Education from Minnesota Public Radio

Teacher prep programs get failing marks, new study says

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:54:17 -0500

The U.S. spends more than $7 billion a year preparing classroom teachers, but teachers are not coming out of the nation's colleges of education ready, according to a study released Tuesday by U.S.News & World Report and the National Council on Teacher Quality.

School of Science supporters protest district decision to end lease

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:17:53 -0500

Parents, students and staff protested outside the Minnesota School of Science in north Minneapolis charter school over a district decision that could close the school.

Teach for America suffers a setback

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:00:00 -0500

The organization's request for temporary teaching licenses is denied.

Officials skeptical of report on administrative efficiency at U of M

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:49:24 -0500

The Senate leader on higher-education says a new report on administrative efficiency at the University of Minnesota confirms her belief that the university is well-managed compared to its peers.

Minneapolis teacher contract talks: Not just about the money

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0500

Talks have begun on a new two-year contract for 3,000-plus Minneapolis teachers. Will negotiations change how teachers are paid?

Teach for America denied group teaching licenses

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:53:28 -0500

The national non-profit group that places recent college graduates without teaching licenses in schools temporarily now needs to apply for individual temporary licenses.

Report: University of Minnesota administrative efficiency ranks middle of pack

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0500

A report compares the efficiency of the University of Minnesota's administration to that of more than half a dozen similar universities. It appears to be in the middle of the pack.

Panel backs introduction of digital learning in US

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0500

After President Barack Obama called for 99 percent of American students to be connected to high-speed Internet within five years, an independent panel says the wiring can be done even sooner.

Why Minnesota's use of open textbooks may increase

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:43:07 -0500

Student representatives for the state's colleges and universities have been pushing for cheaper alternatives to textbooks, and they're hoping they'll gain some ground now that they have backing from the state Legislature.

Study will shed light on dispute over U's administrative costs

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Legislature called for an independent analysis, whose results are about to be released.

Kline says bill aims to cut feds' role in education

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:00:00 -0500

Education chair says policy works best when it preserves local control.

Six highlights from college commencement season

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 06:24:34 -0500

Here are snippets that jumped out at me from six commencement ceremonies at Minnesota private colleges. Most are humorous, but a couple offer interesting insights.

Grades vanishing from some SCSU students' transcripts

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:37:54 -0500

Professors and instructors aren't sure how widespread the problem is, but say -- except in rare instances -- the university's failure to notify them of grade changes is an ethical breach.

Reporter to discuss latest twist in Shattuck-St. Mary's story

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

When they discovered child pornography on a teacher's computer, administrators at the school chose to keep quiet about it.

Local architect chosen for UND med school

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 21:00:00 -0500

The new University of North Dakota medical school will be designed by an architecture firm the university has relied on for decades.

North Minneapolis charter school to lose building lease

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:24:49 -0500

Minneapolis Public Schools is ending the building lease for one of its partner charter schools.

Residency program gives future teachers a realistic taste

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:00:00 -0500

After its first year, a program known as TC2 gets positive reviews.

Minn. moves ahead with some Common Core education standards

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0500

Minnesota's latest move to improve teaching methods, implement tougher standards and ways to measure student performance mirrors a national trend that began with the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind policy that mandated increased reliance on standardized tests.

U of M ag school gets $12M bequest

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:38:13 -0500

The University of Minnesota has received a large and unexpected bequest from a South Dakota farmer and businesswoman.

U of M ag school dean stepping down

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:53:03 -0500

Allen S. Levine will return to the faculty and assume new academic responsibilities. An interim dean will be named soon, and a nationwide search to fill the permanent position will be launched later this summer.

What it's like to teach a MOOC

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The University of Minnesota steps into the world of massive open online courses, or MOOCs.

Hopkins High School black students' suspensions, charges dismissed

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:20:09 -0500

The Hopkins School District and an attorney for two students who were suspended and charged with misdemeanors this spring have reached an agreement.

Analyst sees confidence behind Minnesota student borrowing

Thu, 30 May 2013 12:00:00 -0500

Report pegs the average student debt in Minnesota at just under $30,000.

Map: Minneapolis' Northside Achievement Zone

Thu, 30 May 2013 11:59:00 -0500

The Northside Achievement Zone is a collaborative effort to boost educational achievement for thousands of kids in north Minneapolis that's been in the works for about a decade.

Higher ed systems in 10 states turn to Coursera

Thu, 30 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

The movement of "Massive Open Online Courses," which began with elite universities making their courses available online to the masses, is rapidly moving into the trenches of public higher education.

Anoka-Hennepin to launch independent probe of Champlin Park incident

Wed, 29 May 2013 17:08:51 -0500

Anoka-Hennepin School District leaders said Wednesday they will have an independent investigation conducted in the wake of an incident involving a teacher at Champlin Park High School.

Spelling Bee opens with 'glasnost'

Wed, 29 May 2013 08:59:51 -0500

The National Spelling Bee opened with "glasnost" and was soon followed by "perestroika" - a fascinating choice of words for a group of youngsters born long after the heyday of Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.

How does Minnesota student debt compare to other states? Not well

Tue, 28 May 2013 09:10:20 -0500

Here's an updated report that the Office of Higher Education presented to legislators this session. As noted, the average debt accumulated by each Minnesota student was $29,800 -- almost $5,000 more than the national average.

All-day kindergarten a cost saver for Minn. parents

Mon, 27 May 2013 16:48:19 -0500

New funding will allow Minnesota school districts to offer free all day kindergarten Minnesota starting in 2014.

Anoka-Hennepin investigating classroom altercation

Fri, 24 May 2013 20:27:21 -0500

The Anoka-Hennepin School District is reacting to videos posted on YouTube that appear to show a teacher pushing a black student into desks and placing him in a headlock.

Dayton signs bill funding all-day K, early childhood education

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:29:02 -0500

Gov. Mark Dayton signed an education budget bill Wednesday that boosts funding for public schools over the next two years, funds all-day kindergarten statewide for the first time and retools high school testing requirements.

A look back at higher ed's successful year at the Legislature

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Legislators found money to forestall more tuition hikes at public colleges.

Should we let wunderkinds drop out of high school?

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

It's one thing to say tech geniuses don't need degrees. After all, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg all dropped out of college. Which raises the question: When is it OK for a wunderkind to drop out of school?

Legislature approves investment in all-day kindergarten

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

A look at education measures passed by the Legislature.

Let's learn the lessons of education reform at last, author says

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Education, says an author, is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. Crazy?

Mpls. schools to revive autonomy plan amid mixed results in US

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

In the latest effort to boost student performance, the Minneapolis school district wants to give more autonomy to individual schools. Under the effort schools would have discretion over budgeting, hiring, scheduling and curriculum.

New charter school will reuse buildings at Fort Snelling

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:52:07 -0500

A new public charter school will restore and reuse nine historic buildings at Fort Snelling State Park. The Upper Mississippi Academy will open later this year and eventually enroll about 1,380 students.

U's Rochester campus has first graduation

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:02:28 -0500

On Saturday the University of Minnesota - Rochester will graduate its first crop of students. It's a milestone for the city, which has long sought to establish a school offering four-year and advanced degrees.

UMD graduates first cohort of tribal management program

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:49:43 -0500

The first cohort of a new degree developed to prepare leaders for the unique challenge of tribal management graduates today from the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Founding class of UMN-Rochester students set to graduate

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:27:06 -0500

When the first graduates of the University of Minnesota-Rochester receive their diplomas Saturday, they'll leave a campus that's still figuring things out.

More and more, faculty work for less pay and no security

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:00:00 -0500

At many colleges, so-called adjunct faculty now outnumber their colleagues on the tenure track.

Fort Snelling school plans move forward

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:19:28 -0500

The Department of Natural Resources is moving ahead with a proposal for an environmental learning charter school at Fort Snelling.

Parents, staff to speak out for reassigned Washburn High principal

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:12:43 -0500

A half-dozen parents, and current and former staff of Washburn High School plan to speak out Tuesday night at a Minneapolis school board meeting about the recent reassignment of principal Carol Markham-Cousins.

Minneapolis schools propose reforms to boost student achievement

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:23:47 -0500

Minneapolis Public Schools officials want to give schools more autonomy on budgets, hiring and schedules. The effort is aimed at improving the performance of Minneapolis students and closing the achievement gap between white students and students of color.

New drinking laws prompt civic action by college students

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:30:56 -0500

College students in central Minnesota are learning a few life lessons on how government works, after three new ordinances designed to control underage drinking went into effect in the city of St. Joseph. Students were caught off guard by the new rules. In this installment of our Young Reporters series, St. John's University senior Will Moore tells us students are becoming more active in city lawmaking.

A few details behind the Fairview - University of Minnesota agreement

Thu, 09 May 2013 21:08:55 -0500

University of Minnesota regents on Friday will discuss a 5-year, multimillion-dollar plan that lets the U and Fairview Health Services jointly manage the services they perform together.

Panel: Tuition change for Minn. students

Thu, 09 May 2013 19:02:37 -0500

A committee of faculty, students and staff is recommending Minnesota students attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison pay out-of-state tuition.

Minneapolis teen bucks family's trend of teen pregnancy

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:30:00 -0500

Preserving customs is important in many families and many parents encourage their children to carry on established traditions. But not all traditions need to be repeated. In this installment of MPR's Young Reporters Series, Jasmyn Taylor tells us how she's bucking the trend in her family -- by not becoming a teenage mother.

Anti-bullying bill passes House, moves to Senate

Tue, 07 May 2013 07:10:19 -0500

The Minnesota House has passed a bill requiring all public school districts to create policies aimed at reducing bullying.

2 Fargo students are Presidential Scholars

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:00:00 -0500

Maneesh Apte and Anjali Lall are among 141 students nationwide honored for their accomplishments in academics or the arts.

St. Paul science educator named Teacher of the Year

Mon, 06 May 2013 06:00:41 -0500

Megan Olivia Hall teaches grades 7-12 at the Open World Learning Community in St. Paul. She was presented with the award Sunday.

Enrollment up at embattled BlueSky charter school

Sat, 04 May 2013 14:41:57 -0500

An online charter school that faced closure just last year is now seeing an increase in enrollment.

Is massively open online education a threat or a blessing?

Sat, 04 May 2013 08:00:00 -0500

Massively open online courses may be able to transform education as we know it, changing it from the privilege of an elite into a shared commons that is open and free to everyone. There are grounds for concern, though.

Report: For-profit college grads perform as well as public university peers

Fri, 03 May 2013 19:08:59 -0500

Students at for-profit colleges in Minnesota are as likely to be employed one year after graduation as students from two-year public colleges, according to a report from the state Office of Higher Education.

Minn. one of 3 states where computer glitches derail school tests

Thu, 02 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

School districts across several states are rescheduling high-stakes tests that judge student proficiency and even determine teachers' pay because of technical problems involving the test administrators' computer systems.

Bill Gates answers student questions on technology, life and the world, at Concordia College in Moorhead

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:33:10 -0500

Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates discussed technology, education and making the world a better place, in a short speech and extended question and answer session with students from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. He spoke April 27, 2013 as part of dedication festivities for the Offutt School of Business at Concordia College.

State gives schools more time for MCAs

Wed, 01 May 2013 12:07:09 -0500

The Minnesota Department of Education will give schools more time to complete spring testing.

Coursera to offer new MOOC options for teachers

Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 -0500

A leading platform for the popular "massive open online courses" offered by elite universities is moving into a new realm: the expansive field of continuing education for teachers.

Steve Perry at Minnesota Meeting 'RESET Education' school reform event

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:45:37 -0500

Educator Steve Perry, author of "Push Has Come to Shove, Getting Our Kids the Education They Deserve." Keynote speech at Minnesota Meeting "RESET Education" conversation series sponsored by the Minneapolis Foundation. Panel of respondents: local educators Michael Thomas, Eric Mahmoud and Eli Kramer.

Minn. teachers union ousts leader Tom Dooher

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:29:28 -0500

Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher has lost a bid for a third term as head of the state's teachers union. Delegates to the union's convention today elected Denise Specht as their new president.

30 years on, educators still divided on scathing schools report

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0500

Thirty years ago this week, President Ronald Reagan's administration released "A Nation at Risk," a report warning of "a rising tide of mediocrity" in American public education.

Hopkins students protest treatment of black teens

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:53:59 -0500

More than 150 students walked out of Hopkins High School Friday afternoon to bring attention to what they say is unequal treatment of African-American teens.

3rd party to investigate racial incident at Hopkins school

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:05:56 -0500

The Hopkins School District has asked an outside party to investigate a racially charged incident in February.

Officials tackle school testing problems

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:53:19 -0500

The Minnesota Department of Education is working to clear up a number of problems with online assessment testing after dozens of Minnesota school districts have encountered glitches when trying to administer the tests online in recent weeks.

The purpose of higher education

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0500

This week on the Friday Roundtable, our panelists will discuss the purpose of higher education.

Online testing problems worry state education officials

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0500

Troubles with administering the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment tests in schools have been going on for a week. Some state education officials some fear the testing delays might hurt student test scores.

'A Nation At Risk' 30 years later: Shortcomings remain

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:36:59 -0500

"A Nation at Risk," the report issued 30 years ago by President Ronald Reagan's Education Department, was meant as a wake-up call for the country. It spelled out where the United States was coming up short in education and what steps could be taken to avert a crisis. But its warnings still reverberate today.

Minn. school district gets bulletproof whiteboards

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:39:42 -0500

A central Minnesota school district where two students were killed in a 2003 shooting is getting a new device that officials hope adds another layer of defense should a gunman enter school grounds: bulletproof whiteboards.

Teens better in science than thought

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:00:00 -0500

American teenagers aren't doing as poorly on international science tests as adults think. Despite the misconceptions, the adults surveyed still don't think the subject should get greater emphasis in schools.

MnSCU eliminates bonuses for executives

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:03:05 -0500

Trustees at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system have eliminated the executive bonuses that have upset unions and lawmakers in past years.

Two Minn. teens among growing number of girls competing in science

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:32:52 -0500

The trend of more girls participating in high level science competitions has been demonstrated over the past several years.

Proposed State Grant increase concerns MnSCU students

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:00:00 -0500

A proposed record boost in the state's main post-secondary financial aid program is drawing criticism from student leaders at Minnesota state colleges and universities, who say they wouldn't get their fair share of the increase.

Dooher, Specht vie for Education Minnesota presidency

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Tom Dooher, president of the state's teachers' union, Education Minnesota, faces a challenge from Denise Specht as he seeks a third term next week.

State considers new ways of testing students

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0500

For students and teachers in Minnesota, this time of year is all about testing. The reading, writing, math and science tests tell state and federal officials how students and schools are performing. Some educators are saying it's time to reevaluate the tests Minnesota students undergo.

A brief look at the Senate higher-education omnibus bill

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:08:57 -0500

The state Senate has passed a higher-education bill that increases funding by $263 million.

Rethinking standardized testing

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Minnesota business leaders, teachers and even the Department of Education all think students are taking too many standardized tests.

Two Hopkins High School students charged after protest over alleged 'ghetto spirit day'

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 07:20:00 -0500

Two Hopkins high school students face misdemeanor charges stemming from a confrontation with school administrators that police say turned physical, after the students, who are African-American, were protesting the school's handling of an incident where they say several white students mocked African American culture.

Online glitches interrupt MCA testing

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:16:56 -0500

Server glitches interrupted online administering of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment test Tuesday. However students who were not able to finish may resume their exams on Wednesday.

Legislators, critics zero in on higher-ed costs

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The Minnesota House and Senate introduced higher education bills last week that are focused on keeping college costs in check. The bills include a two-year freeze on tuition at state schools.

Some states dropping GED as test price spikes

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 13:35:27 -0500

Several dozen states are looking for an alternative to the GED high school equivalency test because of concerns that a new version coming out next year is more costly and will no longer be offered in a pencil and paper format.

Call for entries in Minn. HS film fest

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 09:13:02 -0500

Young filmmakers have less than two weeks to submit their entries to a Minnesota film festival for high school students.

School freezer may be next stop for local food movement

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:00:00 -0500

A school in Arlington, Minn., is leading the way to show how institutions might extend the season for local food -- by freezing it. But the labor is intensive and financial savings are uncertain.

Report details racial disparity in school suspensions

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Nearly two-thirds of African-American boys with disabilities in St. Paul Public Schools were suspended from school at least once during the 2009-10 school year, according to a new study from the Civil Rights Project at UCLA. That's nearly double the national average and more than seven times the rate for the general student body in the St. Paul schools.

How to get the best college financial aid deal possible

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0500

As college-bound high school seniors decide which school to attend -- and how to pay for it -- two financial aid experts answer your questions about how to navigate the process.

Q&A: Mpls. superintendent on reducing school suspensions

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:48:02 -0500

Reporter Laura Yuen talked to Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson about the district's school suspension racial gap and what the district is doing to reduce overall suspensions.

Mpls. tackles high rate of African-American student suspensions

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:21:01 -0500

The Minneapolis Public School District is making a concerted effort to tackle what it considers a pervasive problem.

Report details St. Paul school suspensions

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:59:03 -0500

A new national report is shedding light on the high suspension rates among students of color and special-needs children in Minnesota's largest school district.

Number of snow days worries rural school districts over testing

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:00:00 -0500

It was a tough winter across the state and for many rural Minnesota school districts that has resulted in numerous weather cancellations. While "snow day" may be one of the sweetest phrases any student can hear, they are a major headache for school administrators. Some school officials are worried that this winter's closures could end up hurting student scores on standardized testing this spring.

Higher education budgets target tuition costs

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:11:41 -0500

The Legislature is focusing nearly $3 billion in higher education funding on keeping Minnesota college costs as low as possible.

Duluth HS Daredevils Robotics Team advances to world championship

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:46:28 -0500

Duluth East High School seems to be developing an international reputation for building really good robots. The school's Daredevils Robotics Team just won the US FIRST Robotics Midwest Regional competition.

Former Gov. Carlson rips into U for big spending, high costs

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:00:45 -0500

Former Gov. Arne Carlson has leveled an incendiary charge at his beloved University of Minnesota.

U general counsel leaving for Johns Hopkins

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:18:43 -0500

University of Minnesota General Counsel Mark Rotenberg is leaving the U for a similar position at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MinnPost reports.

Arne Carlson hits U of M on 'administrative bloat and excessive compensation'

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 07:49:36 -0500

Former Gov. Arne Carlson took to the Star Tribune this weekend to call out the University of Minnesota for "excessive compensation and administrative bloat."

Amid school changes, giving voice to busing's past

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:06:02 -0500

Boston is working to move forward from the legacy of the school busing crisis in the 1970s. But raw feelings remain from that divisive time.

Loan education becomes prerequisite as student debt balloons

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 14:15:14 -0500

For students now sprinting toward the end of their college days, the finish line may not be much of a relief. More than ever, their gait is slowed by the weight of impending debt. Thirty-seven million Americans share about $1 trillion in student loans, according to Federal Reserve data.

Edina student wins Minn. geography contest

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:53:08 -0500

A seventh-grader from Edina has won a statewide geography contest and will represent the state at the national finals next month.

Alan Page unveiling children's book at his foundation's gala

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 09:55:13 -0500

When Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page holds his foundation's annual gala on Saturday, he will officially release the children's book that he co-wrote with his daughter. Sales of "Alan and His Perfectly Pointy, Impossibly Perpendicular Pinky," will benefit the foundation.

Bringing fun, fast style, Richard Pitino starts at University of Minnesota

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:05:35 -0500

Richard Pitino is promising a fast-paced style at Minnesota that the Gophers will love to play and the fans will enjoy watching.

Minneapolis graduation rate up, but still too low

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:00:00 -0500

Minneapolis school district officials say they're pleased with an increase in the district's four-year graduation rate, but that overall rates are still too low.

State still waiting for teacher candidates two years into alternative system

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0500

More than two years after Minnesota lawmakers created easier ways for people to get into the teaching profession, the state is still waiting to license a single teacher under the effort. The problem: no organizations have applied for approval to start training under the alternative teacher licensure effort. That frustrates some people who see the program as a path into the classroom for teachers who are licensed in other states or professionals who want to switch careers.