Graduation Rates Continue Upward Trend
More Minnesota students are graduating high school than ever before. The class of 2015 posted an 81.9 percent graduation rate. The new information also shows gap closure as graduation rates for students of color continue to rise. "Graduating from high school is an important step in a student’s life, opening doors to higher education, a wider array of jobs, and better wages throughout their lifetime," said Commissioner Brenda Cassellius. With more students of color graduating across the board, Minnesota is seeing unprecedented gap closure between white students and students of color. Since 2010, Minnesota has closed the graduation gap by 12 percentage points.
Read news release.
Download graduation rate data file.
Sponsors Needed for 2016 Summer Food Service Program
During the school year, many Minnesota families depend on free or reduced-price meals their children get at school to provide nourishment. When school is out, the USDA Summer Food Service Program bridges the “nutrition gap.” The Minnesota Department of Education is looking for sponsors to provide free meals to Minnesota children 18 and under during the summer. There are many underserved areas especially in greater Minnesota. Sponsors receive training, technical assistance and reimbursement for providing meals to children 18 and under in areas of economic need. Read news release.
PACER’s Creative Kids Contest
Join PACER this Saturday for a morning of creativity, fun and exploration.This year’s artwork will focus on themes of unity, inclusion, kindness and friendship. The artwork of children with disabilities will be entered into the Creative Kids contest. The winner will become the cover design of the 2016 PACER Greeting Card, which is sold online and at the Benefit. All kids are welcome to create artwork. Creative Kids with disabilities ages 4 to 17 are eligible for the contest. When: Sat., Feb. 27, 10 a.m. to Noon. Where: PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington. Space is limited; advance registration required. Questions? Contact: danna.mirviss@pacer.org or call 952-838-9000.
Better Together: Strengthening Adult Learning Communities!
Mark your calendar and plan to join colleagues from adult education, libraries and workforce development for a full-day learning opportunity. The workshops are designed to increase our collective capacity to work together to improve adult literacy and workforce outcomes for Minnesotans. Participants will learn about promising practices for collaboration across organizations. Three dates and locations to choose from: April 29, 2016 – Roseville at Minnesota Department of Education; May 9, 2016 – Mankato at Country Inn and Suites; and May 16, 2016 – Grand Rapids at Sawmill Inn. Contact Emily Kissane, 651-582-8508.
Annual Gifted and Talented Symposium - June 13-16
The annual Hormel Foundation Gifted and Talented Education Symposium provides an opportunity for educators, counselors, administrators and parents to gain greater understanding of the unique needs of gifted and high potential learners. Participants attend in-depth sessions focusing on foundational knowledge, creativity, curriculum strategies, and social/emotional needs of gifted and high potential learners provided by the field’s finest regionally, nationally and internationally recognized presenters. All are welcome. Register online.
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Minnesota is Steadily Closing Gaps in Graduation Rates
Nearly 82 percent of all Minnesota seniors graduated high school on time in 2015 – up .7 percentage points from last year... Read more in Bring Me the News.
County Schools Top Overall 2015 State Graduation Rate
Graduation rates across Waseca County are higher than the statewide average for 2015... Read full story in the Waseca County News.
Science Fair Encourages Science Careers
Ellen Roufs was back in her element on Saturday: the Southern Minnesota Regional Science and Engineering Fair. But after seven years as a student at the annual event at Minnesota State University, this year was her first as a judge. Read complete Mankato Free Press story.
U Debuts Agricultural Career Day
About 120 middle and high school 4-H program students came to the University’s St. Paul campus for Exploring Agricultural Career Day, part of a push to teach youth about agricultural jobs. Visitors filled surveys, joined an expert panel discussion and toured the campus. Read full Minnesota Daily story.
Students Take Hand in School Lunch
On a recent weekday morning at Clearview Elementary School, 12-year-old Jonathon Becker is one of four students working under the guidance of head cook Judy Hommerding to prepare lunch. Read full St. Cloud Times story.
The Rise of Coding: How One Rural District is Changing With the Times
When second-graders come in to Bryce Jacobson’s media classroom for their 25-minute coding lessons, they know the drill. Read complete story in MinnPost.
Introducing Ebooks Minnesota!
With a focus on providing statewide and equitable access to quality books from Minnesota’s many independent publishers, State Library Services, a division of the Minnesota Department of Education, has partnered with Minitex to build a collection of ebooks. Access to the collection is available within Minnesota at no charge. Ebooks Minnesota features about 3,000 children’s and young adult titles from local publishers such as ABDO, Lerner Publishing group, Milkweed Press and Coffeehouse Press. Read more of the February 23 guest post.
Adult Basic Education Primer
- Adult Basic Education (ABE) is available statewide at no cost to adult learners.
- ABE is administered through the Minnesota Department of Education.
- Each year, more than 500 delivery sites serve approximately 75,000 adult students.
- About one-half of ABE students are enrolled in English Learner (EL) programs.
- Licensed teachers provide ABE instruction and are assisted by more than 3,000 trained volunteers.
Visit the Adult Basic Education webpage for more.
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