Beyond the numbers: How to think about Minnesota’s graduation rates
Interpreting students’ success requires also considering student proficiency rates, realistic time frames, individual district results and other factors, educators say.
Education
Minnesota’s community colleges show sharper than usual enrollment declines
“There was a time when community colleges had an inverse relationship with the economy. The economy’s up, enrollments down; economy’s down, enrollments up. Well, we’re in a new norm,” said Kay Frances-Garland of Saint Paul College.
Colleges come under closer scrutiny for holding transcripts hostage over unpaid bills
One of America’s biggest universities is ending its version of a longstanding practice that derails millions.
North Minneapolis renewable-energy training center to get a boost from the state
“I think it shows that when it comes to the issues, there are areas where we can come together,” said Rep. Jamie Long, “and that includes making sure that we have a workforce that is inclusive, that is ready for taking the jobs.”
In light of the Chauvin trial and Wright killing, Black students in the Twin Cities push for more support at school
“It’s a very scary feeling to know that all this is happening right outside of our doors, right in our streets, right in our community, and it feels like we’re not supported or not cared for in a way that we should be,” said student Aniya Bailey.
How will Minnesota schools use $1.3 billion in COVID relief funds?
The Minnesota Department of Education is required to spend some of the funds on addressing learning loss, through enrichment — i.e. learning activities beyond the school day, including after-school programs — and summer learning.
UMR’s new B.S. degree in health sciences finds a ‘silver lining’ in pandemic-era education
Most classes in the innovative year-round, two-year+ program will be taught virtually, using a gamification-based technology platform designed for the university by Google Cloud.
How one small college exemplifies higher education’s problems and potential solutions
Emmanuel College’s unusually long-serving leadership has already survived earlier brushes with mortality.
Two steps forward, one back: Teacher diversity bill may push hundreds of Minnesota educators of color from classrooms
A provision of House File 1081 would squeeze off a pipeline that’s attracted hundreds of diverse, successful educators with the promise of permanent licenses.
Why some Minnesota school districts haven’t yet gone back to in-person learning
A few districts and charter schools plan to be in distance learning for at least several more weeks, including the largest district in Greater Minnesota: Rochester.
How the pandemic has altered school discipline — perhaps forever
Schools have dealt with remote learning violations and mask-wearing offenses, and have had an opportunity to rethink harsh discipline.
More Minnesota students are heading back to school. What does the science say about the safety of reopening?
Studies seem to indicate there are conditions under which schools can operate with relative safety.
Five non-pandemic education stories to watch in 2021
These stories from 2020 — including the St. Paul teacher strike and anti-racist reform efforts — are worth keeping an eye on into the new year.
What does a COVID-19 vaccine mean for schools in Minnesota? Here’s what we know so far.
In Minnesota, a vaccine allocation workgroup will begin to iron out the details for the next phase the week after Christmas.
Why Minnesota high school students fought so hard to win pandemic unemployment benefits
The onset of COVID-19 and corresponding job loss has disrupted plans for high school workers just as it has for adults.
How Minnesota colleges are keeping study abroad programs afloat amid the pandemic
Some schools have cancelled their programs, while others are considering virtual options. At least one school has continued sending students abroad.
Why one Minnesota district decided to keep elementary students in school, even as COVID-19 cases climb across the state
Many school district leaders across Minnesota have decided to shift all students to distance learning. But St. Michael-Albertville has not for its elementary students. Here’s why.
How a ‘mindful’ approach helped a youth mental health program gain acceptance in St. Paul’s Hmong community
2020 marked the 10th anniversary of Hlub Zoo, a school-based mental health program serving Hmong and other Southeast Asian students and their families.
Amid the pandemic — and precarious funding — Minneapolis’ school-based clinics try to hang on
Earlier this year, the nonprofit Youthprise offered a financial lifeline to keep clinics at the city’s three biggest high schools open — albeit one that funds the program only through the end of the year.
What the widespread shift to distance learning means for Minnesota schools’ support staff
The Minnesota Department of Education has said the expectation is that districts find a way to keep staff on payroll, which in many cases means reassigning people.
