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Learning Curve

Learning Curve

Beth Hawkins writes about education — from preschool through college and beyond — in Learning Curve. Hawkins has covered a variety of subjects for MinnPost since its launch in 2007, but has a particular passion for reporting on education. In addition to her conviction that education is one of today's most pressing issues on a policy level, she's motivated by her experience advocating for her two sons in great schools and not-so-great ones. 

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divine sunday

'A Divine Sunday' film event to benefit Trevor Project for LGBT teens

By Beth Hawkins | 05/23/13

The benefit is part of the Out Twin Cities Film Festival, taking place May 29-June 2 at the St. Anthony Main Theatre.

dayton cassellius reading photo
Learning Curve

More funding, all-day K: 'This is very definitely the education session'

By Beth Hawkins | 05/21/13

The marquee item at the center is, of course, optional all-day kindergarten for every Minnesota family that wants it.

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Learning Curve

Anti-bullying bill dies in Senate

By Beth Hawkins | 05/20/13

In a session dominated by big, contentious issues, the anti-bullying proposal stirred up a surprising amount of acrimony.

ramshackle schoolhouse
Learning Curve

Conferees try to build state's education funding structure, despite 'mismatched' House, Senate 'lumber'

By Beth Hawkins | 05/17/13

This year, they're said to be taking mismatched policy items and supposedly rewriting broad chunks of the bills to make a better, “massaged” version.

davnie
Learning Curve

Anti-bullying bill still awaits Senate action

By Beth Hawkins | 05/16/13

The House passed an amended version that granted an exemption to private schools but allowed them to keep some $75 million a year in per-pupil state aid.

students v subsidies graphic
Learning Curve

Groups claim students may lose out to corporate loopholes

By Beth Hawkins | 05/10/13

“Students vs. Subsidies" analysis notes that nine corporate subsidies are worth more than $580 million.

Traversing the rocky educational landscape? These articles and sites will help
Learning Curve

Traversing the rocky educational landscape? These articles and sites will help

By Beth Hawkins | 05/08/13

Cultural Jambalaya is a local nonprofit that produces DVDs that offer a glance into the backyards, work lives and rituals of people all over the world.

project success
Learning Curve

Project SUCCESS celebrating its now-documented results

By Beth Hawkins | 05/06/13

The nonprofit uses theater and other experiences to guide some 12,000 Twin Cities students a year to dream — and to plan to realize their dreams.

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Learning Curve

Parents' stories of perseverance motivating these 5 teens at Minneapolis College Prep

By Beth Hawkins | 05/03/13

The determined teens made it clear: Where they come from has had everything to do with their drive and how they view their futures.

specht portrait
Learning Curve

Education Minnesota's election: A change of style, not policy

By Beth Hawkins | 05/01/13

If there’s one thing to be said about Minnesota’s unionized teachers, it’s that they’re too focused to let a little unruliness knock them off-topic.

open world school
Learning Curve

Open World Learning vindicated in latest rankings

By Beth Hawkins | 04/30/13

According to U.S. News & World Report’s latest survey, Open World Learning Community is St. Paul’s best high school and the state's 18th best.

bluesky online logo
Learning Curve

Public charter BlueSky Online achieves kudos and formal accreditation

By Beth Hawkins | 04/29/13

Enrollment is up, a new digital career and technical education program is getting rave reviews, and 120 seniors are on course to graduate in June.

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Learning Curve

Film Fest documentary 'Off Label' had local inspiration

By Beth Hawkins | 04/26/13

The film was inspired in great measure by writings of U of M bioethics professor Carl Elliott, author of “White Coat, Black Hat: Adventures on the Dark Side of Medicine.”

Learning Curve

Speaker Steve Perry provokes heated exchange on education reform

By Beth Hawkins | 04/24/13

Educator Steve Perry's words were clearly provocative: So much so that the debate continued where it is wont to do: On Facebook.

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Learning Curve

Education issues still contentious; legislators looking ahead to conference

By Beth Hawkins | 04/24/13

The House has approved a $550 million package of measures universal all-day kindergarten and early-childhood education funding.

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Learning Curve

Catholic Church ramps up opposition to Minnesota anti-bullying bill

By Beth Hawkins | 04/22/13

The Minnesota Catholic Conference calls the proposed Safe Schools legislation an “Orwellian nightmare” that would “usurp parental rights” and create “re-education camps.”

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Learning Curve

Education synergy: Marquart-Mariani plan marries funding and accountability

By Beth Hawkins | 04/18/13

Rep. Paul Marquart wanted to assure the state a competitive work force in coming years. Rep. Carlos Mariani wanted an array of achievement-gap-closing tools.

school children
Learning Curve

School integration's health impacts are significant and lifelong, study finds

By Beth Hawkins | 04/16/13

Outcomes among black students were particularly affected by changes in access to school resources associated with desegregation, the report said.

Lots of chances to see me (and a few education experts, too)
Learning Curve

Lots of chances to see me (and a few education experts, too)

By Beth Hawkins | 04/12/13

Today Your Humble Blogger offers a links roundup we'll call the Self-Referential Edition -- about several program appearances.

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Learning Curve

Education finance bills offer highlights, lowlights — and 'lower lights'

By Beth Hawkins | 04/11/13

DFLers likely will be able to tout fulfilled campaign promises, but education advocates see a decidedly mixed bag.

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Learning Curve

Repair of special-ed funding gap is missing from omnibus ed bill

By Beth Hawkins and James Nord | 04/10/13

Over the last decade, the so-called cross-subsidy has mounted to the point where many, many districts divert some 20 percent of their general-ed funding.