For decades Minnesota has had one of the largest academic achievement gaps between white and Black students. Millions of dollars and numerous initiatives have been created to address this issue, with a multitude of stakeholders. However, the gap persists. On Jan. 13, 2020, the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank sponsored "Children First: A Community Conversation on Educating All Children." The conversation was focused on a proposal to change the state constitution to make it include providing a high-quality public education "a paramount duty" of the state; the proposed amendment would go further in compelling lawmakers to address achievement gaps than does the current constitutional language. Retired state Supreme Court Justice Alan Page and Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari proposed this amendment to the state constitution's education clause with the goal of closing some of the largest achievement gaps in the nation.

Dr. Sylvia Bartley talks with Justice Alan Page and Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank President Neel Kashkari about the state of education in Minnesota and their proposal to drive change.