Demuth emphasizes state funding for private schools, removal of ‘woke’ standards in education plan

ST. PAUL, Minn. (GRAY) – State Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth, the Minnesota Republican nominee for governor in November, announced her education platform from the State Capitol on Thursday, highlighting several proposals that closely echoed GOP pushes in the most recent legislative session.

Announcement

One of the clearest charges from Demuth was to remove so-called “mandates” from state law, arguing that the state government should have a smaller role in enforcing education standards.

On her website, Demuth says she will “remove ‘woke’ standards adopted by the Walz status quo and replace them with evidence-based math and science of reading.”

Demuth was asked on Thursday what she meant by “woke.”

“Any of the standards that are there that are pushing our kids away from the basics of reading, math and science are the ones that we want to roll back,” she said.

Demuth also said she’d focus on improving literacy rates and funding school safety measures, two policies the DFL caucus in the legislature has also prioritized, albeit with a different approach.

By far the largest difference between Demuth and the other side of the aisle is her desire to use state dollars on private schools. DFL lawmakers were staunchly opposed to putting state money toward non-public schools. Demuth says she won’t sign a school safety package that doesn’t include that provision.

“Safety for all students in Minnesota matters very much, and we should not just be funding it for public schools. If there are safety upgrades that are needed at a private school, they should have the same access,” she said.

Legislative Republicans also opposed language that would have required schools to implement new safety measures. Asked Thursday what her stance was on requiring schools to put safety measures in place, Demuth repeatedly did not give a direct answer, instead deferring to her previous remarks on including nonpublic schools in those policies.

Richard Carlbom, chair of the Minnesota DFL, issued a statement in response to Demuth’s announcement, honing in on Demuth’s voting record.

“A vote for Lisa Demuth is a vote to defund Minnesota public schools. Her record is clear: Demuth has repeatedly voted against funding that Minnesota public schools, parents, and students desperately need. Minnesota can’t afford a governor who has supported defunding public schools and opposes bipartisan legislation to provide free school meals for kids. Amy Klobuchar is the only candidate with a plan to raise student achievement and give schools, parents, and students the support they need.”

Demuth was asked specifically whether she’d end the state’s free school meals program. She said she’d make modifications to the program instead of getting rid of it entirely.

“When someone is making a family is making six and sometimes seven figure incomes, their kids do not need free meals,” she said.

Demuth’s opponent, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (DFL-Minnesota), released her own education platform several months ago. Klobuchar’s platform proposed using evidence-based curriculum to raise state literacy rates, as well as boosting funding to the state’s education budget.

Both candidates support policies that discourage the use of cell phones in school settings.