October 1, 2004 - Augsburg College History Professor and former Minneapolis School Board member Bill Green.
October 13, 2004 - As George Bush and John Kerry battle for the White House, they're discussing foreign policy, the war in Iraq and a variety of domestic concerns. But one issue they've been relatively silent on is immigration. Immigration advocates want the candidates to throw support behind several bills, including one that would help undocumented immigrant high school students go to college. Minnesota Public Radio's Toni Randolph reports.
October 13, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty says he wants to increase K-12 education funding next year, as long as the money is linked to several key reforms. The governor plans to push the recommendations of a national panel that wants to overhaul the current systems for training and paying teachers. Pawlenty outlined his priorities for schools today (Wednesday) during a meeting with business, education and government leaders. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
October 25, 2004 - MPR’s Toni Randolph reports that English language classes are bursting at the seams in the Twin Cities. New arrivals to the United States have been packing the classes, eager to learn the primary language of their new homeland.
November 9, 2004 - A Minnesota Citizens League report on higher education released today says the state is ill-prepared to handle the changing and expanding demographics of low income, immigrant and minority students. The report urges state leaders to make short and long term reforms to ensure Minnesota maintains its high quality of life by investing in a highly educated workforce.
November 15, 2004 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports that St. Paul School District officials say 600 Hmong refugee students have enrolled since the beginning of the school year, and hundreds more could still arrive in the coming weeks.
November 24, 2004 - Voices of Minnesota pays a visit to two prominent Catholic leaders in the state: Father Larry Snyder, the new head of Catholic Charities USA, and Sister Andrea Lee, president of College of St. Catherine in St. Paul.
December 1, 2004 - The trickle-down effect of the state's continuing budget problems means some difficult decisions are on the horizon for school districts. Last night St. Paul school board officials learned their district faces a 24.3 million dollar budget deficit for the next school year. That's equal to six percent of the district's current budget. St. Paul superintendent Pat Harvey says state funding has been flat for the last four years, while costs are inevitably going up.
December 16, 2004 - MPR’s presents a report from a Wellstone Elementary School classrom, where there is kind of a music hatchery where singers of the future are being trained.
December 17, 2004 - Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports on North Dakota lawmakers arguing over money. While Minnesota lawmakers face a $700 million shortfall when they convene in St. Paul, in North Dakota, lawmakers won't fight over fixing a deficit, but rather what to do with a budget surplus.