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.

Adult English language learners struggle against program's policy
Statewide, about 27,000 were enrolled in adult English language programs last year. Critics of a policy that requires learners to progress a level every 30 months say it leaves participants with no place to go to get the English skills they need. Every year, as many as a half-dozen students at the Ronald M. Hubbs Center in St. Paul are asked to leave the program.
MSU-Moorhead to cut programs — but says Slate criticism is off
Minnesota State University – Moorhead officials are taking issue with a Slate article that says the campus, as well as University of the District of Columbia, are gutting academics to solve budget problems: Soon these regional public universities may have no departments of English, physics, or history—nor a host of other programs often associated with Read more →
I have Herzing’s reaction below: This announcement just in from the Minnesota Attorney General’s office: MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL AND HERZING UNIVERSITY REACH SETTLEMENT OVER LACK OF ACCREDITATION OF MEDICAL ASSISTANT ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM             Attorney General Lori Swanson and Herzing University, a for-profit college based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, entered into a settlement today arising out Read more →
Unusual college essay questions for 2013-14  Even many of the hundreds of schools that accept the online Common Application still require supplemental writing samples. Most of the essay prompts are predictable — but not all. (The Washington Post) United Arab Emirates Looks to Vocational Education The United Arab Emirates is expanding vocational and technical training in Read more →
U of M student petition calls for more police muscle on campus
Two University of Minnesota students have launched an online petition calling for a greater police presence on campus. Prompted by the recent rash of crimes, the petition has gained more than 3,100 signatures. It warns: If steps are not taken immediately, we, the students, will take matters into our own hands. Many of us are Read more →
Got this late yesterday from Minneapolis Community and Technical College. It’s in response to news-media attention over a confrontation during a class discussion of structural racism. The gist:  At MCTC, we believe it is essential for our faculty to actively engage students in respectful discussions in the classroom regardless of topic and to create an Read more →
For returning veterans, back-to-school brings new battles – and not enough help When veterans come home from war and try to put their lives back together, there’s often a giant missing link in their transition: Clear advice on getting back to school and managing the next phase of their education. (The Hechinger Report) Thousands of People Read more →
Students growing wary after man poses as cop, sexually assaults student
University of Minnesota students say they’re unnerved by a recent rash of crimes — especially a sexual assault Sunday in which the man appears to have posed as a uniformed officer. The early-morning assault prompted the third crime alert for the university community since the attempted daylight robbery of a student in Anderson Hall on Read more →
Survey suggests MOOCs are failing to educate the poor Massive open online courses (MOOCs) may not be reaching the poor, but instead be catering to the rich and well-educated in developing nations, research shows. (SciDevNet) Depressed Family Income Spells Trouble For Colleges, Moody’s Warns More than 40 percent of U.S. public universities and nonprofit colleges face lower Read more →
Oil boom helps stop trend of declining students
North Dakota public school officials say the oil boom that has led to dramatic growth in western schools is now helping enrollments in the eastern part of the state.