DFL gubernatorial hopeful Matt Entenza's has an austerity plan for education reform: No additional funding until the estimated $6 billion deficit is resolved.

His competitors, Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Mark Dayton, have both pledged to increase education spending in coming years, even with the eye-popping deficit. At a news conference Thursday, Entenza said Minnesotans deserve to see the details of their proposals and how they plan to pay for the increased spending. He said his plan – which includes opting out of federal No Child Left Behind, a teacher mentoring program and better use of technology -- is more prudent in difficult times. "At most they've released a few paragraphs about policy and made massive commitments to new spending," Entenza said. "I think what people want to see is a political leader with a clear plan, a realistic plan and a plan that will move Minnesota education forward." Dayton said he can keep his pledge to increase funding for education every year he is governor. He said in the first years, much of that increase would come from buying back an education shift the put in place this year. That shift, which delays payments to schools, is worth almost $2 billion in the next two years. "Absolutely restoring that is real money," said Dayton, who favors balancing the budget mostly through raising taxes on high earners and various cuts. The projected $6 billion deficit assumes all of that money is paid back in the 2011 budget. Dayton said he would work to pay back that shift and, once that's done, continue to provide increases in "real dollars." Kelliher's campaign said she is committed to increasing funding for schools over the next six years. "A great education is the foundation of a strong economy and Minnesota's educated workforce has been our strongest competitive advantage for generations," said Matt Swenson, campaign spokesman. Kelliher proposes increasing funding to $7,500 per student, up from $5,124 per student now. She also pledges to beef up teacher recruitment and increase money for early childhood development. "Matt Entenza's proposed education policies would cost Minnesota millions in federal funding," Swenson said of pulling out of the No Child Left Behind program. "His proposals lack any real attempt at needed reform, and would continue funneling limited state resources into a broken school funding formula."