Elorza cites Walz’s dedication to education as a reason for optimism about the future of American public schools
under the new administration.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2024
Contact: Lynn Sexton
Lynn@dfer.org
(New York, NY, August 6, 2024) — Today, Democrats for Education Reform’s (DFER) CEO Jorge Elorza released the following statement congratulating Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz on his nomination as Vice President:
“DFER congratulates Governor Tim Walz on his nomination as Vice President for the Democratic Party. We celebrate Governor Walz’s lifelong commitment to public service and are excited about the potential of this new administration.
Governor Walz, with twenty years of experience as a public school teacher, truly understands the transformative power of quality education. As governor, he has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to strengthening Minnesota’s public school system and ensuring that all children in the state have access to high-quality education.
During his tenure, he oversaw the largest per-pupil funding increase in 15 years, significantly investing in special education, teacher diversity, and implementing a universal free lunch program. His administration prioritized equity and remained steadfast in delivering real solutions to Minnesota families.
Minnesota has long been a hub of educational innovation, being the first state to open a public charter school. Governor Walz embraced this tradition, advocating for improved literacy through the READ Act, which guarantees interventions for students needing support and funds the implementation of the Science of Reading across the state.
Governor Walz exemplifies the pragmatic, forward thinking leadership we need in Washington.
We look forward to working closely with the Harris-Walz administration to address the persistent challenges facing our education system. Together, we can build on existing progress and push for innovative solutions that ensure every student in America has access to a high-quality public education and the opportunity to achieve economic security.”
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