Hot Topics
In the news lately — use these education articles to make your presentation or discussion timely:
Minnesota's Education Investment is Abysmal, Minnesota 2020, Sept. 2009
"Since 1995, Minnesota has gone from being 15th among the states in what it spends on K-12 education to 42nd, according to the U.S. Census Bureau."
Two encouraging signs of progress, by Joe Nathan, Mille Lacs County Times, Sept. 2009
"First, the number of Minnesota public school students taking and passing Advanced Placement tests increased again last year. Both white and minority students showed gains."
Recession Turns a Graying Office Grayer, Pew Research Center, Sept. 2009
"Older adults are staying in the labor force longer, and younger adults are staying out of it longer. Both trends took shape about two decades ago. Both have intensified during the current recession. And both are expected to continue after the economy recovers."
MCA-II tests
The 2009 MCA-II tests showed rising math scores for Minnesota students, but fewer than half of the 11th graders are considered proficient. Little progress was made in reading. Find out how districts performed in math and reading in 2009 using ranking tables on the Twin Cities Compass Web site. Or, view Minnesota Department of Education press releases on math and reading and science.
