Strong Schools Strong City Referendum Passes!

The Minneapolis Public Schools 2008 Strong Schools Strong City referendum was overwhelmingly approved by Minneapolis voters on Election Day. For more information on election results, please click here.

Referendum funds will help drive achievement results for all students, including support for these education essentials:

  • Improve early reading skills so every child is reading at grade level by third grade (learn to read, then read to learn).
  • Enhance our math and science programs so every child is ready for algebra by eighth grade and ready for the future upon graduation.
  • Provide up-to-date technology and textbooks so every child has the learning materials he or she needs to succeed.
  • Manage class sizes in a renewal of the 2000 referendum.

Minneapolis Public Schools proudly enrolls students from a wide range of backgrounds. However, racial achievement gaps are unacceptable. Referendum funds will be used to raise achievement for all students, close racial and income achievement gaps and help to ensure every student who graduates from Minneapolis Public Schools is college ready.

Please see the links below for more information about Minneapolis Public Schools and the 2008 Strong Schools Strong City referendum.

Questions about the referendum can be directed to referendum@mpls.k12.mn.us.
Vision Context News
• Press Release - May 13
• Press Release - Nov. 5
• Referendum Facts
• Facts in Four Languages (English, Hmong, Somali, Spanish)
• "Bet you didn't know..."
• MPS Vision: The 2007-2012 Strategic Plan
• Referendum Oversight Committee
• Referendum Revenue Use
• First Year Examples
• Targeted Support for Underperforming Students
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
• Frequently Asked Questions  (Updated 10/21)
• Levy Comparison: Minneapolis and Neighboring School Districts
• Fast Financial Facts
• MPS Expenses
• MPS Revenue
• Tax Impact Chart  
• Strategic Plan Scorecard
• Accountability Framework
   
• MPS Funding History 
• Class Size Information
• What if it passes/fails?
• Ballot Language
   
   
 
• Referendum News
•

Good News from MPS
• School Finance Reports
• Superintendent's Spotlight
• MPS News Releases
• Community Education Catalogue Publication
• September Informational Mailer
• October Required Mailer
• Responses to Letters to the Editor 
• Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD) 2008 Voters' Guide
• Polar Producers Videos
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 

Just the Facts

In an effort to quantify how much money Minneapolis receives to educate students, some residents are taking the entire district budget of $654 million and dividing it by the number of students. Because the entire budget includes debt service, building construction, community education and food service – items that are not directly part of educating students – a more appropriate budget figure to use is the operating budget of $435 million. This budget covers operating, staff, classroom and transportation costs and results in approximately $12,500 for each Minneapolis student to manage the district, teach the students and bus them to and from their schools. With Minneapolis’ diverse population, some students have very high educational needs (17 percent in special education, 64 percent living in high poverty, 22 percent English Language Learners) and require much more intensive services – so some students receive services worth more than that average and many students receive less.

For more details on this and answers to other frequently asked questions, visit http://www.mpls.k12.mn.us/FAQ.

***

Prepared and paid for by the Minneapolis Public Schools. This publication is for informational purposes only and is not meant to advocate for or against a ballot question.