MPR presents a series of reports "Reading, Writing and Revenue," which looks at Minneosta schools' funding crunch. MPR’s Tim Pugmire provides a summary report on the political and educational debate.

School districts officials throughout Minnesota have been laying off teachers, raising fees and slashing services to balance their budgets for the coming school year. Administrators blame the drastic cuts on rising costs and insufficient state funding. But state spending on public education has been steadily increasing, not decreasing. And that has some policymakers questioning whether schools will ever have enough money.

This is the first of a five-part series.

Click links below for other parts of series:

part 2: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2002/06/04/reading-writing-and-revenue-district-profile-minneapolis

part 3: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2002/06/05/reading-writing-and-revenue-how-osseo-is-balancing-its-books

part 4: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2002/06/06/reading-writing-and-revenue-bemidji-school-district-woes

part 5: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2002/06/07/reading-writing-and-revenue-push-to-change-school-funding-system

Awarded:

2002 NBNA Eric Sevareid Award, Award of Merit in Documentary/Special - Large Market Radio category

2002 EWA National Award for Education Reporting, second place in Radio category