Minnesota’s constitutional promise of a “general and uniform” public school system is running headfirst into a funding setup built on property values and local elections. The result, as a new special report lays out, is that families who can buy into higher-value neighborhoods often buy better school buildings, richer programming and more support services along with the house keys. In the Minneapolis area, that can look like smaller classes, newer facilities, and more advanced coursework just across a district line.
Key findings from the special report
According to MinneapoliMedia, Minnesota funds schools with a per-pupil state formula that is then layered with local property-tax levies and voter-approved referenda. That combination tilts in favor of…..