A survey of school superintendents in Minnesota found that rural districts expect their schools to deteriorate because of inadequate funding. Minnesota 2020, a nonpartisan public policy group, sent a questionnaire to state superintendents, and mostly rural school leaders responded. The results were reported in the Litchfield Independent Review.

The rural superintendents said underfunding by the state was forcing them to call for local property tax hikes — and to lay off teachers. On average, school districts in Minnesota are laying off four teachers this year. Nine out of ten rural superintendents said if funding for schools doesn't change, education will "get worse."

"Our rural district does a very good job educating at-risk students who do not succeed in larger districts," wrote one superintendent. "If the funding system doesn't change, this district is doomed and that is very unfortunate."