Education News

MPR News keeps track of the latest education news in Minnesota so you can understand the events shaping the future of learning and how it impacts students at any level.

Stay informed about local education events, policies and more happening in schools and colleges across Minnesota.

North Branch adopted a four-day week in 2009 as a way to save money on energy, transportation, and substitute teacher costs. Superintendent Deb Henton is recommending the district use the funds to return to a five-day week.
Second Chance Diploma: Examining the GED
American RadioWorks documentary: The General Educational Development test (GED) is a second chance for millions of people who didn't finish high school. Each year, more than 700,000 people take the GED test. People who pass it are supposed to possess a level of education and skills equivalent to those of a high school graduate. Most test-takers hope the GED will lead to a better job or more education. But critics say the GED encourages some students to drop out of school. And research shows the credential is of little value to most people who get one.
Beware of those college brochures that tout diversity in campus life
Researchers who looked at more than 10,000 images from college brochures, comparing the racial breakdown of students in the pictures to the colleges' actual demographics, found that, overall, the whiter the school, the more diversity depicted in the brochures, especially for certain groups.
On the BBC World Have Your Say: suicide bombings in Russia are causing concern among leaders who fear militants are ramping up violence before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia.
Gender-neutral housing is coming to the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus. In the fall of 2015, up to several dozen upper-division students will have access to campus apartments regardless of sex or what gender they identify with. Transgender students have been pushing for the change. And the U will join a growing number of Read more →
What if We Punished Colleges for Student Loan Defaults? Under a proposal created by Senate Democrats, colleges might bear greater responsibility for whether or not their students pay back their loans on time. (Washington Monthly) Morgan State student takes a stand for gay rights at historically black university Openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students at Read more →
Historian Brian Ingrassia speaks about the origins of college football in the late 1800's and traces the evolution of the sport to a multi-million dollar athletic spectacle on university campuses. His book is "The Rise of the Gridiron University: Higher Education's Uneasy Alliance with Big-Time Football." He spoke November 9, 2012 at the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Carleton and St. Olaf will soon work together on college courses
Northfield’s old rivals — St. Olaf College and Carleton College — are teaming up to save costs. A $1.4 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will have them jointly run some areas of their information technology, administration — even academic programming. St. Olaf President David Anderson said sharing some college operations would be Read more →
University of Minnesota – Duluth eyes $4 million in first-round of cuts
University of Minnesota – Duluth officials say they’re preparing an initial round of budget cuts for the campus. They haven’t identified exactly where the $4 million in reductions will occur. But Chief Academic Officer Andrea Schokker said they could include the elimination of up to two low-enrollment degrees, the layoff of part-time faculty and the Read more →