Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush came to the Capitol on Tuesday pitching elements of his state's education reform as a possible solution for Minnesota.
Bush said pessimism has fallen over the nation as students increasingly slip behind peers around the world.
"Going forward, the ability to acquire knowledge is going to be the determinant factor of whether young people live a life of purpose, both financially and every other way," Bush said. "Minnesota has great schools and great teachers and students who come ready to learn, but they have to get better."
Bush, who has toured the nation through his Florida-based education foundation, has become a leading advocate for closely monitoring teacher performance, merit pay and vouchers for students in failing schools.
But Democrats close to the education issue said Florida has been a bottom-dweller in education standards, while Minnesota is consistently near the top.
"We are not Florida, we are not those southern states," said Sen. Charles Wiger, DFL-Maplewood. "The various comparisons don't hold water. ... We need to remember that we are a leader in education."
Gov. Mark Dayton said he was "very, very impressed" with Bush's work on education.
"I took careful notes and I'm going to ... look to emulate some of it," said Dayton, who met privately with the former governor Tuesday.
Dayton, a backer of all-day kindergarten, said of Bush: "He was amazed we didn't have [universal] all-day kindergarten."
Bush, a powerful force in Florida politics, would not offer much insight on two Minnesota Republicans testing a run for president, former Gov. Tim Pawenty and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.
Bush said he didn't know Bachmann well, but described Pawlenty as "a very good governor."
Staff writer Rachel E. Stassen-Berger contributed to this report. Baird Helgeson • 651-222-1288