on August 18, 2020

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MDE Guidance on Student Transportation is ‘Confusing’ and Leading to Services Being Denied

Under Minnesota law, public school districts are required to provide transportation within the district for students attending nonpublic schools. But recent guidance from the Minnesota Department of Education on a district's responsibility to provide equal transportation services for nonpublic school students is confusing and has resulted in school districts denying this service to nonpublic students....

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on August 11, 2020

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Government-run schools alienating large numbers of families

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education

Whether it is the ambiguity of what learning model will be used or the district's decision to begin the year without any in-person instruction, families are realizing the top-down education system has its limitations. ...

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on August 05, 2020

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Minnesota’s public schools have little to show for decades of increased spending

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education

The false narrative that inadequate funding is the root of our education problems paints Minnesota as a state allergic to accountability....

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on August 05, 2020

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Rising costs of teacher retirement systems do not reflect improved benefits

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education

Teacher salaries have risen over the last decade by 19.3 percent, but teachers' total compensation (salary and benefits) have increased even more, by 28.5 percent over the same time period, because health care and pension payments are eating up a growing share of teacher compensation....

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on August 04, 2020

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Private schools gain edge with re-opened classrooms this fall

Written by Tom Steward

in Education

It's hard for nervous parents who are unable to count on public schools fully opening this fall to miss the headlines popping up all over. Here's a few recent examples. "Duluth private schools will have in-person learning"--Duluth News Tribune "Private schools prepare to reopen"--Mankato Free Press "Rochester Catholic schools to hold in-person classes"--Rochester Post Bulletin While public schools largely remain on the fence over whether to even partially reopen and the Education Minnesota teachers union fights them all the way, private schools have risen to the occasion. Parents in Duluth have known for weeks in some cases that their child's private school plans to...

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on August 03, 2020

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High school exit exams decrease arrests

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education

Students required to take a high school exit exam are 7 percent less likely to be arrested, according to a paper by Prof. Matthew Larsen published in Education Next. Minnesota used to require an exit exam but no longer does....

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on July 31, 2020

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Resources on alternative learning options

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education

For parents interested in alternative learning options, here are some resources to help you get started. ...

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on July 30, 2020

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Study finds disparities in demand for online learning resources between low and high income areas, which will widen achievement gaps

Written by Martha Njolomole

in Education

When schools closed, the demand for online school resources increased. A new study has however found that most of the increase in demand for online learning resources occurred in areas with high income and better internet access. Areas with more rural schools and black students saw lower increases in demand for online learning resources. This points to a huge disparity in access to online learning resources which will widen student achievement gaps. ...

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on July 29, 2020

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MPS School Board votes down distance learning resolution, wants to wait for state guidance

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education

The Minneapolis Board of Education voted against a resolution that called for starting the school year with distance learning, citing a "need for the governor to weigh in." Gov. Walz and the Minnesota Department of Education are expected to announce their statewide guidance for the 2020 school year tomorrow. Through its Open MN Schools campaign, the Center sent state leaders a petition signed by thousands of Minnesotans imploring them to give students the option to learn in their classrooms this fall....

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on July 28, 2020

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Alternative learning options for this fall should be more accessible

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education

The uncertainty around what school will look like this fall has sent parents scrambling and looking to innovative alternatives to meet the needs of their students and enhance their learning opportunities—from pandemic pods to micro-schools to homeschool co-ops. If schools don't reopen or can't provide a learning environment that meets students' needs, parents should be given the opportunity to pursue a learning model that works for their student....

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