Better School Efforts Needed to Reach Educational Goals

In 2013 the Minnesota Legislature enacted a law requiring schools to improve their efforts in preparing children for school; having third grade students achieve grade-level reading; guaranteeing all students graduate from high school; ensuring high school students are prepared for post-secondary education; and closing the academic achievement between white and minority students. Known as the “World’s Best Workforce” law, school districts and charter schools have the flexibility to create their own methods to achieve those goals, and the Dept. of Education would measure their success. On Tuesday, February 16, Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius updated lawmakers on the status of the schools’ efforts, and her department’s report demonstrated that many districts are well below the expectations.