Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget includes a proposal he says would help close the achievement gap between white and minority students. Businesses would get a tax credit for funding scholarships that would allow at-risk students to attend private schools. (01/27/2005)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget recommendations for the state's public colleges and universities are getting a mixed reaction from the state's higher education institutions. The University of Minnesota says it got what it wanted, mostly. But MnSCU says its needs are being shortchanged. (01/26/2005)

Officials and students with the state's public colleges and universities are criticizing Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposal to change the way Minnesota funds higher education. (01/19/2005)

If Gov. Tim Pawlenty has his way, the city of Rochester could be in for a building boom. In Pawlenty's State of the State address from Rochester Tuesday, he outlined a list of projects for the city and the region. Political observers say the attention on Rochester could be an attempt to shore up Republican support in what's long been considered GOP territory. (01/19/2005)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty gave some juice to a decades-old wish to create an undergraduate university in Rochester during his State of the State speech Tuesday. University of Minnesota officials say they don't have the money to embark on such a project. (01/18/2005)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty released his plan for increasing K-12 education funding two percent a year over the next two years on Thursday. Pawlenty's proposal also included incentives for schools to scrap their seniority-based teacher compensation plans in favor of performance pay. Democrats and school officials called the proposed funding increase a good start, but insufficient. ( 01/14/2005)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is making changes in teacher pay the cornerstone of his upcoming education budget. His plan includes incentives for teachers to be paid based on their performance in the classroom. He is also proposing 2 percent increases in basic school funding in each of the next two years. (01/13/2005)

Hearing only praise, Alice Seagren received unanimous support from the Senate Education Committee in her quest for confirmation as Gov. Tim Pawlenty's education commissioner. (01/11/2005)

Despite a projected budget shortfall, Minnesota lawmakers appear ready to include more money for public schools when they put together a state budget for the next two years. (01/05/2005)

The union representing Minnesota teachers has joined the call for increased state spending on schools. (12/17/2004)

School leaders throughout Minnesota say it's time for state lawmakers to end their financial pain. They're pushing for an increase in state support over the next two years. (12/07/2004)

A Minnesota Citizens League report on higher education in Minnesota released Tuesday 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. (11/09/2004)

The Board of Trustees for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system voted Wednesday to support a $1.3 billion legislative budget request that includes $67 million in new spending. The budget plan assumes a 4 percent tuition increase for each of the next two years. But students say they've had enough of tuition increases, and they asked for a freeze. (10/20/2004)

Gov. Tim 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 Wednesday during a meeting with business, education and government leaders. (10/13/2004)