Enhancing education
Funding Our Schools
As a graduate of Parkview Elementary and Rosemount High school, Matt benefited from strong Minnesotan schools. As a former mayor, he also knows what happens when education funding lags at the federal and state levels- either programs are cut or property taxes go up. Matt supports more equitable funding for education across the state. At the State Senate, Matt has worked to provide our teachers with good salaries and smaller class sizes so we can more effectively educate the next generation of leaders.

Accomplishments
- Voted for a 2% increase on the per student formula.
- Co-authored bill to increase mental health professionals in schools.
Lakeville Area School District's new school year kicks off
Vote ‘yes’ in District 196 to keep our communities healthy and strong
Career Development & College Affordability
As technology changes our world, Minnesota needs a workforce on the cutting edge of innovation. After college and technical programs, too many students are burdened with excessive amounts of debt. Matt co-sponsored legislation that would provide a $5,000 tax-credit to individuals paying off student loans and he supports making college tuition tax deductible.
Accomplishments
- Co-sponsored legislation to provide up to $5000 in tax credits for student loans.
- Authored a bill to allow for the refinancing of student loans.
- Led the effort to get $5 million for MN PIPELINE program to help train workers entering advanced manufacturing careers.
Local senator attends graduation parites
Mayor attends every grad party he can in Lakeville, Minn.
Closing the special education funding gap
Currently, school districts receive just a fraction of what they need in special education funding, leaving the communities to make up those gaps or risk cutting funding for special ed. Matt believes that choice is immoral and voted to give special education in the state $90 million in additional funding. But Matt knows that the state and federal government must expand the amount of money available to our communities so they can provide students in special education with the necessary skills to live a life of dignity and independence.
Accomplishments
- Voted to provide $90 million in funding for special education.
- Hosted a town-hall focused on Minnesotans with Autism.
- Working toward creating a fund to pay unreimbursed special education costs to schools.