota cities, including Minneapolis and Saint Paul, are currently in negotiations between school districts and teachers' unions. Saint Paul teachers have voted to strike, and Minneapolis teachers are pointing out the pay gap between their district and Saint Paul. The average salary for a Minneapolis Public School (MPS) teacher is about $75,000, while in Saint Paul it's $86,000 or more. Minneapolis teachers are asking for an 8.5% salary increase in the first year and 7.5% in the second year, aiming for equal pay.

In the midst of these pay discussions, education advocate Denisha Allen points out another inequality issue. She suggests that the topic of school choice for black families is not being addressed. Allen, a beneficiary of school choice, sees education as a key issue today. She criticizes the U.S. education system for its racial and economic disparities and its failure to cater to individual needs, especially those of black students.

Allen's point is particularly relevant to Saint Paul and Minneapolis. According to the Minnesota Department of Education, only 9.9% of black students in Saint Paul Public Schools are proficient in math, and 16.5% in reading. In Minneapolis, the numbers are even lower, with 8% proficient in math and 14.5% in reading. Allen suggests that these districts are not adequately serving black students.

Allen proposes that school choice could improve this situation. She believes that allowing black families to choose the best education for their children could level the playing field. She shares a conversation with a black single mother in Minneapolis who expressed dissatisfaction with the public school system and a desire to send her children to a private school through a school choice program like an Education Savings Account (ESA).

Despite 73% of Black American voters supporting school choice, Allen suggests that these families' needs are not being addressed. She expresses concern about the potential impact of a teachers' strike on children's education. Allen advocates for prioritizing children's well-being over other interests.

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Teacher Strikes School Choice Racial Disparities in Education Education System Reform Black Student Achievement